Sermon for 9/19/2010
Jesus’ Homecoming- Luke 4:14-30
HoHum:
A Call to Honor, historical fiction about World War 2 author Gilbert Morris. The main character is a teenager named Ben Logan. The time was the late 30’s and the times were hard. Ben has to help his father, an often drunk pulpwood cutter. He also has to go to school and being the eldest in the family, has to help around the house. Ben’s father is hard on him and has nothing good to say about him even though Ben helps him when he is unable to work because he is drunk. Ben dreams of the day when he could leave the family and make a name for himself. Ben wants to travel and see the world. He is not very respected at school because he is nothing but “poor white trash.” In his class there is a girl, the most beautiful girl he has ever seen, and one day she invites him to a party. Ben goes and they have a good time. She is the daughter of the richest man in town. At the end of this date, this girl gives him a kiss on his cheek. Ben thinks that this is the beginning of something special. However, the next day, this girl pays no attention to him. Ben is haunted by this because he sees his chance for a new life but unable to get to it because of whom he is. Ben starts to become bitter about the situation because no matter what he does, nothing is ever going to change. In the midst of all of this, another girl from his class befriends him. She lives down the street from Ben and they have known each other for years. She comes from a preacher’s family. Often she invites Ben to church and Ben comes when it suites him.
Time goes on and Ben is a senior in high school. Ben begins to sow his wild oats. He begins drinking and hanging out with the wrong crowd. Ben and the young wife of the local judge secretly begin seeing each other when the judge isn’t around. On a drinking binge, Ben gets in trouble with the law. Ben is brought before this local judge and he throws the book at him. However, the judge makes a deal with him, join the navy or go to prison. Ben decides to join the navy. Ben leaves town and his family for basic training humiliated, embarrassed and defeated.
Ben goes to basic training and he enjoys the navy life. He can finally get away from home and see far off places and make a name for himself. He is glad to be away from his hometown. The only one who writes to him from home is the preacher’s daughter. He doesn’t write back but appreciates the news from home.
December 7, 1941 Ben was stationed on the USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor. On that fateful morning when the Japanese bombed Ben was on the deck. He was near one of the big guns and he and one of his buddies were able to load it and shot down a few Japs. He wasn’t quite sure what happened but he blacked out and the next thing he knew he was in a hospital recovering from his wounds. A chaplain often came around and talked with Ben. The chaplain spent time with him and brought him to a saving faith in Jesus Christ. When the War Department was looking for a hero to promote the war effort, they went to Pearl Harbor. At Pearl Harbor they ran into that chaplain and the chaplain introduced them to Ben. After hearing of his heroics during the battle, Ben was made a hero. They made him famous. He was in the papers back home and all over. The War Department promoted him to a position in public relations where he would go around the country encouraging people to get involved in the war effort. After he recovered from his wounds, the navy allowed him to go home on leave before accepting his new position.
When he came off of the train at his hometown, there awaiting him was a homecoming. “Hail the conquering hero.” Those people that had paid him no mind or treated him poorly suddenly were on the podium giving speeches about him. He heard the mayor and many dignitaries singing his praises. His father and mother were there and they treated them like royalty as well. The richest man in town invited him after the homecoming to his house. There he was treated to a feast and reintroduced to his beautiful daughter. He was told to stay in the rich man’s house and he was given his own room. In the next several days, this daughter wanted to spend a lot of time with Ben. She apologized for her behavior in high school. She wanted Ben to date her. Everything had changed for Ben and his dreams were coming true but he wasn’t happy. His faith in Christ had changed his dreams. He saw this beautiful rich girl as shallow and unattractive. He was uncomfortable in the spotlight. He wanted to go home so he did. He spent some time with his father and mother and family. He then wanted to go and see the girl who had written him so many letters. His mother told him that the preacher had died and the family was having a hard time making it. The preacher’s daughter had to go to work at a factory to make ends meet. One day, not long before he had to back to the navy, he went to the preacher’s house. The widow told Ben that her daughter had gone to the woods. Ben went down into the woods and found her praying at a small stream. He said that her many prayers for him had worked.
He told her of his faith in Christ. He asked why should didn’t come to the homecoming. Why had she been staying away from town? He knew that she knew he was coming home. Turns out she had to work and she really didn’t want to go and see him. If Ben wanted to see her, she thought, he would come and see her. After all, she couldn’t compete with all of the pomp and circumstance that the town offered. The last scene of the book, we have Ben taking her in his arms and kissing her and then the book ends.
WBTU:
A. We see some similarities between this story and the Scripture of today. Jesus has begun his ministry in Galilee and he has become well known vs. 14-15. Came to hometown of Nazareth
B. Think about all of the memories and familiar surroundings.
C. Jesus is given a special honor vs. 16. There was a part in the service where one of the first 5 books of the Old Testament was preached from. After this, there was another sermon that was given from one of the prophets. Many times this was given by someone in the crowd. Don’t know if Jesus volunteered for this or because of his popularity he was chosen.
D. Jesus finds the section from Isaiah that speaks about his ministry. After he reads the section, like here, he gets up to preach about it. VS. 21 he says that this Scripture is fulfilled.
E. The reaction of the people in vs. 22 is unclear. No matter because Jesus next several statements make the crowd furious. Vs. 23 he even seems to be antagonist.
G. When Jesus makes comments about Gentiles in vs. 24-27 we see that the crowd tries to throw him off of a cliff. A miracle that he walked right through them and went on his way.
Thesis: Why were the people so upset about the ministry of the Messiah as outlined by Jesus?
For instances:
Jesus is concerned with ministry to the least, the last and the lost.
1. The least
A. Sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners vs. 18
1. Convicts have a hard time in life. Probably worse today than in Jesus’ time.
2. How many churches really want convicts in their pews?
3. WE have the worst reconviction rates in the world. Many times end back in prison.
B. Anointed me to preach good news to the poor vs. 18
1. Recently I heard a seminar on the new rural poor. They move into the rural areas and move from area to area. After about 2 years the rural assistance ends so they move to new area.
2. When they talk about setting up a church plant, a new church, do they target the poor?
3. If we are not concerned about the poor, can we be called a New Testament church?
4. Many missionaries are concerned with the poor, how about us?
4. In the late 1700’s the manager of Baltimore’s largest hotel refused lodging to a man dressed like a farmer because they thought this fellow’s appearance would ruin the reputation of the inn. Later that evening, the innkeeper discovered that he had turned away none other than Thomas Jefferson, then Vice President. Immediately the manager sent a note and asked Jefferson to come back and be his guest. Jefferson replied by saying, “Tell him I already have a place to stay. I value his good intentions, but if he has no place for a dirty American farmer, he has none for the Vice President of the United States.”
2. The last
A. Recovery of sight for the blind vs. 18
1. How are people with disabilities treated in the church?
2. Sadly most churches and people of faith don’t want to be bothered.
B. To release the oppressed vs. 18
1. The issue of depression comes to my mind.
2. Other mental or psychological disorders.
3. Overwhelming sorrow like sickness or bereavement. Diseased- dis eased
3. The unwritten way to grow a church. Come in and wine and dine the leadership. Go play golf with them and over time convince them of views. All for having good relationships with leaders but this is not a country club. Ignore the little people. Spend time only with big people.
3. The lost
A. Jesus refers to two instances in the lives of Elijah and Elisha. Both of these were Gentiles. If anybody was lost it was them.
B. Jesus’ main ministry was to the Jews but we see that in the future the Gentiles will be included. The Messiah was to drive out the Gentiles not bring them in.
D. As we look at these, we as a church should be involved in ministry with all of these. Some are easier to minister to than others but this should not be a special club. Shame in some churches it is hard to break in. Think about those who have special problems.
E. All of us are sinners. Sin impoverishes (the poor); sin imprisons (the prisoners); Sin blinds (the blind); Sin bruises (the oppressed)
F. 3 times in Bible- set free from sin
G. C.S. Lewis once said that “the church is the only organization that exists for the benefit of non-members.”
Conclusion and invitation:
Song by Susie Luchsinger called "The Least, the Last, and the Lost" -Well he showed up in town wearin’ ragged old shoes Like He’d walked from some other world Said His Daddy sent Him here to build bridges And tear down walls Well they called him a madman And strung Him on up But that was all part of the deal To give some hope to the least, the last and the lost. Vs. 18- Good news is death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
