Martin Luther King

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Today is Martin Luther King Day. I am home writing sermons for the next two Sundays. Wonderfully, the lectionary texts align with King’s vision for a restored America. Ironically, it is also inauguration day for one who also has a vision for America. The lectionary text for the next two Sundays is from Jesus’ inaugural sermon. Below is a first draft of both sermons but I want to post before the day is done. I may edit these posts as I refine them for preaching.

The Ministry of Jesus

Luke 4:14–21

Jesus reads the prophet Isaiah

 4:14 Then Jesus, in the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding region. 4:15 He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone. 4:16 When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 4:17and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: 4:18″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 set free those who are oppressed, 4:19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 4:20 And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 4:21 Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

The inaugural episode in Luke of the ministry of Jesus astounds us.  He left his hometown as an unknown carpenter’s son. He returns as a famous rabbi.  Expectations ran high. If Jesus was inclined to play on their hopes and fears to his own advantage, now was the time. And when he leaves, all who are paying attention recognize that everything that occurs in Jesus’ ministry occurs by the power of the Spirit.

Isaiah 61:1-2; 58:6

 The Year of the Lord’s Favor

61 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,[a]
61:2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.

58:6 to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke.

So what does Jesus say …

    1. God keeps God’s promises. God is faithful to deliver.
    2. God keeps God’s plans, there is continuity with the past.
    3. God makes salvation available to all
    4. God is considerate of the poor, downcast, and rejected
    5. God offers release, liberation, and deliverance
    6. God acts in the ministry of Jesus

Purpose clauses:

…to preach good news to the poor

…to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind,

…to release the oppressed

…to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor

And this is the story that unfolds in Luke.

  • What is Jesus’ agenda?  Here are two stories from Luke that exemplify Jesus’ inaugural sermon.
    1. Luke 7:18-23  18 John’s disciples told him about all these things. Calling two of them, 19 he sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?”    20 When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?’ ”    21 At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses, and evil spirits and gave sight to many who were blind. 22 So he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. 23 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.” —— Jesus answers John’s disciples saying, “Go tell John to read Isaiah 61. Do you think I’m the Jewish Messiah?  No, I’m God’s Messiah.”
    2. Luke 14:12ff.    12 Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. 13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” —— Jesus told everyone at the dinner table, “Go read Isaiah 61. Do you think I’m the Jewish Messiah? No, I’m God’s Messiah.”

Jesus’ agenda is an Isaiah 61 agenda.

Remember what I said earlier, “[A]ll who are paying attention recognize that everything that occurs in Jesus’ ministry occurs by the power of the Spirit.” I wonder how we can know if our ministries occur by the power of the Spirit. I wonder if there is a litmus test. At least one way of knowing if you have a Spirit-empowered ministry is if it is defined by Isaiah 61.

And that is “The Year of the Lord’s Favor.” 

God’s Inclusive Love—”DEI” Even at Home

 Luke 4:21-30

4:21 Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” 4:22 All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, “Is this not Joseph’s son?” 4:23 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.'” 4:24 And he said, “Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in his hometown. 4:25 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, 4:26 yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. 4:27 There were also many with a skin disease in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.” 4:28 When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. 4:29 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. 4:30 But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way.

 “Is this not Joseph’s Son?” “We are proud of you boy!” That’s Good News! This synagogue congregation was poor. They were taxed by Rome. This congregation was held captive. They were held captive by the armies. This congregation was oppressed. They were ordered about by pagan officials and soldiers. They not only knew the physical realities of being poor, captive, and oppressed, but the spiritual realities.  They were ready to accept the acceptable year of the Lord as a day of liberation from their conquerors. And Jesus does teach, preach, heal, and cast out demons. He moves among the poor, the outcast, the sick and the blind. His actions fulfill the Scriptures, especially the Prophets. “Is this not Joseph’s Son?” “We are proud of you boy!” That’s Good!

But that is not how the story ends. It is not how the story ends here and eventually, in the Gospel of Luke. The hometown folk took offense here and eventually, the Jerusalem folk put him to death.

4:25-27 There is distress in Israel! And everyone knew it for it was common knowledge and common sense. God was about to do a new thing in Israel. God’s messiah would make all things new! God’s messiah would make Israel great again.

But goodwill can spin on a dime. We are all just one news cycle away from a flip flop and the narrative changes. Why? Because Jesus read Israel’s stories differently. Good news for Israel? An announcement of national deliverance? That is not what Jesus said. God’s visitation came to the outsiders, not Israel. Jesus told them plainly, that immigrants from outside of the covenant would receive the blessing while those inside of the covenant would miss it.

    • They realized their own scriptures were being used to expose their narrow-mindedness. The acceptable year of the Lord was not welcomed at all.
    • Jesus affirms them, and then gives a prophetic announcement to convict them. The audience is at first amazed, then furious. The result is fevered rejection.

Who do you identify with in the story?  Who does Luke want you to identify with?

    • Routinely, we say, “All words of praise are for me.” “All words of condemnation are for you.”
    • Does God love those not in our community more than those who come every Sunday? Are we the oppressors?  Luke has a special interest in the poor and the oppressed. Those who “have” should do for those who “have not”.
    • So we ask, who are the captives, the poor, and the oppressed in our society? If your church does not practice DEI at home, then God might just do it another way.

“In the end, because [the synagogue in Jesus’ hometown] were not open to the prospect of others’ sharing in the bounty of God’s deliverance, they themselves were unable to receive it. … those who exclude others thereby exclude themselves.”[1]

If this text defines God and characterizes the ministry of Jesus, then it calls us to actively participate. Wealthy people hurt just like poor people hurt. People who live in mansions can be just as unhappy and their lives just as broken as their counterparts who live in rat-infested slums or who roam the streets. Sin is no more a respecter of persons, and people from all strata of society need the same thing—A Savior. Therefore, we all enter the waters of baptism down the same steps.

We need to stop debating the issue of who deserves our love and go help someone. No one is insignificant when seen through the eyes of God. And this will truly be the Year of the Lord’s Favor.

Then …

Martin Luther King’s Dream would be fulfilled

And America would be great

For the first time!

 

[1] R. Allan Culpepper, “Luke,” NIB, 108.