Download - Scripture Unpacked

Presentation 17
Presentation 17
Introduction
Hardly a week goes by but you can pick up a copy of
the local newspaper to discover how some local
person has made good. We are understandably
interested in the accomplishments of people on
our own doorstep.
The people of Nazareth were no different. From
the time of his baptism, Jesus seems to have spent
about a year exercising his teaching and healing
ministry before returning home to Nazareth where
news of his accomplishments had aroused great
interest. On the first Sabbath the synagogue was
packed. What would Jesus do? Would he
participate in the service? Jesus stood up to show
that he wished to speak.
Presentation 17
Introduction
Luke tells us in his gospel, that Jesus was given
the scroll of the prophet Isaiah which was the
appointed book for the day. And the passage he
read from passage from described the activity of
the Servant of God, the Messiah [Isa.61v1-2]
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has
anointed me to preach good news to the poor,
He has sent me 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 favour.” Luke 4v18-19.
Presentation 17
The Claims Of Jesus
Jesus had just quite purposefully read out part of the
Messiah’s job description. His role was to, "Proclaim
the good news to the poor." We mustn't think in
exclusively in material categories. In the Sermon on
the Mount, Jesus filled out the meaning of ‘poor’
when he said, "Blessed are the poor in Spirit. for theirs
is the kingdom of heaven." Matt. 5v3. The poor in
Spirit are those who are conscious of their own
spiritual bankruptcy. They realise that they cannot
satisfy the demands of God’s righteousness. ‘Oh’, you
say, ‘what a devastating, soul destroying situation to
find oneself in’. Yes! but into that situation of despair
the Messiah would bring good news, a message of
hope for those aware of their spiritual poverty.
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The Claims Of Jesus
Secondly, the Messiah would ‘set the captives free’. Jesus
did not plan to empty the nation’s prisons nor emancipate
the Jews from Roman occupation. It is a spiritual captivity
that is in view here. We lie not only in a debtors prison
owing God perfect obedience but we are slaves to sin and
unable to break free from the habitual wrongdoing in our
lives. In this context we are understand the glorious
freedom than Jesus brings. Wesley writes:
“Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
fast bound in sin and natures night,
Thine eye diffused its quickening ray,
I woke the dungeon flamed with light
My chains fell off, thy heart was free,
I rose went forth and, followed thee.”
Presentation 17
The Claims Of Jesus
Wesley’s hymn speaks not only of spiritual
emancipation but of becoming spiritually
sighted and of walking in the light. All of which
are elements in God’s plan of salvation. And
this, you will notice, is cited as the third feature
of the Messiah’s ministry, “the recovery of sight
to the blind” Lk. 4v18.
When Jesus healed those who were physically
blind, he would often point beyond their
physical blindness to a spiritual blindness. A
malady for which he claimed he alone had the
cure, “I am the light of the world” Jn.8.12.
Presentation 17
The Claims Of Jesus
The Messiah’s ministry would also address
the emotionally, psychologically and
spiritually bruised. He would care for them.
He would bind up their broken, crushed and
disordered humanity. In this regard man has
both been crippled by his own foolish and
sinful behaviour and ravaged and trampled
down by the sinful behaviour of others. To
say nothing of the way in which Satan has the
malevolent goal of crushing man into the
ground.
It is in this sense that the Messiah would
‘release the oppressed’ Lk. 4v18
Presentation 17
The Claims Of Jesus
Finally, the Messiah would ‘proclaim the year
of the Lord's favour’, Lk. 4v19. The background
of this expression is clearly linked to the year of
Jubilee celebrated within Israel. The Mosaic
law provided for a new state of affairs to be
introduced into Israel every 50 years [Lev.
25v8ff]. Debts were cancelled, slaves were
released and land was restored. It was a time
of glorious new beginnings.
In a far greater sense the Messiah would usher
in a new age. Sinful men would be reconciled
to a holy God. And on such people God would
smile favourably.
Presentation 17
The Scepticism Of The Crowd
Having read the passage that outlined the role of
the Messiah and having expounded the passage,
Jesus electrified his hearers with this conclusion,
“That's me Isaiah is speaking about!”
Imagine the impact Jesus’ claim must have
made? Initially the crowd thought Jesus had
preached ‘a good sermon’. Jesus had spoken
with an inner conviction, and a freshness,
authority and grace. They must have felt what
we feel when God's Word is properly
expounded. But gradually the crowds attitude
changed to one of resentment and anger.
And we need to ask why?
Presentation 17
The Scepticism Of The Crowd
First, “good sermons“, aren't like good books, good plays,
good paintings, these are all things we can enjoy without
them making any real difference to the way we live our
lives. When God's Word is spoken in the power of the
Spirit, then God himself draws near to challenge the
heart and he provokes a response.
It was when the challenging thrust of Jesus’ words were
driven home that the crowd began to re-evaluate what
he had said. They resented this intrusion of authority
into their established "closed shop" religion. Early
enthusiasm for the gospel can often become adversely
critical, and even antagonistic, as the realisation dawns
that Christ's teaching is in conflict with ones own strongly
held views and deviant sinful behaviour.
Presentation 17
The Scepticism Of The Crowd
Secondly, the crowd allowed themselves to be distracted
by Jesus' background. "Isn't this Mary's son?" In Judaism
people were always identified through the male line.
To refer to Jesus as Mary’s son was to raise doubts about
his legitimacy. The implication is clear, no one of such
questionable parentage could possibly be the Messiah!
The crowd adopted a proven technique, belittle the
preacher when what he says makes you feel
uncomfortable. Attach attention to some defect, real or
imagined, and it will distract from the searching character
of his message.
When a minister was beginning to scratch some of his
congregation where they itched. One member said to
another, “Yon wee man wi the broon hair and squinty
teeth shouldnae be a minister”
Presentation 17
The Scepticism Of The Crowd
Thirdly, there were some in crowd who
resented the idea that someone they had
grown up with and perhaps even played
football with in the streets could be the
Messiah.
It is all too easy to belittle the gifts of those
people we have grown up with. Familiarity
does breed contempt. And, it is precisely
because we can remember when an elder
was in nappies, that we decide not to take
him too seriously. Sadly, some people find
that it is only when they marry or, change
jobs or, move away that their God-given gifts
are truly appreciated.
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The Rejection Of The Crowd
Jesus answers the crowd’s unspoken questioning of his
messianic claims saying, “Only in his home town, among
his relatives and in his own house is a prophet without
honour” v4. Jesus' miracles were invariably performed in
response to faith but Mark tells us, “He could do no
mighty work there because of their unbelief.”
Now there was historical precedent for God blessing
Gentile faith when faced with Jewish unbelief. This is
why Jesus cites the case of both a Sidonian widow and
Naaman the leper. These so-called "outsiders"
demonstrated their faith and found both God's blessing
and salvation as a result. It is faith that God is interested
in and not race, nationality or religious pedigree.
Presentation 17
The Rejection Of The Crowd
The Nazareth congregation were infuriated by Jesus'
suggestion that Gentiles could have more faith than
them and enjoy the privileges of messianic rule
which they considered to be theirs by right. And so
they tried and silence Jesus for good. Luke tells us
that the angry hearers took Jesus to the top of a cliff
intending to throw him off. Jesus frustrated their
plan by passing right through them. Lk. 4v29-30.
As far as we know Jesus never returned to his
hometown again. They remained hardened to his
message. From this point on Nazareth fades from
the scene and plays no further part in the expansion
of Christ’s kingdom!
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Conclusion
Isaiah predicted that Jesus would be ‘despised and
rejected by men and aquatinted with grief’ Isa.53v3.
We tend to equate Jesus’ grief with his physical
suffering upon the cross. But the context makes it
abundantly clear that the source of Jesus’ greatest
grief was rejection by his own people. Grief which is
expressed again on Jesus’ final trip to Jerusalem.
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets
and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed
to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her
chicks under her wings, but you were not willing”.
Matt.23v27
Who can fail to be moved by the pathos of his words?
Presentation 17
Conclusion
While sitting on the bank of a river one day, an
Indian Christian picked up a solid round stone
from the water and broke it open. He noticed
it was perfectly dry in spite of the fact that it
had been immersed in water for centuries.
He thought this to be a parable concerning
many people in the Western world who for
centuries have been surrounded by
Christianity. They have been immersed in the
waters of its many benefits. And yet it has
failed to penetrate the hearts of many who do
not love it. The fault lies not in Christianity, but
in the hard heartedness of men.
Presentation 17
Conclusion
Do we bring grief to the heart of God because we
too, though exposed to the ministry of Christ,
cannot bring ourselves to submit to his gracious
influence and rule?
Over one hundred and fifty years ago, Robert
Murray Mc Cheyne, one of the godliest Scottish
ministers of his day, wrote these words of
exhortation to a young Kelso girl who was
corresponding with him, “Christ gives last knocks.
When your heart becomes hard and careless then
fear lest Christ may have given you a last knock.”
Have you rejected Christ right up until today? Then
fear lest Christ may have given you a last knock.
Presentation 17