Rejection at Nazareth

Context

Series: I Have Decided to Follow Jesus.

Last few Sundays. Jesus baptized and identified as the Son of God. Jesus’ first miracle, and his disciples believe in him.

Since then he has begun preaching and performing miracles, such as giving sight to the blind and driving out demons.

Today, Jesus comes to his hometown of Nazareth in Galilee. His reputation precedes him.

Text

Luke 4:14–30 ESV

And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” And all spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth. And they said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?” And he said to them, “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘ “Physician, heal yourself.” What we have heard you did at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well.’ ” And he said, “Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown. But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens were shut up three years and six months, and a great famine came over all the land, and 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 lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” When they heard these things, all in the synagogue were filled with wrath. And they rose up and drove him out of the town and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could throw him down the cliff. But passing through their midst, he went away.

Introduction

A personal mission statement is a statement that defines your values, who you are on how you define success. A personal mission statement can be used to guide your decisions and help you stay focused to meet your long-term goals. A personal mission statement creates boundaries that make decision-making easier, as it's easier to see whether your decisions align with your long-term goals. (Indeed.com) Examples of Mission Statements:

“To do the best work I can to help the most people possible.”

“To leave the world a better place than I found it.”

"To inspire others to live the life of their dreams."

"To positively impact the life of every person I encounter."

"To create new opportunities for today's youth."

Today is about Jesus’ mission statement. And what that has to do with us.

Exegesis 1: Jesus’ Mission

Jesus comes to church in his hometown.

Recognized as an emerging rabbi and perhaps prophet, Jesus is given the privilege of reading and commenting for the day.

He is given the scroll of Isaiah and he searches out the passage he wishes to preach on.

Isaiah 61:1–5 “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor…

A ministry of proclamation, freedom, healing, and restoration.

Originally written hundreds of years earlier by Isaiah in reference to himself giving hope to the Jews exiled in Babylon.

In Jesus’ day widely considered to be descriptive of the Messiah who would liberate them from the oppression of Rome.

Hopeful text, rousing text. Our day is coming!

Jesus then begins to preach.

Message: Today is Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing. Isaiah was talking about me.

Not liberation from the power of Rome.

His focus was on a higher plane. There was spiritual kingdom of sin and death that must be broken by the power of love, truth, and healing that only he as the Son of God could bring.

The Spirit of the Lord upon me - a reference to his baptism, uniquely potent spiritual presence.

to bring good news

to proclaim liberty

to give sight

to rescue

to proclaim God’s favor!

And all of this for the outcast, oppressed, the sinner, the blind, the poor,…those most needy…for they represent the need that all people have

all people need freedom, sight, hope, and rescue for God’s Kingdom.

They were amazed at these gracious words!

Jesus’ mission statement: I have come to proclaim and enact the Kingdom of God.

That’s a mission statement!

Implication 1: Our mission

We are baptized into Christ. We are mystically joined to him. (as we discussed two weeks ago).

We are part of his mission.

Citation from the Book of Order (F-1.01):

In Christ, the Church participates in God’s mission for the transformation of creation and humanity by proclaiming to all people the good news of God’s love, offering to all people the grace of God at font and table, and calling all people to discipleship in Christ.

We Christians have a mission with Christ.

transforming creation and humanity

BY proclaiming Good News, offering grace, and calling into discipleship.

Sometimes nagging voice: “I’m not part of something special” because I’m not a political leader or a celebrity or rich and powerful….not according to God. You are part of Jesus’ mission.

Now that it a mission statement!

Exegesis 2: Resistance to Jesus

The congregation listening to Jesus had a complicated response.

At first… they spoke well of him and marveled at his teaching.

But the more Jesus began to clearly link the prophecy of Isaiah with himself…

The more they began to balk: “Is not this Joseph’s son?”

We know him and where he comes from…I remember him climbing the olive tree in my backyard. I remember we used to play in the street together.

Now we are supposed to believe he is this great Anointed One, the Christ? (which means anointed)

Irony: the thing that should connect them to Jesus, is what causes them to reject him.

"Familiarity breeds contempt.”

“A prophet is honored everywhere except among his own people.”

With sadness Jesus connects their response to a long standing problem with God’s people. 800 years earlier…

If Israelites had repented, the great prophet Elijah could have prayed for and obtained an end to a famine…but he was rejected and could only bring refreshment to a foreign widow. - I Kings 17.

Elisha, also a prophet was rejected by those whom he could have healed, but only a foreigner recieved his help. - 2 Kings 5 .

Jesus is essentially saying to the congregation that just like their ancestors, they are rejecting the help and healing that God offers them, this time through Jesus himself.

He even foresees his crucifixion.

Sure you will say to me — physician heal yourself! and, Let’s see those miracles you are famous for!

He prophetically quotes the words that will be mockingly said to him when he is on the cross, even if not by these exact people. (Luke 23:35)

Deep wound in Jesus’ heart.

He will not have his hometown support.

They miss out on going with him on this mission.

All because they think: Since he is one of us…he cannot bring divine help..

Hebrews 4:15–16 “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

Implication 2: Facing rejection

We were baptized into Jesus’ mission.

We are baptized into his rejection too.

Not everyone we are sent to will respond quickly or easily to the good news Jesus has given us to share.

You all accept me as a minister because you only know me as a minister. When I go back home to where I grew up…old friends can say…you became a minister…you who used to ________. Parachute pants, Echo and the Bunnymen.

Well, I don’t where parachute pants anymor…

Of course, I could say the same thing: you are a doctor/CEO now? I remember when….

Hard to see those we know well in their full rights…

Great mystery of being in Christ: we have a mission to our own, and yet because they are our own, we can be embraced or rejected.

2 Corinthians 4:7 “But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.”

Other people cannot take away our call. They did not give it. God did. In Christ.

How others respond does not determine whether we are called by God. God has given us a mission in Christ.

That means it endures.

Exegesis 3: Jesus Continues His Mission

Jesus is hurt, the people are enraged and at his suggestion that they are rejecting God by rejecting him..

So they rush him… literally. Emphasize the physicality of it all. “Drove” him to the edge of town, to a cliff. They brought him to the edge. To throw him down. Like in the movies, being thrown out of a bar…and don’t come back!

Death or serious injury is immanent.

Then Luke writes something enigmatic.

But passing through their midst, Jesus went away.

A miracle?

Perhaps.

Upshot: Jesus’ ministry will continue. They don’t want to be a part of the mission, but the mission is still going to proceed.

And proceed it did until he made it to Jerusalem and to the cross, where he was taunted, but willingly gave his life to pay for all sins and rejection of God, and then rose again on the third day to show the Lord’s favor and healing for all.

And on his resurrection day, he said to Mary Magdalene, tell my brothers to go back to Galilee…there they will see me.

Jesus goes back to his hometown as the risen Lord.

There he issues his command:

Great Commission, go into all the world and teach them and baptize them.

Home-towners have the first chance to believe again.

Thank you Jesus, for passing through our midst and coming back again for us!

Implication 3: Staying on Jesus’ Mission

We, too, should be grateful that no amount of rejection has ever stopped Jesus.

He has patiently overcome our own resistance. Some of us have been doubters, we have been resistant. We have been hostile. But Jesus patiently passed through that and brought us life.

Believing in him now, we are to role-model after him.

Opposition should never stop us from following Jesus’ command and example to share the good news.

Rejection and opposition just means we wait, and pray, and live for God, and do what he has for us to do.

If we are rejected here, then we go there. If our message is rebuffed now, we wait till then.

For as long as we are alive, we have a mission.

I guess God still has something for me to do…

we are to pass through every circumstance with our eyes of our mission — sharing and enacting the good news that Jesus is the Son of God for us.

Conclusion

A personal mission statement is a statement that defines your values, who you are, and how you define success.

Elijah: Knowing God as Lord, I will end famine, so that people turn back to God.

Jesus: Knowing the Spirit is upon me, I will die and rise again, so that all people will know the love of God.

Your mission statement?

Knowing Jesus as my Lord and Savior, I willl____so that_____.

Prayers of Intercession

God of prophets and apostles, you call us to restore that which is broken Rev. 21:1 and to proclaim your vision of a world made new. Create in us new hearts and strong voices as we pray. Ps. 51:10 God, fill us with the power of your Spirit .

Luke 4:14 We pray for those who have been anointed or chosen as leaders of people, Luke 4:18 that they may attend to the voices of their people and be guided by you. God, fill us with the power of your Spirit .

We pray for pastors and teachers of the church, that they may faithfully interpret your Word for others. Neh. 8:8 God, fill us with the power of your Spirit .

We pray for those who are poor and in need of assistance, and for ourselves, that we may open our hearts to their cries for help. God, fill us with the power of your Spirit .

We pray for those who are the captives of war and the victims of violence; Luke 4:18 may we bring them good news both in word and deed. 1 John 3:18 God, fill us with the power of your Spirit .

We pray for those with physical challenges and spiritual struggles; Luke 4:18 make us agents of healing and hope. God, fill us with the power of your Spirit .

We pray for those who are oppressed by powers beyond their control; Luke 4:18 give us courage to work to set them free. God, fill us with the power of your Spirit .

God of the Jubilee, Lev. 25:10 make us the body of the risen Christ, 1 Cor. 12:27 united, in all our diversity. Animate us by your Holy Spirit 1 Cor. 12:13 that together we may work toward your coming kingdom. Luke 11:2 In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen

— Long, Kimberly Bracken.