In Jesus Holy Name January 23, 2022
Luke 4:18-19 Epiphany IV
“The Church – The Body of Jesus on Earth”
“The Mission Statement of Jesus”
Over the weekend at our church campout the topic came up regarding high school and college reunions. The very first thing that happens when you arrive at the reunion is that you usually receive a badge with your high school photograph. These reunions usually happen at the 10th year, the 25th year and the 50th year marks. There was a lot of joking about whether we would still recognize people 25 or 50 years later from their H.S. photo.
For most, hair will have disappeared or turned to silver. The athletic baseball player will have put on a few pounds. The Homecoming Queen and King may cause some to wonder why they voted for them. They aren’t so likeable now.
It's hard to get past the mental image we have of some people, isn't it?
That was certainly the situation Jesus encountered when He returned to Nazareth. This was the homecoming of a "local boy who had made good." Stories had slowly filtered their way back to the small village of Nazareth. For example, they may have heard how Jesus had turned water into wine; or how he had done miraculous signs in Jerusalem; and healed a nobleman's son.
Those are the kinds of accomplishments which should have had the town roll out the red carpet. The school band should be leading a parade down main street, the sirens of the fire trucks blowing , and the bells pealing a warm welcome. The return of Jesus should have been celebrated with the mayor making a speech and handing over to Jesus a gold-painted key to the city. On the main road, the city planners should have been busy putting up signs saying, "Nazareth. Come See Jesus' Boyhood Home." (story from sermon by Rev. Ken Klaas January 2007)
None of those things happened. The Gospel of Luke tells us that shortly after His temptation in the wilderness, Jesus returned to “Galilee” in the power of the Holy Spirit. He taught in their synagogues, and everyone praised Him, until He returned to His home town of Nazareth. In His home town synagogue He spells out for them and us His mission statement by using words from the prophet Isaiah.
The words of Isaiah became His mission statement. In short, He would preach good news to the poor, proclaim freedom for the prisoners, (gripped by the fear of death) (Hebrews 2:14) give sight to the blind, release the oppressed (from their illness) and proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Luke recorded that the people were impressed. They were impressed by what Jesus said; they were impressed by the way He said it. They were so impressed that they found themselves asking each other, "Isn't this Joseph the carpenter's son?" Some of them apparently had a hard time thinking of Jesus as anyone other than the boy who had grown up in the carpenter's home, the kid from down the street who played in front of their house.
I’m sure there were some who thought to themselves, "we weren't all that impressed with Him before.” As Mary's oldest son, Jesus should have become the family breadwinner when Joseph passed out of the picture. He didn't do that. No, He just up and left town. He left here as a solitary carpenter's apprentice and He comes back with a whole bunch of disciples calling Him Rabbi. Now He thinks He is somebody special. Their present memories could only see Jesus the way he was years before. They no longer recognized Jesus for who He was.
I’m sure some said: “He sounds good and all; but I'd like to see Him do some of the things here that He's done elsewhere. After all, I think He kind of owes us some miracles. We're the ones who gave Him His start. Let Jesus do some healings here.”
Others probably said: “Healing miracles here will put Nazareth on the map. We can build hotels and restaurants to take care of the patients, shops for them to visit while they're waiting for their appointment. The sky's the limit." …….Now I don't know that they thought all or any of those things. I do know they expected Jesus to do some miracles in His hometown.
He did not. He told them that God’s plan was for Him to travel with His message of healing, the promise of God’s forgiveness, through out the land. Yes, His miracles were signs of God’s authority but not for their entertainment. His old friends, His old neighbors and playmates became so angry, so infuriated that He wasn't grateful and wasn't going to perform for them, they tried to shove Him off a cliff. What happened that day in Nazareth tells us that it is pretty hard for people to see Jesus for who He really is.
The Priests and Jewish Supreme Court looked upon the Him as a fake, a fraud, a phony who was, claiming to be the Son of God, only leading the people away from “their” temple and its worship. They were threatened.
Those ancient spiritual leaders also have their direct descendants in our present age. Sophisticated scholars and modern day preachers who smirk as they try to explain away the greatest, hell-shaking, heaven-opening event in the world's history as being nothing more than a foolish fable. We’ve heard it all before.
We’ve read the book and saw the movie: “The Da Vinci Code,” written by Dan Brown. His story was based on the 1,500-year-old Aramaic-language manuscript that says Jesus only swooned on the cross, pretending death. In the coolness of the tomb his body was revived. He then went off and married Mary Magdalene. Together they had two children.
On that historic day of the resurrection, it was the Pharisees who were the very first spread the story that the disciples were lying about the resurrection. Then they paid the guards to spread the false story that the disciples stole the body at night. (Matthew 28:11-15)
Almost 2,000 years ago, Pilate stood face-to-face with the Savior who is the only way to heaven; the only truth this world has ever seen; the only Savior who can conquer death, offer forgiveness, and guarantee eternal life. Face-to-face with God's Son, Pilate found himself scornfully asking, "What is truth?"
Pilate had experienced enough Jewish uprisings in Galilee. He didn’t want trouble with the Jewish leaders. He gave into their demand. He sentenced Jesus to be crucified. He was beaten, whipped so often that the skin on his back was shredded. He was nailed to cross. After hours of suffering, he died. The Roman soldiers made sure Jesus was dead by stabbing him in the heart with a spear. They did not know what we know.
This was God’s eternal plan. Jesus lived a perfect life, without sin. He refused every temptation. His death was the God accepted sacrifice for humanity’s broken commandments. After His resurrection, on the Day of Pentecost His Spirit was given to everyone who has faith in His resurrection. On that day the “gathered believers” became the new community, the New Israel. We are the church.
In his letter to the Christian community in Ephesus the Apostle Paul wrote: “(God’s) intent was that through the “church” the wisdom of God should be made known…which He accomplished in Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Ephesians 3:10) The “church” is built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Jesus Christ Himself as the chief cornerstone. In Him the whole building is rising and (becoming) a holy temple”. (Ephesians 2:19-21)
A disciple in the 1st century did not read and learn how to be a disciple by reading the books written by a teacher. A disciple was someone who learned a skill or way of life by living “with” the teacher. This is what the 1st century disciples did. They lived with God, in human form, for three years. A disciple was a follower not just of a set of teachings but of an entire way of living. A disciple is an apprentice. (Jesus: A Theography p.131) Therefore Paul writes: “Be imitators of God and live a life of love.” The words of Paul are to be the mission statement of every follower of Jesus.
Luke makes it clear that these things happened in a certain order because Jesus is modeling for us what it means to live in close fellowship with God. He obeys and the Spirit descends. The Spirit provides power for ministry, for Jesus and for us.
In the Gospel of John, Jesus told His disciples to stay connected. “I am the vine you are the branches.” He said. When we stay connected to Jesus then the power of His indwelling Spirit enables the characteristics of Jesus; love, joy, peace, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control, to become visible through the “Church” to the world.
Leonard Sweet writes: The principles of the Sermon on the Mount, the character traits of a disciple listed by Paul in Galatians: “are always a joint endeavor. Jesus is on earth today but not as an individual. He is here in the form of the “ekklesia”, the “Church”. (C) The Church “C” is Christ on earth, carrying out His mission.” (ibid p. 155)
Every time we drop a dollar in someone’s cup. Every bit of clothing we donate to a shelter. Every drop of human kindness we extend to those thirsty for a meaningful life. Every phone call to someone living alone or going through a difficult life challenge is imitating the love of Jesus in our community. Every visit to a “Good Shepherd” home in our community is a visible presence of the love of Jesus. This my friends, is how the words of the prayer: “may Your kingdom come, May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”, become reality.
The “Church” with a “C” is the visible body of Jesus on earth. It is the “Church” that is the “Rescue” mission, and “Breaking the Chains”, supported by local congregations. It is the “Church” “C”, that sends missionaries to “preach the good news, proclaim freedom for those held in the prison of the fear of death. It is the “Church” “C” that gives sight to the blind, as local congregations support “Eye Doctors” on Mercy Ships that sail. It is the “Church” “C”: the body of Jesus, through local congregations that support “Samaritan’s Purse”, that brings a cup of cold water, shelter and clothing to devastated communities.
The Apostle Peter calls us a “chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.” I Peter 2:9-10) It is through the “Church” that Jesus continues to work, to teach and to bring His kingdom’s rule into visible reality.
The secular world may not recognize these unique appearances of “Jesus”, but they do recognize service of mercy, care and love. Leonard Sweet was correct when he said: “Jesus is on earth today but not as an individual. He is here in the form of the “ekklesia”, the church. The church is Christ on earth, carrying out His mission.”
Conclusion:
