Our Sermons

Bible Passage: Luke 4:16-30
Pastor: Pastor Schlicht
Sermon Date:  January 23, 2022

It’s been a distinct joy as a father to see my children grow in faith. My son, Solomon, is almost 5 now and we’ve been having some good conversations about Jesus. Recently we were reading a Christian book together, and he asked why some people don’t like Jesus. He said, “Don’t they know he forgives their sins?” It struck me, first, because it’s alway astonishing to witness the strength of a child’s faith in the goodness of God. But second, It occurred to me that while this may be the first time he struggles to understand why people don’t love Jesus, it certainly won’t be the last. Because when it comes to Jesus rejection is not the exception.

That’s what we see in Luke 4 today. In fact, it seems as if Luke wants us to see Jesus’ rejection right away. Luke is known for being the most chronological of the four Gospels. He states at the beginning that he intends to give an orderly account of Jesus’ ministry. But here he shifts this account of Jesus’ visit to Nazareth right to the beginning of his public ministry, when it actually happened a bit later on. It is a purposeful choice as clearly we can tell from Jesus’ words that he had already had a ministry in Capernaum (v23). That’s why he was invited back to Nazareth and invited to speak on the Sabbath as a prophet. Luke brings this incident forward and places it front and center, because it sets our perspective, the lens of good news and rejection, through which we view all of Jesus’ ministry. 

He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. As was his custom, he went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up to read. This was now his custom as a famous rabbi and prophet, he was expected to preach wherever he went. But this was not just another small Galilean village, this was his hometown! These were the streets he walked as a boy, the people he knew and loved, some of whose wagons, yokes, and tools perhaps he had even crafted out of wood with his father. This was a special day, a day of celebration, a day when the pride of Nazareth returned. 

The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” In those days the Rabbi and people would stand out of respect to read the Scripture lesson and then he would sit down to teach. You all got that right tonight, but for some reason I don’t get a chair…Anyway, Jesus is given the scroll of Isaiah. Now Isaiah is a long book, 66 chapters—one of the major prophets. The scroll of Isaiah found in the Dead Sea Scrolls was over 24 feet long. And remember there were no verses and chapter numbers present in those days. So it would have taken some time for Jesus to find the passage which we now know as Isaiah chapter 61. Scholars generally agree that in the first century A.D. the synagogue readings from the prophets were not preselected, so Jesus deliberately searched for this specific prophecy from Isaiah. And we could spend an entire day just looking at these words from Isaiah, but just note the tone of this passage. …anointed to preach good news to the poor…freedom for the captives…recovery of sight to the blind…set free the oppressed…proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor… It’s all good news! What a beautiful message! Who could ever reject this?

He rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 He began to tell them, “Today, this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” 22 They all spoke well of him and were impressed by the words of grace that came from his mouth. And they kept saying, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” Now, Luke is so sparse on details, but he wants us to know that the people didn’t mishear Jesus. Every eye was on him and he began to explain that these words of Isaiah are being fulfilled in his ministry! This is what he came to do! He is the long awaited Messiah, come to set his people free! But as he began to do so, Luke lets us know what the people begin to mutter amongst themselves. And though what they say sounds nice, Jesus realizes that this is the first moment of rejection.

That’s the moment I know is coming for my Solomon, too. There’s a time coming for him, a time that perhaps you’ve already faced. One I certainly have. A difficult moment. An incident when all the doubts and questions, fears and feelings of inadequacy that you have effectively kept under control suddenly kick down the door to your heart. Do you know what time I’m talking about? It’s that time when you are rejected for speaking words about Jesus. The moment all of your loving, Scripturally-sound efforts are laughed off. And it hurts the most when it happens in a place like Nazareth. not among strangers, but those closest to you—by your teenager, your spouse, or that friend you finally scraped together the courage to talk to. The moment they stop listening and politely turn the conversation, the moment they roll their eyes in annoyance, or raise their eyebrows in patronizing surprise. That moment when you realize you might be the only one in the room who holds to God’s Word. That moment when you are left doubting whether you did or said the right thing at the right time and in the right way.

This was precisely the moment Jesus faced that Sabbath day in the synagogue of Nazareth. Jesus was doing exactly what he was supposed to do, preaching to the people he had grown up around: ‘I’m the one Isaiah was writing about, the Messiah of God, come to save the world.’ He was saying exactly what God wanted said. Not only because he had a right to, not just because he had a responsibility to, but also because he loved them. In fact, he stopped in the middle of a sentence in Isaiah 61. Did you know that? He said he had come to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, but that sentence in Isaiah actually ends with “and the day of vengeance for our God.” Jesus stopped short of those hard words, not because he’s playing fast and loose with Scripture, or because he’s ashamed of those hard words, but because the focus of his coming was blessing and salvation. As John would says (John 3:17) “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” Jesus really wanted to simply share good news to those dear souls he grew up with, those whose subsequent rejection stung the most. 

They whispered nice words, but they didn’t believe what he said. No, they patronized him. “Well said, Jesus! Good job! Wow, a little crazy, but Joseph’s son has a lot of confidence!” But then Jesus doubled down and told them that no prophet is accepted in his hometown. He begins to remind them of the way the Old Testament prophets were also rejected, and then they turned on him. All those who were in the synagogue were filled with rage when they heard these things. 29 They got up and drove him out of the town. They led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff. 30 But he passed through the middle of them and went on his way.

It’s so common to assume that the Word of God ought to be welcomed wherever it’s shared. The Gospel is good news, right? And therefore, it’s easy to conclude that when the Word of God offends human minds and hearts (including our own), something has gone terribly wrong. But Jesus’ experience in Nazareth tells us to reevaluate those assumptions. Rejection will not be the exception, it wasn’t for Jesus and it won’t be for you and me either. You and I are not prepared to do ministry in this world unless we are prepared to be rejected. Jesus was misunderstood. Jesus was not always successful as we might define success. Surely, if anyone could preach God’s Word in truth and love, if anyone would win a hearing for the message, it was Jesus! And yet they hated him. They wanted to drive him off a cliff!

Rather than indicating that something has gone wrong, Jesus’ rejection demonstrates the truth of the Word of God. It confirms the very message that he delivered. In rejection, apathy, and offense we humans prove ourselves to be the very poor, brokenhearted, and imprisoned sinners the Word of God says we are. And in his patient and persistent preaching, Jesus proves himself to be the healer and liberator the Word of God says he is. Rejection is not the exception when it comes to Jesus, don’t be surprised and don’t be discouraged when it comes to you too. 

But the real good news today is not merely that Jesus had those moments too. The essence of the Gospel is not “misery loves company.” The good news is that when Jesus had them he faced them for you—righteously, truthfully, compassionately and correctly—because he knew we always couldn’t, that we would often respond with fear and impatience, pride and boasting, short tempers and long grudges. And so that day as his friends and neighbors pushed him to the edge of the cliff, he passed through the middle of them and went on his way. He didn’t do it just to save his own skin, he did it so that he could continue to go, teaching other lessons, healing and helping as Isaiah said he would. Ultimately he kept walking his way until it led him through another crowd intent on killing him, but this time he walked with a cross strapped on his back. And he laid down on those rough timbers and let himself be nailed to them so that he could die, even with the insults and jeers of the people who had rejected him, the very people he had come to help, ringing in his ears. Faith in his facing the moments of rejection for you, and faith in his sacrificial death for you is why tomorrow we will still speak the words God has put in our mouth.  It’s why we will keep on being the people he’s made us to be: children of God who seek to help people the best way we know how: with the life-giving truth of Jesus Christ even if it risks another moment of rejection.  

My friends, when fear and awkwardness tempt you to close your mouth, think of Jesus in Nazareth. Just as they did at Nazareth, Jesus’ words will always offend some. They confront us with difficult truths about him and about us. But they offend like an unwelcome diagnosis from the doctor. They offend like the life-saving treatment that comes with painful side effects. What causes Jesus’ words to hurt is what gives them the power to heal. What Jesus tells us will often be a bitter pill to swallow, but it is exactly the pill our Good Physician knows we need. And you have that antidote ready to give to others. Don’t allow cowardice or personal comfort stop you from speaking. Yes, rejection is a possibility, but what about the other possibility? What about that special moment when through your words, the Holy Spirit opens their heart and mind to the good news which will save their soul for eternity? Rejection may not be the exception, but it isn’t guaranteed. And for that chance, it’s worth speaking about your Savior. That’s what I told my Solomon, it’s always worth telling people that Jesus forgives their sins. 

Amen.