First Presbyterian Church
Rev. Mike Imperiale
Salt Lake City, Utah Feb 20, 2005
"Jesus Faces Rejection"
LENT - THE LIFE OF JESUS
Luke 4:16-30
Introduction
He is known simply as Brother Andrew. Born in Holland in 1928, raised in the Dutch Reformed Church, having barely survived the Second World War, Andrew discovered the need that the church behind the Iron Curtain had for Bibles. Between 1955 and 1966, he “smuggled” thousands of Bibles into the Soviet bloc. In 1981, he and his Open Door organization planned to bring one million Bibles into China. Wanting to be sure that the believers in China realized the immensity of the task and the huge risks involved, they sent Joseph, a Chinese team member, to meet with five key house-church leaders.
“Do you know how much space one million Bibles take up? Joseph asked them. “We have already prepared storage places,” they replied. “Do you know what could happen to you if you were caught with even a portion of these Bibles?”
“Joseph, all five of us have been in prison fro the Lord,” they replied. “All together, we’ve spent 72 years in jail for Jesus. We are willing to die if it means that a million brothers and sisters can have a copy of God’s word.” With tears in his eyes, Joseph folded up his long list of questions and put it away.
Whether it is risking our life or risking our reputation, serving the gospel requires courage. Brother Andrew and Open Door continue their risk taking and ministry, bringing Bibles to believers who live in oppressive environments, especially in predominantly Muslim countries today.
I. Jesus Leaves and Comes Back Home (vs. 16-22)
Jesus knew the risks of sharing the truth of God’s word in his world. He grew up in Roman-occupied Palestine. He knew how the religious leaders of his day had consolidated their power and hold on the people. What he had to say and do would challenge both groups as he reveals the emptiness of pagan life as well as the hypocrisy of religiosity.
Jesus had left home where he had run his father’s carpentry shop and taken care of his widowed mother. Now at about 30 years old, it was time for him to take the risks that he knew would be his purpose in God’s plan.
He went out to the Jordan and was baptized by John. “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased,” came the voice from heaven. Then the Spirit led Jesus in the desert for a time of prayer and fasting. Now he returns to Galilee to preach, teach and heal. News about him spread through the whole countryside.
In our passage this morning “Jesus went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom.” Most synagogue services had a reading from the Law and one from the Prophets, with an explanation, a teaching on their meaning.
Jesus stood up to read. The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found Isaiah 61. After reading it he sat down and began saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me.” Jesus was claiming to be the royal figure with prophetic mission, indeed the promised Messiah. “To preach good news to the poor; he has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners,” to heal the brokenhearted, to help all those discouraged with their plight in life. “Recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, the Jubilee.” Jesus offers forgiveness for sins, God’s light and life in the midst of darkness and death, total cancellation of spiritual debt with a new beginning for all who respond to his message.
After church, it seems that “all spoke well of Jesus and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips.” Who could criticize good news to the poor, freedom or release? And yet he is claiming that the day for the fulfillment of this Messianic promise is here – today! “The Spirit of the Lord is on me!”
The doubts immediately begin. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” Surely a humble carpenter’s son cannot be the central figure in God’s plan, especially with all the rumor and talk about the legitimacy of his birth!
II. Jesus Challenges the Hometown People (vs. 23-27)
You think Jesus would just leave it alone and go on. But no, he challenges them. He took the risk of identifying himself as Messiah and now he furthers the risk by challenging their motives and their faithfulness. “Surely you will quote this proverb to me, ‘Physician, heal yourself!’ Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.” Remember the devil’s temptation in the desert? “If you are the Son of God, prove it!” Let’s see a miracle. Prove your claim to be Messiah today. During his holy week arrest, we will hear those guarding Jesus say as they blindfold, mock and beat him, “Prophesy, now! Who hit you this time?” (Luke 22:63). During the crucifixion the people watching sneered at Jesus, “He saved others, let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One” (Luke 23:35).
Jesus said to his family and friends in Nazareth, “I tell you the truth. No one is accepted in his hometown.” He goes on to point out how two great prophets did nothing to help and heal Israel in the times of their greatest disobedience and need. Instead, Elijah ministered to a widow in Zarephath; Elisha reached out to a leper, Naaman the Syrian – both gentiles!
What angered the people was the apparent compliment Jesus made to gentiles. This hometown crowd was sure that they were God’s people and they utterly despised all others. They had been taught that “God had created the gentiles to be fuel for the fires of hell.”
Not only do they want to run him out of town, but they even want to throw him down a cliff, the cliff that overlooked so much of Israel’s proud history and identity.
Conclusion
When Joseph Ton was a pastor in Romania, he was arrested by the secret police for publishing a sermon calling for the churches to refuse to submit to the communist government’s demand for control over their ministries. When an official told him that he must renounce his sermon, he said, “No, sir. I won’t do that.”
With surprise at such a forceful response, the official said, “Aren’t you aware that I can use force against you?” “Sir, let me explain that to you,” Ton said. “You see, your supreme weapon is killing. My supreme weapon is dying. You know that my sermons are spread all over the country on tapes. When you kill me, I only sprinkle them with my blood. They will speak 10 times louder. Everybody will say, ‘That preacher meant it because he sealed it with his blood.’ So go on, sir, kill me. When you kill me, I win the supreme victory.” The secret police released him.
Why would Jesus or Brother Andrew or Joseph Ton take such risks? They know that without the Redeemer-Messiah-Savior, without the Word of God, without being ready to die, people are lost – lost forever. No power religious or political, no human culture or way of life can release us from the human condition of sin and death. Only Jesus can.
Although Jesus faced rejection, he knew that his life, death and resurrection would secure a people of God for all eternity, “Jew and Greek, slave and free, male and female” (as it says in Galatians 3). Although Joseph Ton and Brother Andrew faced great danger, they knew that God’s eternal plan will not be frustrated. Their lives were in the hands of their Savior.
The same is true for you and me. God calls us to share his love and compassion, the mission and ministry of Christ, the grace and truth of the Gospel without worrying about who will reject us. We speak and act on behalf of our Savior because we know that God wants to save others through our sharing of the Gospel. “Good news preached to the poor” – do it and let God show you the amazing difference it makes. “Freedom for prisoners” – people trapped by addictions, choked by wealth, consumed by self – share the freedom you have in Christ and don’t worry about what will happen. “Sight for the blind” – help others open their eyes to real life, life in Christ. “Release for the oppressed” – depression, friendlessness, outcasts, the lonely and hurting – do ministry with and for people. Let Jesus work his work through you. “Proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
I hope people out there will start telling stories about you! What you did to make the good news of Jesus good news for them. Even if you face rejection.
Let us pray together.
