The old church expression, ‘You’ve gone from preaching to meddling’ comes to mind after reading today’s passage. Or, as the great preacher Fred Craddock has noted, there are two kinds of preaching people won’t listen to: Bad preaching and good preaching. Bad preaching wasn’t the issue in Nazareth.
History reveals that the Jewish people were longing for God to rescue Israel from the oppression of their enemies. Jesus announced he is the Messiah, the One whom God has sent to save Israel. What was so offensive about Jesus’ claim to be the Messiah? It’s all about control. Jesus was saying the Messiah was coming to proclaim God’s grace for all people, including the Romans, the enemy of Israel. The people very much wanted God’s grace, but just for Israel, no other nations. The people wanted to control God’s agenda, to be the ones who determined which nations were redeemed and which were not.
The people in Nazareth wanted to be like God. That’s a familiar theme. Not just for first century Jews. In our world today we still suffer from the sin of wanting to control God’s agenda. The devotion in today’s Daily Guidepost (New Year’s Eve) said I only need to remember two things in the New Year: “Love God with all that I am, and love my neighbor as much as I love myself.” Yet today we struggle as much as the Nazarenes with wanting to determine who our neighbor is.
There is irony in the response of Jesus’ home town. They wanted Jesus to demonstrate his power by performing miracles. Jesus’ refusal resulted in him being pushed to the edge of a cliff. Didn’t we just read something about stones to bread; about being thrown from a high place? Could that mean when I am seeking to control the agenda I am doing the devil’s bidding? (See Mathew 16:22-24)
What word or phrase in these verses
attracts your attention?
Reflect on that word or phrase.
What insights come to you?
How does this passage touch your life today?
1-Jan-12 Luke 4:31-5:11
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