Epiphany 3 Luke 4:16-31 Jesus the Prophet
Nehemiah 8:1-10 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a Luke 4:16-30
As was His custom, Jesus came to the synagogue on the Sabbath. Our Lord regularly attended the public worship of God in the synagogues; for there the Scriptures were read. While the temple in Jerusalem was the place for the priests to offer sacrifice to God, the synagogue was a place for teaching and reading. So Jesus went there to read and to teach.
An attendant would bring out a scroll for a man to read. Each man had an opportunity to participate in the time of reading and learning. A man would volunteer to read a passage from the scrolls of the Old Testament, and then afterwards, the scripture passages would be explained very similar to the way that Nehemiah, Ezra and the Levites did in our Old Testament reading.
So on this day, Jesus took His turn in the synagogue to read the lesson. He was given a scroll with scripture that was very familiar to the Jews. Jesus unrolled the Scroll of Isaiah (61:1, 2) and read aloud, “The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” These words spoke to them of Israel’s hope, a promise of deliverance and a reminder to the Jews that even in times of trouble, God was indeed still with them, still caring for them.
Jesus hands the scroll back to the attendant to put away. He returns to his seat, while the eyes and the minds of the men present watch Him in expectation, for they know that He will explain the passage He just read. So Jesus sits, as was the custom and He speaks, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
His words of grace echo though the Synagogue. They are kind, affectionate, and tender. Jesus speaks to the poor sinners who weep over their lack of righteousness whom He will make rich in grace. He speaks to those who do not see the path that leads to salvation. He speaks to those who long to be free; those who are bound by sin and held captive by Satan.
He reassures those who weep over the guilt of what they have done wrong. The very Word of God, Jesus Himself is preaching the Good News; He is fulfilling Old Testament scripture in their hearing.
Our Lord’s words are so different from the harsh and unfeeling approach of the Pharisees, that the people were filled with astonishment and awe. They sit in admiration of His kind words and the sweet gospel message He is proclaiming. His words are spoken with authority and without hesitation.
Even unbelievers find His words marvelous and gracious. Our Lord’s words and His actions are so different from all their expectations of the Messiah that they begin to question who this man is. They are thinking to themselves, “Is not this Joseph’s son?” (Whenever I read this, I think of them saying, “Why I knew Him when He couldn’t nail two boards together.”)
They supposed the Christ would be a royal prince, who would rise up to be the Great King who would conqueror their enemies. Now they are thinking, “Surely Jesus may be a prophet, but He is not preaching violence or insurrection against the Romans.” And they begin to doubt that Jesus is who He claims to be.
Jesus claims that He is Messiah. (He is what He says He is.) They have heard that He has performed miracles at Capernaum. He promises that He can deliver them from sickness, sins, and afflictions. But they want to see His power. Before they follow Him, they want Him to prove Himself worthy of their confidence. They demand that He show the proper evidence by miracles as a reason why they should trust in Him. But neither faith nor miracles work that way. God will not be dictated to.
Scriptures do not state “Demand and it will be given unto you.” Rather Scripture says “Ask and it will be given unto you.” (Luke 11:9) (Ask in faith.) First comes faith and faith comes by hearing the Word of God. Jesus first spoke the Word to them and when they rejected Jesus they also rejected His message.
Miracles come to those who believe in the Word of God. Our Lord illustrated that by giving them the examples where God’s prophets were rejected before. Elijah and Elisha helped those who had faith. It does not matter to God if you are Jew or Gentile—what matters is faith in Jesus Christ.
Those who refuse to hear the gospel of the Lord will hear words of chastisement. Those who refuse to see the light of God, shall have their light extinguished. The kingdom of God was taken from the Jews, and given to the Gentiles; not because the Gentiles were better than they were, but because the Jews had forfeited their privileges by doubting Jesus and His word. Rather than rejoicing over the good news of their salvation, the people of Nazareth doubted. Rather than weeping and repenting at His refusal to perform miracles for their pleasure, the people wanted to throw Jesus down a cliff.
Ironically as they drove Him from the synagogue towards the cliff, Jesus did perform a miracle. He passed thought the crowd easily; quietly and unseen. The question is, ‘Did the Nazarenes realize that Jesus did a miracle or did they leave confused, yet still doubting?’ In all probability, their pride and hatred of Jesus and His word continued. A prophet is indeed not accepted in His hometown.
One day, a few years later and at the time of God’s choosing, the Hebrew people would choose the insurrectionist Barabbas over the Savior Jesus. This time Jesus did not choose to slip away quietly, but He choose to give His life up freely to win salvation for all mankind. The word made flesh would let His flesh be killed for the salvation of all who would believe in Him. This prophet, the very Son of God became the Temple sacrifice that set free all of those who were held captive to sin, death and the devil. (John 2:19) And in three days, He was raised up again to eternal life. (Talk about a miracle!)
Jesus still regularly attends worship. Whenever two or more are gathered in His Name, He promises to be among them. (Matthew 18:20)
And here in our church we worship God in two ways. First, we worship as those in the synagogue with the reading of scriptures and the explanation of those verses, sometimes with much weeping but always with repentance. Secondly, and more importantly, we worship Jesus Christ with rejoicing because as the sacrifice for our sins He forgives us by faith in His now completed work. To worship God publicly is the duty of everyone, and no one can be guiltless who neglects it.
Saint Paul tells you in Hebrews, (Hebrews 10:26-31) “If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. Anyone who rejected the Law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
So when you worship, do not forget that your focus is on Jesus Christ and He will fill your heart with the teachings of His Spirit. When you come and worship God in faith you will see miracles take place.
Like the people of Nazareth, Jesus longs to give you forgiveness, faith & salvation in His Word. That scripture is fulfilled every day! He speaks to you gently though His kind and gentle words, Words that promise you eternal life. He speaks His Word throughout the worship service. Like Naaman, God’s word connected to the water at your baptism has the power to heal a broken soul.
Like the Sidonian widow, God’s word promises to meet all your needs—just as He supplies you with His Body and blood for your Spirit, He will supply your body with daily bread. Jesus has made that promise to you and all his disciples in Matthew.
He said, “See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:26-33)
So have faith, do not doubt and believe in the One who has set you free. In Jesus Name, Amen.