Luke 4:21-34
I love the ending of this story. He passes through the midst of them. He manages to avoid the murderous mob. What confidence this word must have given Luke’s congregation, who may have been a suffering gentile church, tossed out of synagogue for their faith in Jesus. God protects faithful Christians who are in danger.
Ina surprising turn of events, Jesus escapes an angry mob of congregants in his hometown. Why are they so angry? Why do Jesus’ neighbors and friends, those who would have known him the best, turn on him so quickly in this scene in Luke 4?
A scene that is not repeated in any of the other gospels in the same way. Luke sends a harsher message with this preaching scene gone bad. The scene begins with traditional synagogue worship. Jesus is invited by the local Rabbi to preach at the Sabbath meeting. It would have been an honor for Jesus, for his family, and for his neighbors. Nobody comes from Nazareth. But Jesus was becoming a somebody, collecting a following, getting a name for himself in the local news. He was healing and teaching with charisma; he was inspired and inspiring. And he belonged to Nazareth. What if he was the real deal? What if he could change things for them? What if he could make good on some promises and bring justice to Nazareth? And then he awakens their enthusiasm, gets them excited, feeling hopeful! This was an announcement of his candidacy. You know how candidates for public office, like President, will go back to their hometowns to announce their candidacy? This is such an occasion. Commenting on the words of the prophet Isaiah, Jesus announces his official candidacy. His campaign promise? All of the promises made in the past are now about to be completed and fulfilled by Him. His was a campaign to bring hope to the poor, justice for the oppressed, sight for the blind, freedom for those wrongfully imprisoned, kidnapped, held hostage by corrupt human systems. Sounds like a political speech, no? A lofty speech, naming himself as the one through him all their hopes would be fulfilled. Ending poverty, offering health care, prison reform, an end of political corruption. And they love it. They are praising his candidacy. Could he be the potential King to restore the throne, the glory of the nation of Israel? Could he be the one? This child of illegitimacy and controversy, who has somehow emerged in adulthood as a real prize, a real gift. Could he bring prosperity and peace to Nazareth, to Israel? He brings honor to Joseph, his father, by this invitation to preach. .
But then, he continues talking. He could’ve sat down and enjoyed the at-a-boys, the pats on the back, their support and pride. But he doesn’t.
He challenges them to see his candidacy as more than just good news for Nazareth, for his friends and family and neighbors. He wants them to see his candidacy through two ancient stories about two famous prophets: Elijah and the widow of Zarephath, and Elisha and Naaman the Syrian. These are both stories that reflect God’s historical embrace and inclusion of Gentiles. Gentiles who need divine intervention and who trust that only God and one of God’s servants can help them are more faithful than Abraham’s offspring. Their unfaithfulness, their complacent neglect of God’s laws, and their radical exclusion of non-Jews, was being judged! Jesus comes to announce that his candidacy, sanctioned by that GOD, is a candidacy with broader implications. He is a servant whose divine promises for justice and a better life reaches beyond Nazareth, Galilee, and even Israel itself. Jesus embraces the people God embraces; and that means he draws no distinctions between Jew and non-jew, holy and sinner, rich and poor. Jesus is not glad-handing, not interested in keeping the right friends so that he can advance his program or his candidacy as King of Israel. His constituency is beyond party;he is not a Pharisee or a sadducee. He does not align himself with traditional Jewish teaching and values. He is more concerned with those living beyond God’s favor. He is claiming that God chooses others, too. And so does he.
For whom does Jesus come? Who does he serve? And by extension, who are God’s chosen people? Are there people God does not choose? Haitians? Non-Christians? Muslims? Jesus has come, according to Luke, to those who were outside of the Jewish world. Jesus’ saves Gentiles. That’s me and you! Every week we receive this welcome from God and the Word and Sacrament! We are God’s people now.
What does it mean that church’s maintain memberships? What does membership mean? If you are not a member of a church, does it mean that God’s love or salvation is not extended to you? How is it that we, who were once outsiders and have been welcomed in by Jesus, have become so exclusive in our welcome of others? How does Jesus connect people to God? Paul compels the church to strive for the most excellent gift of all, “love”. Jesus’ people will be people who are patient, kind, humble, hopeful with a strength that endures difficulties. Jesus’ people keep no record of wrongdoing. Jesus’ people keep no record of wrongdoing. Forgiveness characterizes Jesus’ and His people, a forgiveness that comes out of genuine love for others. The Christian life is not easy. If you have benefited from the system, from things as they are in this world, praise God. But know this: The Savior comes for those who have not lived well. For those who need rescued. For those who need the kind of love and radical forgiveness Jesus’ offers. Jesus’ is not interested in one’s membership or pedigree or ethnic identity. Jesus is the embodiment of God’s love and faithfulness toward a world that has not been loving or faithful. We have received Jesus. To whom will we give Jesus this week?
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