Text: Luke 4:16-30
Facebook live: The scripture is fulfilled in your hearing!
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”
Last Sunday I watched the service for Pastor Jonathan Moyer as he was installed in the office of the Holy Ministry at Faith Viera, Lutheran Church in Rockledge Florida.
Eleven pastors gathered together with the congregation to celebrate the installation of this pastor, who is called to bring God’s word and gifts to his people gathered in this place. It is always a moving service with local pastors, the District President, choir, and congregation gathered to celebrate what God has done for his people in this time and in this place.
The scriptures point us to the Incarnate Word of God Jesus, and all that he has come to do for us. We learn how God has redeemed us and our need to be reconciled and forgiven. The words of scripture testify to the word of God made flesh in the person and work of Jesus, and his work to restore the original righteousness that we were created in that had been lost in the fall.
Pastors have the privilege and responsibility to be under shepherds of God’s flock and to bringing this word of comfort to all who hear.
In our reading today, the word that spoke creation into existence is the same word that John the Baptist pointed to, as the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world; and the one who in the prologue of John’s gospel reminds us that:
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Today we hear the words of scripture written for our benefit as well.
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”
20 And [Jesus] rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 And he began to say to them,
“Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
22 And all spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth. And they said,
“Is not this Joseph's son?”
You can almost see the surprised look on the faces in the synagogue.
Was that the carpenter’s son, Jesus?
The one who made the table for the house?
Is that Jesus?
The man who fixed the door and helped with the roof?
Gracious words they thought, but from the carpenter’s son?
What’s up with that?
We’ve been there and done that too.
Familiarity at time breeds commonness and even contempt.
But here, Jesus, the word of God in human form, is proclaiming the word of God fulfilled in him.
Though they know him … the word of God is no less real.
So too we who speak or hear God’s word; it is no less real because it is said by a friend or relative - or through God’s call and ordained servants. Even Pastor Moyer, now called to serve the people at Faith Viera in Florida has that call to proclaim God’s word to those gathered under his care.
My dad may have felt some of that uneasiness too.
He came to my ordination twelve years ago and sat through the service. He saw me, his son, take on this new role as servant of Christ called and ordained to serve the people of Peace, here.
My brother told me after my dad’s passing that my father was surprised and pleased … and maybe a bit taken back after seeing me ordained,
My dad said:
“You know, I don’t think I give Russell enough credit!” He’s married over 30 years, worked in the piano business for over 30 years, taken care of his family and now he’s a pastor of this church and starting something new.”
What I think my dad was saying is much like those in our reading today who hear the word of God and say, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son, isn’t this Jesus?”
Or, in my dad’s case isn’t this my son Russ, the one who couldn’t play baseball well enough, or the one I had to show how to fix a car, and the one I had to … on occasion … send to his room to teach him a lesson.”
It’s all true … and even more!
Pastor Moyer’s dad, a retired pastor himself was there in Florida to participate in his son’s installed and at the time of the service when pastor’s lay hands on the one being installed to offer a prayer, he said:
“Jonathan, my son in the flesh and in the faith. God has led you from, Faith, to Faith, to Faith. May you encourage others, not with a perfect life, but as you point and look to a perfect savior.”
I think at my ordination, my dad was taken back a bit. You see … God’s word is true whether Jesus proclaims it, whether Pastor Moyer proclaims it, or whether I proclaim it. And it’s true for you too!
It’s true - no matter if a pastor says it, or if you, in talking to your friend … say it. God’s word is always true.
24 And [Jesus] said, “Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown.
It’s not just the hometown but there is a tendency to not see those who are given to rightly divide the word of truth and administer the sacraments at times the respect they deserve. I’m as guilty as the next guy.
When I was at St. John our senior pastor, whom I had great respect for, received and accepted a call to a church in Illinois. I, as a new Lutheran, was devastated. Our associate pastor was called to be the administrative pastor, after a long call process that was unfruitful.
As I lamented his call I was reminded by a friend.
“Russ! He is your pastor and you need to show him respect as the one whom God has placed over you.”
He was right, and respecting the office of under shepherd was one I had forgotten.
What still amazes me is that during a time of brokenness and dysfunction, God remained faithful. I believe that we too will see God move in the circuit to bring his will and order to those hurting now.
At times we only see the brokenness and sorrow of losing a pastor or members who move or transfer out of the church and new ones who come in. There was much anger in God’s church when change occurs and as our reading says today. They wanted what had been done in Capernaum.
What we have heard you did at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well.’” 24 And he said, “Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown.
25 But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens were shut up three years and six months, and a great famine came over all the land, 26 and Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow.
We want God to be who we want him to be and to do for us what we want him to do. At times we can reject those sent and God’s word for us from them.
Jesus continues:
27 And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.”
28 When they heard these things, all in the synagogue were filled with wrath.
God’s son and God’s words get rejected. Jesus gets the ultimate rejection when the people cry … “crucify him!” God’s servants are sent just as the 12 disciples were sent and just as the 70 were sent and they too and our pastors today are sent and will face rejection and suffering too.
What we have heard you did at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well!
The people want what they want and we do too.
We want God’s miracles not persecution.
We want healing not sickness. Wanting answers from God why would one be healed and another suffer and die.
More importantly we want answers that we want to hear.
Bear in mind that God’s pastors are sinful too and also fall victim to temptation in this life and say and do things that cause problems. But thankfully:
Everything is fulfilled in Jesus for you!
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”
Good News … but the people didn’t want to hear.
29 And they rose up and drove him out of the town and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could throw him down the cliff.
Though rejected by the people, Jesus still went to the cross … for them and … for you. He also gave them a miracle but not the one they were asking for or expecting:
30 But passing through their midst, he went away …
… only to finish his work and make peace with God … for you.
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit
Amen
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