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.<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Jesus<\/strong><\/p>\n Luke 4:14\u201321<\/strong><\/p>\n Jesus reads the prophet Isaiah<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a04:14 Then<\/em>\u00a0Jesus, in the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding region. 4:15 He<\/em> began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone. 4:16 When<\/em>\u00a0he 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, <\/em>4:17and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: <\/em>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<\/em> proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 4:20 And<\/em>\u00a0he 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<\/em>\u00a0he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”<\/em><\/p>\n The inaugural episode in Luke of the ministry of Jesus astounds us.\u00a0 He left his hometown as an unknown carpenter’s son. He returns as a famous rabbi.\u00a0 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\u2019 ministry occurs by the power of the Spirit.<\/p>\n Isaiah 61:1-2; 58:6<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong>The Year of the\u00a0Lord\u2019s Favor<\/strong><\/p>\n 61\u00a0<\/strong>The Spirit\u00a0of the Sovereign\u00a0Lord\u00a0is on me, 58:6\u00a0<\/sup><\/strong>to loose the chains of injustice So what does Jesus say …<\/p>\n Purpose clauses: <\/strong><\/p>\n …to preach good news to the poor<\/p>\n …to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind,<\/p>\n …to release the oppressed<\/p>\n …to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor<\/p>\n And this is the story that unfolds in Luke.<\/strong><\/p>\n Jesus\u2019 agenda is an Isaiah 61 agenda.<\/p>\n Remember what I said earlier, \u201c[A]ll who are paying attention recognize that everything that occurs in Jesus\u2019 ministry occurs by the power of the Spirit.\u201d 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.<\/p>\n And that is \u201cThe Year of the Lord\u2019s Favor.\u201d\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n God\u2019s Inclusive Love\u2014”DEI” Even at Home<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong>Luke 4:21-30<\/strong><\/p>\n 4:21 Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” <\/em>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?” <\/em>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.'” <\/em>4:24 And he said, “Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in his hometown. <\/em>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, <\/em>4:26 yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. <\/em>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.” <\/em>4:28 When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. <\/em>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. <\/em>4:30 But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u201cIs this not Joseph\u2019s Son?\u201d \u201cWe are proud of you boy!\u201d That’s Good News! <\/strong>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.\u00a0 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. \u201cIs this not Joseph\u2019s Son?\u201d \u201cWe are proud of you boy!\u201d That’s Good!<\/strong><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s messiah would make all things new! God\u2019s messiah would make Israel great again.<\/p>\n 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<\/strong> Jesus read Israel\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n Who do you identify with in the story?\u00a0 Who does Luke want you to identify with?<\/p>\n \u201cIn the end, because [the synagogue in Jesus’ hometown] were not open to the prospect of others\u2019 sharing in the bounty of God\u2019s deliverance, they themselves were unable to receive it. \u2026 those who exclude others thereby exclude themselves.\u201d[1]<\/a><\/p>\n 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\u2014A Savior. Therefore, we all enter the waters of baptism down the same steps.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s Favor.<\/p>\n Then …<\/p>\n Martin Luther King\u2019s Dream would be fulfilled<\/p>\n And America would be great<\/p>\n For the first time!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\nbecause the\u00a0Lord\u00a0has anointed\u00a0me
\nto proclaim good news\u00a0to the poor.
\nHe has sent me to bind up\u00a0the brokenhearted,
\nto proclaim freedom\u00a0for the captives
\nand release from darkness for the prisoners,[a<\/a>]<\/sup>
\n61:2\u00a0<\/sup><\/strong>to proclaim the year of the\u00a0Lord\u2019s favor.<\/p>\n
\nand untie the cords of the yoke,
\nto set the oppressed\u00a0free
\nand break every yoke.<\/p>\n\n
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