Love God. Love Others.
Luke 4:14-22
Then Jesus returned to Galilee, filled with the Holy Spirit’s power. Reports about him spread quickly through the whole region. He taught regularly in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.When he came to the village of Nazareth, his boyhood home, he went as usual to the synagogue on the Sabbath and stood up to read the Scriptures. The scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where this was written: “The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the LORD’s favor has come.”He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant, and sat down. All eyes in the synagogue looked at him intently. Then he began to speak to them. “The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!”
Have you ever seen one of those movies that have a time machine in them? You know like Back To the Future, Time Line, Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure or perhaps Time Changer? I recommend the last one!
I think those kinds of movies are pretty cool. Why? Simple. They’re intriguing! The whole time machine concept is intriguing to me. most of us, at one point or another have been asked or have asked this question, “If you could go back in time, where would you go?” That question is so intriguing because the human race is filled with awe inspiring and jaw dropping moments.
Where would you go anyway? Perhaps the 2008 Presidential Election and change your vote? What about seeing World War II first hand? Or how about the Civil War? Would you try to stop the assassination of Abraham Lincoln? What about seeing Martin Luther King Jr deliver his famous, “I have a dream” speech. Maybe you’d like to witness to signing of the Declaration of Independence. Then again, maybe you’re not all that crazy about American History and just want to go further back into the corridor of human history. How about the Ice age? Or what about going back to the garden of Eden. Then you could meet Adam and Eve and tell them about the theory of evolution that has come out. I’d love to see the expressions on their faces when they hear about the whole creation vs. evolution debate that’s going on!
How about this: let’s limit our Time Machine to the life of Jesus Christ. Now, there is a life worth visiting right? So many amazing moments in His life. You could return to the very first Christmas night when He was born. Watch His first miracle at the wedding in Cana. Watch Him walk on water or calm a storm. How about visiting Him at the transfiguration event? What about watching Him pray in the garden or the crucifixion? What about, you knew this was coming, the resurrection? Lots of amazing moments filled Jesus’ life and yet, one moment, stands out for me. I don’t mean to say this one moment defines His life, but in this moment, a revolution took place.
So here’s the scene: Jesus is fully grown. He’s about 30 years old. He’s recently retuned from his 40 days of fasting in the desert. Jesus is the guest speaker at the synagogue today. He’s been speaking around the area and getting noticed for his wisdom and simplicity. Perhaps you heard him speak and so you get a group of your friends and head over to the synagogue and listen to him.
The first thing you notice is that the synagogue is full today. The news that Jesus was speaking got out and lots of people wanted to hear what he said. Then Jesus enters the synagogue and stands up front. He gets to the pulpit, open the Septuagint(Jewish Bible), and he begins to read from Isaiah.
Jesus had been growing in popularity. His wisdom is shining through and people are flocking to hear him speak. So, Jesus could have read any Old Testament passage but today he focus’ on Isaiah. Why is that? So he can reveal his identity.
Make no mistake. Jesus isn’t looking to get people in an uproar. Jesus isn’t looking to get into a debate. Jesus has a desire though; to reveal himself and to reveal his father to those around him. And so he ends with this, “This Scripture is fulfilled.”
The scriptures have been fulfilled? Whoa, wait a minute! What just happened? Jesus went from being the top dog to the talk of the town. He went from being this nice, polite guy who had amazing understanding of God’s word to be an outcast, a blasphemer in the eyes of many. Jesus statement began a revolution.
The movement of God in the flesh was underway. The promised Messiah had arrived and He identified Himself! The world was about to be rocked by its own creator. The world would never be the same either. Jesus initiated a revolution which go beyond the norm and reach into the socio-economical and religious facets of life. his methods and his message was radical, it was an unashamed approach of who he is, was and forever will be, namely God in the flesh. His message was life altering and challenging and yet it retained simplicity.
Jesus challenged the religious leaders of the day. These were the people who were most expecting the messiah and believed he would side with them. Yet, he knew their hearts were displaced and honoring God was not part of their way of life.
Jesus did not establish nor even recommend an insurrection against the Roman government but said to render to Caesar what is his. He did not cause dissension between the classes, nor did he focus on race or social status. All people were welcomed by him to share in his life, hear his message, and to be served by the Son of man.
Jesus Christ the man didn’t fit into what had fabricated for their own Messiah. Israel wanted insurrection against the Roman authorities which were oppressive. They wanted to taste physical freedom as they once had. God wanted them to experience spiritual liberty. God wanted people to not just have life but abundant life. God wanted people to download the upgrade that He was offering through Jesus the Son.
Israel wanted the Messiah to fit their bill, to do what they wanted and nothing less. You see, the anticipation and expectation in the minds of the Israelites concerning the messiah, did not align with the reality of God’s will.
Christ lived and died without causing an insurrection. He didn’t create any more division between the Israelites and the Romans. He came to fulfill the law of God and initiate a new covenant. He came to start a revolution.
A revolution of loving God and loving others. Jesus started the revolution by sharing the truth that all the commandments of the Old Testament hinge on 2 laws really. It was a revolution of loving your enemies, something unheard of that point. A revolution of unconditional forgiveness. Regardless of what sin one may be harboring. Regardless of what sin one might be trying to hide. Christ offered forgiveness to anyone who came to him and placed faith in him.
Anyone and everyone who came to Christ was impacted by the hand that writes eternity into existence. A revolution of unconditional love, grace, mercy, peace and unity was underway. It was a revolution defined by those who denied their very lives and followed Jesus. It was revolution defined by living out that ever popular question, What would Jesus Do? The revolution was radical and went against the status quo. Families were divided, enemies found a bond peace through the unity of the Spirit of God.
Everything changed. Revolutions do that-revolutions cause change. Where do you stand? Do you want to live just an ordinary life? Do you want to rise above the status quo? Do you want to take hold of this moment, seize the day and live with your eyes wide open? Do you want to step into the power of the resurrected Messiah and the promise of God and let Him bless you? Do want to share God’s love with others? The revolution starts here. Love God. Love Others.
