“But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.”

   Luke 4:30

These words conclude the story of our Lord’s visit to his hometown – Nazareth in Galilee.  Jesus invoked the prophet Isaiah – specifically Isaiah 61:1-2 - when speaking to the worshippers in the local synagogue.  That was not uncommon. Isaiah 61 was oft used in the synagogues of Israel as it suggests or foretells a “year of the Lord’s favor” when Israel will be, so to speak, on top of the world again – restored, secure, prosperous.  Few Jews did not know Isaiah 61 – it was the foundation of national hope.  It’s just that when Jesus visited his hometown, Nazareth housed a garrison of Roman soldiers – ever present reminders that Israel was neither secure nor prosperous.   And Jesus has the audacity in his sermon to say that “in him” Isaiah 61 is fulfilled.

Nothing, to the eye and ear at least, could have been further from the truth.  Luke 4:14-30, our lesson for this weekend, follows the story of our Lord’s temptation in the wilderness. There is something to that – as though Luke wishes to convey to us that opposition to Jesus was furious right from the start.  Satan enticed our Lord to seize power in exchange for his soul, and Jesus refused. The eyes burning into him and the ears inclined to him in the synagogue in Nazareth were no less a temptation. "Rabbi Jesus, say something we want to hear … throw us some 'red meat', stroke our pride and burnish our self-image." Jesus refused.  Satan invited Jesus to ‘’throw himself down from the temple - the angels will catch you.”   

Now his own kin in Nazareth wanted to throw him down from the precipice of a cliff.  Nice.  Jesus said he’d fulfill his Father’s will by proclaiming the “year of the Lord’s favor”, by freeing prisoners and giving sight to the blind, and by forgiving people their sins. Satan would have us believe none of this, of course.  Satan would more than strongly hint that we either don’t need such - we’re pretty good on our own, not perfect but who is - or we’re so awful God would never pardon us.  Satan works the twin channels of pride and despair.  Find yourself in either one and you're in a rut; you’re stuck.  The townspeople of Nazareth probably leaned on the prideful side of the road when they heard Jesus.   'Pride goeth before the fall", they say.  Pride just about “proceedeth” to send Jesus plunging off a cliff in his own hometown!    

Faith calls for humility – but it also calls for confidence. Those are the “channels” our Lord would prefer we navigate between.   Humility about our own lives, and the sin that besets us all, and confidence that Jesus loves sinners and his grace is sufficient, nay eager, to forgive.  

Something to “ponder” as we prepare to dwell in the word in worship this weekend.

Because of a cross,

Pastor Ken Nelson

P.S. Some of you have asked about the Holy Cross congregation that used our facility for the last three years.   Just before Christmas their leadership informed us that they are re-locating to the Third Ward district in Milwaukee as a “mission plant” in that area.  There are very few churches in the Third Ward – it’s quite a “secular” part of town.   The Anglican Diocese asked Holy Cross to consider moving to that area, with its core group of about 25 members and worshippers, to see if they could establish an Anglican Christian presence. Early canvassing of the Third Ward residents indicated some interest in a congregation, so we wish them well.  Please pray their effort to bring the gospel to that area of Milwaukee bears fruit.    We were glad to host them and release them to their new endeavor with gratitude.