From Manger to Mission: Living a Transformed Life Year-Round

Reading of the Word

Luke 4:16–30 NASB 2020

And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read. And the scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to Him. And He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: “the spirit of the lord is upon me, because he anointed me to bring good news to the poor. he has sent me to proclaim release to captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.” And He rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down; and the eyes of all the people in the synagogue were intently directed at Him. Now He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” And all the people were speaking well of Him, and admiring the gracious words which were coming from His lips; and yet they were saying, “Is this not Joseph’s son?” And He said to them, “No doubt you will quote this proverb to Me: ‘Physician, heal yourself! All the miracles that we heard were done in Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well.’ ” But He said, “Truly I say to you, no prophet is welcome in his hometown. But I say to you in truth, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the sky was shut up for three years and six months, when a severe famine came over all the land; and yet Elijah was sent to none of them, but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. And there were many with leprosy in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” And all the people in the synagogue were filled with rage as they heard these things; and they got up and drove Him out of the city, and brought Him to the crest of the hill on which their city had been built, so that they could throw Him down from the cliff. But He passed through their midst and went on His way.

Prayer of Illumination

Heavenly Father, As we open Your Word, illuminate our hearts and minds. May Your Holy Spirit guide us in understanding and applying Your truth. Transform us through Your Word, drawing us closer to You. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Introduction

Remember the last time you found a remarkable place or event? Maybe it was a concert or a beautiful beach. You wanted everyone to experience it with you. That’s what Jesus’ birth is like! Instead of lingering by the manger, let us take that excitement into the world, inviting others to encounter the joy and hope we found in Him.

Today marks the final day of the Christmas Season. Soon, the decorations will be packed away, the singing of carols will fade, and life will return to the rhythms of normalcy. Yet, the Christ child and the Christmas Season leave us with gifts that endure—joy, hope, peace, and love. As we conclude this season, we are invited to carry these gifts forward.

This Scripture shifts our focus to Jesus as an adult. His birth is behind us, His dedication is complete, and the wise men have returned home. This progression is deeply significant—it reminds us that we, too, are called to move beyond the nativity. Jesus doesn’t want us to linger at the manger. The Church, in its wisdom, gives us a Christmas Season with a clear beginning and end for this very reason.

As we enter Ordinary Time, we are reminded that our faith is not meant to be static. Jesus calls us to grow—to deepen our relationship with Him and to grow in him on our journey of faith. Just as the story of Jesus unfolds beyond Bethlehem, so must our faith grow beyond the celebration of His birth, shaping every day of our lives.

1. Proclaiming a Purposeful Life

Luke 4:16-21

The spirit of Christmas is a beautiful thing, but true transformation doesn’t happen at the manger—it happens at the cross.

The heart of the mission at hand leads us to Calvary and the empty tomb.

Remember what I said the goal of Jesus was in coming to earth. He lived to die.

Before the creation of the world, Jesus had his eyes on the cross because he knew it would be necessary to save us from the worst disease possible known as sin.

Christ enters the Temple, ready to reveal to His hometown people who He truly is.

He has no rabbinical education but has a good reputation as a teacher and so he is invited to read and teach for his first time at the Temple.

He intentionally opens the scroll to the prophet Isaiah and reads a passage that that they all knew well that proclaims prophecy about the Messiah.

It tells us of his mission, his divine character and his special graces for it. He was about to make it very clear that he is who Isaiah was talking about hundreds of years prior.

The line was about to be drawn with His very own townspeople—a line in history that would change the world forever.

Jesus opens the reading confirming the Trinity at work in this plan.

The Father’s Hand is upon all that he does.

The Holy Spirit is at work in leading Christ in the mission at hand.

Jesus is there to fulfill the mission given by the Father so that relationship can be restored between God and humanity.

He was anointed to bring Good News to the poor.

The Good News of healing, through the message of the Gospel, was going to come forth through his mouth. Freedom has come, but not in the way they expected.

We are called to bring Good News to the poor in spirit.

In a village, a young girl discovered a hidden treasure map. Excited, she invited her friends to join her in finding the treasure. When they finally uncovered it, they shared it with the entire community, making sure everyone had a piece. Similarly, we have found the treasure of the Good News, and it’s our joy to share it with those who desperately need it!

c. This Good News proclaims to the world that Jesus will offer a beautiful release to those enslaved by sin, breaking its power over them.

d. He came to restore lives physically through the miracles he was doing.

e. Jesus came to set us free spiritually. We were once captive to sin but now we can be alive in God through Christ’s life, death, and resurrection.

Paul and Silas were in chains but instead of having a pity party, they worshiped and praised God.

Through the power of Christ, the chains fell off and they were set free!

2. Pushing Through Perception

Luke 4:22-24

Jesus gives the scroll back to the attendant and sits down. They stared at him, waiting to hear him speak a word. When he does, they are amazed.

Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing

New American Standard Bible (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 2020), Lk 4:21.

They admired what came from his mouth. Grace poured from his lips and the people responded as someone would when the Good News impacts their soul.

Quickly, that amazement turns to doubt.

They began to whisper to one another and remembered that he was just one of them, a common person who took on his earthly father’s trade as a carpenter.

There’s no way that the Messiah can come from Nazareth! His claims were nothing but wishful thinking.

Satan will bring doubt into the life of the believer in any way that he can.

Consider Peter walking on water. Initially filled with faith, he stepped out boldly. But then, as the winds howled and the waves crashed, doubt crept in, and he began to sink. We often find ourselves in similar situations, where the storms of life make us second-guess everything we believe. Jesus responded not with anger but with grace, reaching out to save Peter. In our moments of doubt, God is ever ready to pull us back to safety if we only reach out to Him.

Before the crowd has a chance to respond, Jesus tells those in attendance exactly what they are about to say.

They heard of proof of him doing miracles among strangers. They wanted to see the same.

At this point, doubt has turned to unbelief. They were looking for proof that he said who he said he is.

Even if he did miracles by the hundreds there, they wouldn’t have believed him. Sound familiar? The Pharisees were the same way.

He calls them out on their unbelief.

They reject his message and it was a sign that the Jewish people would do the same.

As Jesus concludes speaking, unbelief turns to fury.

amazement———-> doubt———> unbelief———-> fury

They were full of pride and couldn’t stomach the claims that he made about himself.

There was a transformation that happened here that challenged the status quo of society and everything they believed.

This transformation that Jesus wanted to bring by dividing history was one they openly rejected.

The line was to bring the new that would bring change. They wanted to remain in their old ways.

The congregation becomes an angry mob and they are now looking to kill Jesus.

People in society hate the Name of Jesus.

They gather together and drive him out of the city, with their goal being to drive him off the cliff.

Throughout His ministry, we see Jesus consistently escaping dangerous situations. No one would take His life from Him; He was determined to lay it down willingly.

But this would mark the beginning of continuous rejection, just as Simeon had warned Mary. These rejections would pierce her heart, especially when she knew, without a doubt, who He truly was.

This calls us to pursue Jesus, even as the world places adversity in your path. The world will identify you as many different things but God has given you the blessing of being called his child.

Continue to seek holiness, even when the world of adversity tries to persuade you otherwise.

3. Pursuing Outreach Beyond Bounds

Luke 4:25-30

In response to their unbelief, Jesus simply moved on to another place where people would listen to and embrace His message.

In Luke 9:5, Jesus tells the disciples what to do if they reject the message that they bring.

Luke 9:5 NASB 2020

And as for all who do not receive you, when you leave that city, shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.”

We are called to share the Gospel, even in the midst of adversity.

It won’t be popular; it will bring ridicule and persecution; but it is the message that brings the line that transforms a life full of sin and darkness into one that is full of life, freedom, and light.

Often, the Gospel will be rejected, and we will be led to move on and share and bless others in new places.

Rejection is inevitable, but don’t let it steal your hope.

Moving on is just a necessary part of our faith journey and we trust God to continue in leading us where he calls us to.

If people won’t listen to the Good News we share, remember that you’ve fulfilled your calling. The seed has been planted, and now it’s in the hands of the Holy Spirit to work.

To Sum It Up

The essence of Christmas transcends a single day; it calls for us to engage in a life that bears witness to the transformational power of Christ every day, affecting our communities and ourselves.

Conclusion

The teaching that we find of Jesus today calls us to live out our faith every day, not just during the Christmas season. Celebrating Christ’s birth is meaningful, but as Christians, we are called to embody His transformative message year-round. Our lives should reflect His lordship in every area, influencing our communities and making His presence known daily. Furthermore, we are commissioned to take this Good News to the world, sharing the hope of Jesus with those who have yet to encounter Him.

While some will reject this message, and even hatred for the name of Jesus may persist, the hope it brings remains steadfast. It is a hope that transcends rejection, offering light and life in the midst of darkness. Let the line of history give you hope as you share the Gospel Light. Let it transform you and allow holiness of heart to be your aim. May we move on from the message of Christmas, sharing the love that Jesus brought through becoming one of us.

I leave you with the words of John Piper. May it be our prayer and the prayer for all those we encounter with the Good News of Jesus.

“Open your heart to receive the best present imaginable: Jesus giving himself to die for you and to serve you all the rest of eternity. Receive this. Turn away from self help and sin. Become like little children. Trust him. Trust him. Trust him with your life,” (John Piper, The Dawning of Indestructible Joy: Daily Readings for Advent, 24).

Prayer Following Message

Lord, Thank You for speaking to us through Your Word today. As we go from this place, help us to live out the truths we have heard. Strengthen our faith, guide our actions, and empower us to share the hope of Jesus with those around us. May Your Word continue to transform our hearts and lead us to a deeper relationship with You. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Benediction

As we close this Christmas season and celebrate the revelation of Christ to the world, may the light of His presence continue to shine brightly in your hearts. May you go forth in the joy and peace He brings, sharing His love and hope with all you encounter. As the Magi followed the star to find the Savior, may you be led by His light in the days ahead. Go in peace, to love and serve the Lord. Amen.