Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Staci and the boys leaving: freedom!

Peace and quiet, productivity, knock things off of the to-do-list, but ready for them to be home.

Anxiously awaiting their return.

Homecoming will be great!

- Jesus returns to His hometown, Nazareth.

He’s been away for over a year, and much has happened.

Crowds have followed Him as He has healed the sick and taught with authority.

He has even raised people from the dead.

Word has gotten back to Nazareth about His ministry.

You’d expect a celebratory homecoming, but instead unbelief.

People in Nazareth thought they knew Jesus, but the reality was they really didn’t know Him at all.

Unbelief - Perhaps all of us in this room would say we believe, but do we?

Could it be of us that we think we know Jesus, but the reality is that we don’t know Him at all? Do we struggle with unbelief more than we care to admit?

This morning, two questions to help us with our struggle of unbelief.

Do we believe the message of Jesus?

Second time Jesus has gone to Nazareth since He began His ministry.

- Jesus was 30 when He began His public ministry, and He went to Nazareth shortly after His baptism and temptation.

Nazareth - a place where everyone knows your name - about 500 people.

(Today about 76,000)

For 30 years, people of Nazareth got to know Jesus.

He was Joseph’s son, the carpenter, trained by his father.

For years, he worked alongside his father.

Perhaps people lived in homes that Jesus helped to build.

They saw Him laboring.

Now, , returns to synagogue not as a carpenter but as a teacher; a rabbi.

Synagogue worship service:

Singing of a Psalm

Reading of

Shemoneh Esreh - 18 blessings - petitions or prayer.

Reading from Law

Reading from Prophets

Short sermon - (2 - 3 minutes)

First time in Nazareth synagogue Jesus reads Scripture:

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, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn… (Is 61:1-2)

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;

2  to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor,

and the day of vengeance of our God;

to comfort all who mourn;

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,

2  to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,

and the day of vengeance of our God;

to comfort all who mourn;

Jesus sits - (position of teacher) - All eyes on Him, and He says - “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

(Lk.

4:21)

People go nuts.

Jesus, the carpenter’s son, claims to be the Messiah.

There’s no way!

They try to kill Him!

They try to throw Him off a cliff.

A year later, Jesus comes back; this time with disciples.

Comes back to the same synagogue with the same message.

But, a lot has happened in a year.

Lots of evidence that Jesus is more than a carpenter.

Jesus has performed miracles!

He’s taught with authority!

Undoubtedly Jesus knows that the people of Nazareth would reject Him, but His disciples need to see this rejection.

To this point, with the exception of the religious leaders, most have received Jesus favorably.

Don’t know content of His teaching, but assume He’s teaching the same thing.

Immediate unbelief.

“Where did this man get these things?

How are such mighty works done by his hands?”

Son of Mary - illegitimate.

James, Joses, and Judas his brothers - they think He’s insane.

They took offense at Jesus (vs. 3) - “Who are you to tell us how we should live?

You’re a simple carpenter and an illegitimate child!”

vs. 4 - A pattern of unbelief.

They rejected the prophets, and now they rejected Jesus.

vs. 5 - Result of unbelief - Jesus would not do any mighty works among them.

vs. 6 Jesus marveled at unbelief.

People had sufficient evidence to believe but refuse.

Only time marvel used in Mark’s Gospel to describe an action of Jesus - marveled not at sin - Jesus understands our brokenness - marvels at unbelief - that we don’t get it.

(Staci and 5 Guys - I marvel that she doesn’t like…)

Do we believe the message of Jesus?

He is the only way to the Father, and the only way to experience His salvation by giving your life to Him in full surrender.

Does your life show that you believe that regardless of what you say you believe about Him?

Two barriers to unbelief:

Unbelief = an unwillingness to respond in faith to the message of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

Offensiveness: (The sin of unbelievers) No one is going to tell me how to live my life.

I am my own man/woman.

I call the shots.

You don’t obey what Jesus says.

And, you’re offended when people try to help you live for Jesus.

If Jesus is God, and He is, then He has every right to tell you how to live! Jesus is telling you to do it His way, but you refuse.

Gospel truth: You don’t realize that if God loved you enough to give His Son for you, He loves you enough to give you instructions and commands that are for your good.

Familiarity: (The sin of believers) So familiar with the things of God that you have stopped believing.

God is just another part of your life and not the One you daily stand in awe of.

You’ve stopped living as if Jesus really matters.

He doesn’t impress us.

The Gospel lost its wonder.

You’re not convicted by the truth of Scripture anymore.