Jesus Begins His Ministry

Introduction:

· Pastor Rob’s first “hometown sermon”…and Jesus’; what went wrong?

LET’S BREAK THIS DOWN INTO TWO PARTS – WHO JESUS CLAIMS TO BE, AND HOW LISTENERS CAN RESPOND TO THIS.

I) The Message: Jesus as the Chosen One

A. Prelude: Laying the Groundwork

i. The Gospels: Knowing what we’re reading (and why it matters)

1. (Auto)Biographies & Memoires recount the story of life/memories…

2. The Gospels are announcements – the good news of what God has done

ii. The Old Testament: Foundational for knowing and loving Jesus

1. The gospels are filled with OT references (see vv. 18-19, 25-27)

2. Therefore, if we want to know Jesus, we need to know our OT

B. Meeting the Chosen One and His Mission

i. A Promise for Restless People (Is. 61:-2; vv. 18-19)

1. Is. 58-60 rebuked Israel for social sins that flowed from spiritual condition

2. EXAMPLE: Corruption, injustice, exploitation (Is. 60:12ff)

ii. A new day will dawn

1. Is. 58-60 assured Israel of God’s forgiving grace

2. An anointed one will reverse the social, personal, communal effects of sin

iii. Jesus Reveals Himself as the Anointed One

1. Up until now, Jesus has been doing signs… (see vs. 23)

2. Jesus changes human history: “this text is about me!” (vv. 20-21)

3. Jesus defines his ministry as bringing liberation, freedom, healing

iv. The essence of Jesus’ Mission: Proclamation

1. Proclamation: A challenge for us who primarily see the gospel as “doing”

2. But social implications challenge those who see only spiritual implications of the gospel

NOW: HOW DID THE CROWDS REACT?

II) From Hero to Villain:

A. The Crowds Despise the Scope of Jesus’ Mission (vv. 23-27)

i. The crowds change their response to Jesus’ message dangerously quickly

1. Though first enthusiastic, the crowds change, ready to kill Jesus (vs. 22)

2. From this moment on, Jesus was rejected in his hometown (vv. 28-29)

ii. Jesus’ mission was not targeted just to the “metaphorically” poor, oppressed…

1. Jewish people focused on a socio-political understanding

2. But Jesus’ ministry (like the ministry to the widow, to Naaman) extended to the untouchables, the materially poor, the marginalized…

B. The Crowds Despise the Target of Jesus’ Mission

i. Like God’s plan for Israel, Jesus aimed even at the harsh Gentiles

1. Like the widow, like Naaman, God’s mission reached Gentiles when His own people rejected him

2. Jesus came to reach the “those people” of our world – a missional reach

3. Jesus came not just to be the anointed one, but the suffering one, in order to bring salvation not the lost!

ii. A Warning and an Invitation:

1. Making Jesus in our image – so that he hates all the people we love to hate, and loves the ones we love

2. An invitation to algin our lives with the mission of God in this world

Transition:

Conclusion

A warning…and an invitation