Sunday, January 23, 2022
THE SCRIPTURES
Would you pray with me this morning?
Gracious Lord and Master,
As we turn to you in prayer today, at this very moment, we find ourselves, focusing directly upon you as we pray, in the here and now. What a delight! It is as though we were there when Jesus opened the scroll in the synagogue in Nazareth. How magnificent it is to reside in your presence—Yes, to dwell—allowing you to speak to us as we open ourhearts to receive you in this direct line of communication. Lord, as we proceed through this day, and those following, allow our dialogue with you, and the world we live in, to be in communion, a form of natural, supernatural conversation. Allow us to hear you speak to us, direct us, guide us…so our lives may be pleasing to us…and that…sometimes seeming or feeling simple…we may become wise…and sanctified…
In Jesus’ name we pray. — Amen.
the message for today
Today we find ourselves in the fourth chapter of Luke’s gospel. I can identify five different componentsfound in this remarkable chapter. First of all, we havethe “Temptation of Christ” down there next to theRiver Jordan, where Jesus was baptized. Second ofall, Jesus is back up north in His hometown ofNazareth, over one hundred miles from the Jordan.He is in the synagogue at Nazareth and makes aremarkable declaration taken from the Prophet Isaiah,from seven hundred years prior. Third, Jesus’ claimbased on the Isaiah passage is rejected by his neighbors; He comments, “…no prophet is accepted in his hometown…” They literally drove Jesus out of town. Fourthly, in Capernaum, down the road, He drives out an evil spirit in a man, and finally, fifth, Jesus heals the mother-in-law of Simon Peter, and as well, a host of others. With this, the chapter ends…
The suggested gospel lesson for today is taken fromthat second portion of Luke’s fourth chapter. Jesushas had quite a walk back from the River Jordan andhe is back in His hometown, as I’ve mentioned. Onthe Sabbath day he went to the synagogue in Hishometown of Nazareth..
He stood up to read. The scroll from the prophetIsaiah, the sixty-first chapter, verses one and two:
“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on Me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor…He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives, and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor…”
At this point Jesus rolled up the scroll and gaveit back to the attendant and sat down. All eyesin the synagogue were upon Him. The commentmade by Jesus [to me] seems riveting.
“Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
The implication was that Isaiah’s prophesy fromseven hundred years prior was being fulfilled throughJesus as He is about to begin His ministry in Galilee.What was predicted, or prophesized, hundreds ofyears before, would be fulfilled in the life and ministryof the One proclaiming—thus—as He read the Word.
When I think about this unique moment in history, I also think of two things that happened in my life. One was watching President John Kennedy on television giving his Inauguration Speech and saying, “Ask not what your country can do for you, not what you can do for your country.” The other is accompanying my dear Dad to the local railroad station in North La Crosse, Wisconsin, at the age of five years old, and having Dad put me on his shoulders to see and hear President Harry Truman speak to a small, shivering crowd gathered at the last car of his campaign train…
There was snow on the ground. It was freezing.The message was brief, as I remember, but the impact of seeing President Truman has stayed with me for over seventy years. What’s my point?
Well, millions can share the experience of havingwatched President Kennedy and this famous speech on television. Yet, although it actually happened, it still seems rather distant, although impressive.Indeed, in the case of the Truman experience, it hasalways seemed impressive, but in addition, personaland unique, grounded in time and somehow muchmore real, associated with flesh and blood. Dad wasone of those old-fashioned Republicans, and yet,later that year, he voted for Truman. His assurancewas justified, as most historians would note.
So, too, is the experience of knowing about Jesus’personal appeal to the people He grew up with. Andof course, there was going to be a negative reaction.
Who did this Jesus now think—or imagine—Himself to be? Wasn’t He the son of the “local” carpenter, Joseph and his young wife, Mary. They were just normally, work-a-day folks in town. Now, this Jesus, would perceive Himself the fulfillment of the ancient prophet…even the greatest, like Isaiah…Come on, now!
The people in the synagogue became furious andliterally drove Him out of town. They followed Himand intended to throw Him over a cliff…
But…
“….He walked right through the crowd and went on his way….” (Luke 4:30)
The scene in the synagogue always seemed idyllicto me…but really…it’s momentous to consider thatGod presents Himself…that is…makes Himself known…fulfills His promises—yes—reveals Himself within the context of simple events in the course of our lives and times. He makes Himself known mostpowerfully when we can no longer shut Him out, butsee Him within the context of the “nitty-gritty” of ourlives. He makes a real, powerful difference. Our livesare impacted by His divine and loving touch…withinthe common experiences of our lives. We don’t forgetthis, because we are illuminated by the experience, just as I’ve kept the memory of seeing Truman on my Dad’s shoulders. Yes, God makes Himself known to uswithin the everyday experiences of our lives. In ourhometown. In the church we attend. Extraordinaryextraordiary events—right under our noses. We are daily transformed by God’s intervention in our lives…into the hardest of human hearts…
God makes Himself known. Jesus becomes real to us.
Often what is perceived as ordinary, just for the moment,becomes dynamic and extraordinary, beyond any vision we could possibly have.
The question is—Are we aware of it? Did I know when I was five years old, I’d still be remembering seeingPresident Harry Truman in person. Even if I would, is it possible I would eventually consider Truman exceptional, or among other presidents, great…and not just a personworthy of note. Jesus becomes large to us as we continueto think on Him and note His greatness in our midst.
Just to say—God is great. Jesus is love. Jesus willfaithful, ever so carefully, causing things to happen tosave us and draw us near to Him. Are we taking note? Are we aware?
Could we be, on the other hand, like the hometown people in Nazareth who could only see Jesus the way they “had” seen Him or perceived Him to be—growing up. Are we—am I—guilty of marginalizing the legacy of the Christ? We need to be careful.The Lord Jesus was—and is great…
He is, indeed, worthy to be praised!
Cordially, Tom
So good. Thank you.