The Message of Christ: Stumbling Block or Stepping Stone

Luke 4:16-30

Today, our discussion picks up where we last left off in the Gospel of Luke. Previously, we unpacked the temptations Christ endured in the wilderness, setting an example for His followers on how to overcome temptations & trials.

Now, we read how Jesus returned to His hometown, a place of familiarity for Jesus; it was the place where He grew up, where’s His family was, where friends were, a place where He learned from His earthly father, and where His Heavenly Father prepared Him. And, in coming home we see Jesus invited to speak at the local synagogue on the Sabbath. A lot had happened since Christ had left for His Jordan River baptism, and word was spreading. This contributed in many ways to the invitation He received to read and teach Scripture.

Jesus would read from Isaiah 61:1–2. What He claimed about these verses struck a cord with those listening, and it’s His claim we focus on today.

His claim (here and in other parts of Scripture) served as a stumbling block for those listening then and sadly, for many folks today.

May our prayer be as we unfold and unpack Christ’s claim—rather than seeing Jesus as a stumbling block, we would see Him as THE foundational stepping stone to faith and of our faith.

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I. (v.16) Setting and Set-up

Luke 4:16 “So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read.”

Jesus had returned to His hometown—where He grew up and was raised; remember a little about Nazareth

A quiet & small town, of little fame

A ready-made town for close community & neighborliness

A town in touch with the modern life (of that age)

A town where Christ had the opportunity to study the nature of man, their nationalities—and come to witness the brokenness in the world, stirring His compassion to His mission/purpose

Jesus entered the synagogue on the Sabbath— “as His custom was;” this shows us His

Faithfullness of worship

Faithfullness to the church (the body)

Jesus entered the same synagogue He grew up him & attended as a child,

A place where everyone would have known everyone

A place where Jesus and those there were neighbors, some even close to His family

The synagogue itself, was the

Most important institution in the life of a Jew

Center of worship in the life of a Jew; a center of teaching & learning

Located in every colony, no matter how small, of the Hebrew people

This synagogue

Had no minister or preacher as we know them, leaders would simply invite someone to come read & preach—in this case, Jesus Himself

II. (v.17-21) A reading and a proclamation

(CONTEXT 1)—The reading from the prophet Isaiah (centered on the coming Messiah)

Luke 4:17–19 “And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.””

(FIRST)--Note Jesus’ reverance for God’s Word at the end of verse 16, “and stood up to read.”

(SECOND)—Note what Isaiah says about the Messiah:

The Messiah was to have the Spirit laid upon Him; this was vividly seen in the account of Jesus’ baptism and demonstrated

God’s anointing of His Son with the Holy Spirit (Luke 3:22 “And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him...”)

God’s pleasure in His Son (Luke 3:22 “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well pleased.”)

The Messiah was anointed (called and equipped) to preach the gospel to two classes of people

He was to preach to the poor

He was to preach deliverance to the captives

The Messiah was to minister—His ministry was three-fold

To heal the brokenhearted

To give sight to the blind

To give liberty to those who were bruised

The Messiah was to preach the age of salvation

“Acceptable year” means the era, age, or day of salvation—that the age of the Messiah had come

(CONTEXT 2)—The claim Jesus made, shocked and shook those who were listening

Luke 4:20–21“Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.””

Note the scene:

Jesus closed the book (scroll) & handed it to the attendant

Jesus sat down—which was the posture for preaching/teaching in the synagogue

The people’s eye’s “were fixed,” or “were fastened”—meaning,

People were gazing @ Christ, as if they were spellbound;

Jesus had their undivided attention

Note the importance of the statement, “This day/today” which cannot be emphasized enough--for those there and people today)

What the people expected (most likely) was that Jesus would teach and expand on Isaiah’s prophecy, that He would draw out some truth or meaning related to coming Messiah. Why?

The people thought of the Messiah and the Messianic age in terms of the future—of something yet to come;

Sadly, however, they missed the fact that the Messiah Himself was in their midst, walking among them—leading them to cross (where salvation would be won for them)

Just as sad, if not more--how many continue to miss Him and His message

Just as sad, if not more—how many continue to hear the gospel message, but remain jaded/rebellious/calloused towards Christ

Just as sad, is how many people stumble in thinking the message of the Messiah is not for them, can’t be for them, even shouldn’t be for them.

Just as sad, if not more—how many have felt the conviction & tug of the Holy Spirit, yet kick against the goads, b/c if hard-hearts, selfish hearts, or hearts

Further, the people’s thoughts of the Messiah and His coming were miguided,

Anticipating an earthly throne—a “throne” established according to their means & expectations, not God’s (isn’t man today the same?)

Anticipating overthrows, coups, and military conquests

Thinking only of bondage in terms of Roman tyranny—rather than sin’s tyranny

What the people heard—“Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

(BIBLICAL APPLICATIONS FOR YOU AND I)

The truth of God’s Word; God’s Word (This truth cannot be overstated, reverance for God’s Word must continually be at the forefront of a person’s life—for without reverance, a person—at best—will have knowledge of Christ; but without reverence a person will lack understanding of Christ, and without understanding, a person stands to be without the message of Christ--just as these people did and so many others have):

God’s Word

Is where/how God reveals Himself to us—who He is, what His nature and character are; and what His purpose is for man (for you)

Is where salvation is found

Is the lamp/light to the believer’s walk/faith

Is the means by which believers grow more and more in the image of Jesus Christ

The true message seen in God’s Word:

(FIRST) What Jesus Christ was to preach....the gospel

Used here, this translation of the GRK word gospel is, “euaggelizo”, pronounced yoo-ang-ghel-id-zo-- it is where we get the word “evangelize;” it is an action word, which means:

To announce or preach the good news--that is the gospel (what we know as the good news of Jesus Christ)

To bring or show glad tidings

To declare glad tidings

(SECOND) Who Jesus Christ was to preach the good news to two types:

“The poor’—the Greek here is descriptive; the poor person is

The beggar, one who crouches and cowers, hiding oneself out of fear,

The poverty-stricken person, powerless to “enrich” themselves (get themselves out of their condition)

The poverty-stricken person, desperately in need of “good tidings,” or good news

The Greek for poor becomes even more descriptive through the lens of Genesis 3.

Up until Adam and Eve distrusted in God’s goodness and thus disobeyed Him, they had known anything but being poor:

They knew the richness of their relationship

They knew the richness of the image they bore

They knew the richness of living in a place of perfection with the Lord

At the moment sin entered their hearts, notice their actions

They tried to cover themselves

They tried to hide from God

Notice the motivation behind their actions, seen in Adam’s response:

Genesis 3:10 “So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.””

Notice how—in their sin—their awareness turned to what they lacked and what replaced their contentment was fear.

The good news preached to the poor, says:

In Jesus Christ

A person no longer lives with a spirit of fear, but with a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind

2 Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

A person no longer lives spiritually malnourished, but nourished by Jesus Christ, who is the bread of life and the living water

John 6:48 “I am the bread of life.”

A person can live in the “unsearchable riches” of Christ

(TURN AND READ EPHESIANS 1:3-14)

What breaks my heart is there are so many people who are poor and in need of Jesus who have no idea they are poor and in need of Jesus

What about “the captive?”—the Greek here, again is descriptive; a “captive”

Literally--it means “one taken (or captured) by the spear,”—by force

It pictures a prisoner of war

What’s the good news for the “prisoner of war”

We must understand what man has been captivated, or kidnapped by:

The force of sin: Every person sin, therefore every person is held captive by sin

Sin is the war we face, and is what imprisons a person, it holds us forcefully—a force we are unable to break free from

The force of corruption and death: The whole of creation has been corrupted by sin and therefore is wasting away, deteriorating & decaying, and eventually dies—this corruption and death is was has also captivated/kidnapped man

The force of Satan. All unbelievers are under the power and influence of Satan; they have been blinded to the reality of the gospel (this isn’t something people like to hear, but not wanting to hear it, doesn’t make it less true…in fact it’s Biblical):

2 Corinthians 4:4 “whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.”

Ephesians 2:2 “in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,”

We must understand the truth of “redemption”:

Redemption conveys the idea of deliverance, or setting a person free by paying a ransom; a prisoner of war/kidnapped person is ransomed or redeemed; a convicted criminal is free from penalty of death—in EVERY CASE, the person is unable to free/liberate themself; they cannot pay the penalty

Redemption—Biblically—carries three ideas:

A person needs to be liberated, delivered, and set free

A person is unable to liberate themself—we have no energy/power/ability to free ourselves from being sin’s POWs

A person is redeemed (ransomed) only thru the blood of Jesus Christ—God Himself has paid the ransom for a person’s release from sin

The ransom was a life for a life—God’s only begotten Son for us (for you, for me)

Redemption is through the richness of God’s grace

Leviticus 17:11 “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.’”

Romans 3:24 “being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,”

The ministry of Jesus Christ is (1) to heal, (2) to give sight to, and (3) to liberate

(FIRST) Sin is the disease which has broken us (all of us); it

Crushes us with grief

Shatters us with guilt

Oppresses us & violates us

Leaves us bankrupt, beaten down, and broken

Sin is the disease that blinds us:

From the reality of the cross

From the truth of Jesus Christ

From realizing God’s love, grace, and mercy towards us

From realizing the image we were created in and to bear

Sin is the disease that

Shackles us

Binds us, and

Imprisons us

(SECOND) To heal—in the Greek this means “to cure,” or “to make whole.”

Jesus Christ came “to cure,” and “to make man whole,” and it’s through the ministry of the cross by which we are cured and made whole

Jesus came to give sight to the spiritually blind

The account of Bartimaues (Mark 10:45-52) is a picture of man’s blindness and God’s mercy to open our eyes

Jesus came to set at liberty those who have been

Disabled/injured

Wounded/hurting

Afflicted/battered

How did Christ minister? What was Christ’s ministry—the cross:

Those who are grief stricken—find wholeness through the cross

Those who’s lives have been shattered—find wholeness thru the cross

Those who’ve been cast out/opposed/caused to feel less then—find their wholeness thru the cross

Those who’ve seen addictions subdue and injure—find their wholeness thru the cross

Broken homes—find their mending through the cross

Broken marriages—find their restoration thru the cross

Wayward children—find their way home thru the cross

***True enrichment, true healing, true liberty, true life is found through the ministry of Christ and Christ crucified; this is the statement Jesus Christ was declaring—that He was the Messiah, He was the anointed and sent one, He was the One to heal, give sight, and liberate, He was the One to free the bound and broken***

Note what Paul says about Christ’s ministry of the cross—of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2 “For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” )

How many people, “put off” making a decision for Christ

How many people walk with assumption they

“Have time”

Can live for themselves now, then live for God later?

How many people continue to “miss” Christ

IV. (v.22-23) The People’s Response

Luke 4:22–23 “So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, “Is this not Joseph’s son?” He said to them, “You will surely say this proverb to Me, ‘Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in Your country.’ ””

(CONTEXT)

The people were at first impressed

“…all bore witness to Him...”

“…(all) marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth.”

But then, Jesus’ words began to sink in and they began to question--“Is this not Joseph’s son?” (Matthew’s account is more descriptive:)

Matthew 13:55–57a “Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?” So they were offended at Him...”

“Offended” means they stumbled over Him

“How could someone from their own town—someone who they had known since a child, be the Messiah”

The people then demanded proof

In their minds there thoughts were drifting to demaning proof, that He had to heal, prove Himself by working miracles in their midst

(APPLICATION)

Notice the progression

They were impressed

They questioned

They demanded proof

Notice that people today aren’t that different

We like what we hear about salvation, God’s grace and mercy—until the reality of what it means to follow Him sinks in

The reality is, so many people would rather their ears be ticketed than have their hearts be convicted.

2 Timothy 4:3–4 “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.”

I believe so many people are “good with Christ” being their Savior, yet stumble at His claims to count the cost of following Him

“Wait, you mean it will be hard?” YES

“Wait, you mean I mean I have to give up my life?” YES

“Wait, you mean I have to do it your way God?” YES

“Wait, you mean it’s Jesus plus nothing, not Jesus plus something?” YES

I believe so many people are “good with Christ” being their Savior, so long as Christ doesn’t disrupt their way of life or their plans

I believe so many people make empty professions— “I know Jesus, means NOTHING if you are not KNOWN by Him

I believe so many people are “good with Christ” being their fire insurance instead of their life insurance

I believe so many people wear a cross around their neck, but not a cross over their heart

I believer so many people treat God’s Word like the “genie’s lamp,”—let me rub the lamp three times and get some wishes granted

V. (v.24-27) The People’s Rejection

Luke 4:24–27 “Then He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own country. But I tell you truly, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a great famine throughout all the land; but to none of them was Elijah sent except to Zarephath, in the region of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.””

(CONTEXT)

Jesus knew that the people had already rejected Him and He would not gratify their desire for “signs and wonders.”

(BIBLICAL APPLICATION)

What these verses teach us?

Salvation is not a salvation of feelings, of emotions, and of repeated miracles and wonders

Salvation requires more than “mere” confession—more than just “thinking” one is chosen of God; a person’s heart must be turned to God

God DOES NOT grant His mercy & grace to those who merely “think” they are right with God—He gives His mercy and grace to those who’s hearts are turned to God

In the account of Elijah and the widow, why would God only help the one poor widow? She was the only one whose heart was turned to God and who accepted Him

The account of Elisha and the leper is the same, why? The one leper was the only one whose heart was turned to God.

VI. (v.28-30) The People’s True spirit

Luke 4:28–30 “So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff. Then passing through the midst of them, He went His way.”

(CLOSING and WORSHIP)

Why is Jesus Christ—and His message—such a stumbling block? Because His claims require that we check our “self” at the door

We must give up everything—no matter “how good we think we are”

Luke 18:18–24 “Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ ” And he said, “All these things I have kept from my youth.” So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich. And when Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful, He said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!”

We must surrender to the truth there is only one way—and it’s not our way

John 14:6 “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

We must surrender to the truth that the way of the cross is hard

Luke 18:25 “For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.””

We recognize the narrow road which leads to Heaven

Matthew 7:13–14 ““Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

We must come to grips with the truth—that apart from Christ—we are spiritually bankrupt and bound

Matthew 5:3 ““Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

John 8:31–36 “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?” Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”

We must come to terms with the truth that we must die to ourselves

Do these claims of Christ and what it means to follow Him offend you? Are you offended in hearing how sin has broken you, blinded you, and bound you?

I will lovingly never cease to preach that man is a sinner in need of Savior. I cannot and will not water down the gospel, b/c when it comes to the gospel, it will offend…(John MacArthur) “Don't ever water down the gospel. If the truth offends, then let it offend. People have been living their whole lives in offense to God; let them be offended for a while.

Do these claims cause you to stumble and say:

“It’s too much for me”

“I have time to figure this out”

“Isn’t there a different way?”

Might I encourage you, might I urge you to see these claims and others as a “stepping stone?”

“Ok God, you say your yoke is easy and your burden is light! My sin is so heavy and I’ve tried everything else—I am choosing you.”

“Ok God, I have tried every which way I know to find acceptance, fulfillment, and approval, but you say You are the way—I am choosing you

“Ok God, you say the way of the cross is hard, but Word says Christ went ahead of me, so I will take up my cross and follow you!”

“Ok God, I’ve been rejected and cast aside all my life, I’ve been told I have no worth or no value, but Your Word says I was fearfully and wonderfully made in Your image—so I am choosing that

I believe fear is the greatest roadblock to a person stepping out in faith; but can I remind you of six of Jesus’ words which are my favorite

Mark 5:36 “As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not be afraid; only believe.””

or (2) see them as a stepping stone