Super Bowl Of Sermons

January 26th 2003

Luke 4:21-30

Then Jesus began to say to them, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, "Is not this Joseph’s son?" He said to them, "Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ’Doctor, cure yourself!’ And you will say, ’Do here also in your hometown the things that we have heard you did at Capernaum."’ And he said, "Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet’s hometown. But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a severe famine over all the land; yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian." When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff. But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way.

Here ends the gospel of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ!

Depending on the outcome of this message. Hopefully, you won’t try and throw me off a cliff.

Can anyone tell me what today is? That’ right Super Bowl Sunday. The big game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Oakland Raiders. I realize that some of you could care less about today’s game. Some of you may watch just bits and pieces, maybe even if it’s only to catch a glimpse at the new commercials.

And some of you may be die hard football fanatics who are extremely excited, maybe even having party or at least going to a party. But I guarantee that most of the people living in Oakland and Tampa Bay are geared up for today’s big game.

I can also guarantee that most of the people living in Nazareth about 2000 years ago were geared up, or excited about the prospect of this man named Jesus speaking in their hometown.

The talk about one of their own had been spreading throughout the countryside, and it says Jesus was being praised by all. Jesus had been turning water into wine and healing all kinds of people throughout the region of Galilee.

So can you imagine what these people must have thought? "If he did all these signs and wonders in Galilee, just think what Jesus was going to do for us?" These people in Narareth were going to be witnesses to the Super Bowl of all sermons.

Jesus stands up, and a scroll from the prophet Isaiah was handed to him, and he begins to read: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lords’ favor."

Jesus rolls up the scroll, gives it back to the attendant and sits down, ready to begin the sermon. All eyes of the church are locked upon Jesus. And he says, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."

Say what! "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."

Whoa! Jesus sure didn’t let them down. This truly was the Super Bowl of all sermons. This is great! It says, "All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth."

But then something really strange happens. Within a period of five verses, five short verses, the Super Bowl of all sermons take a dramatic turn. The town’s people go from excitement, amazement, and praise, to "When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff.

Holy Moly! What in the world happen here? What would make these people behave like that? Did they take a hard hit to head from Simeon Rice, or what?

Or am I perhaps being too hard on the town’s people? After all they were in many ways acting no different than I sometimes do. In many ways they asking pretty much the same questions that I tend to ask.

OK! Jesus, "Do here also in your hometown of Jasper the things that we have heard you did at Capernaum." Come on Jesus, please, you said you came to bring good news to the poor, sight to the blind, and let the oppressed go free. What about me? I’m oppressed I want some of that good news!