1/30/22 Jesus Brings Fullness of Life Luke 4:31-44

(This was the sermon at the 8:30 service. At 10:30 it was broken into several sections with people from the congregation reading each section.)

The gospel reading today is a series of exorcisms and healings of Jesus. These are the first miracles by Jesus we’ve encountered in the story. Whenever we encounter a miracle story we want to ask “Why?”

Why was the miracle performed?

What did it accomplish?

What is being revealed by it?

Miracles could serve a variety of purposes. In the stories today all the exorcisms and healings moved people from brokenness to wholeness of life.

In the synagogue we met a man who had an unclean spirit. Today we would probably call it a mental illness. Apparently the man would have violent fits, and he has one in the synagogue. Jesus drives the demon out without doing the man any harm. He is restored to wholeness of life.

In the house of Simon (who Jesus will later rename Peter) we meet Simon’s mother-in-law. She is in bed with a high fever. Jesus comes, rebukes the fever, and she immediately gets up and begins to serve them. Being a hospitable person was a key part of her life. With the sickness gone she could return to doing what gave her a purpose.

The story then summarizes that people with a number of diseases were brought to Jesus. He laid his hands on them and cured them. In so doing he restored them to fullness of life. That is the ‘why’ of the miracles we read today. In last week’s gospel we heard Jesus’ message. He was proclaiming good news to the poor, release to the captives, sight to the blind, freedom for the oppressed, and the year of the Lord’s favor. Now we see those words put into action. Jesus was bringing about full and abundant life for everyone.

It would be nice if all of life’s problems would be miraculously solved. But that is not how life works. The miracles Jesus performed did not make those people suddenly live happily ever after. No, the miracles restored them to being able to live whole lives. From there it was up to them live it.

We do not need miracles in order to live a whole life. God has given us all that we need to do it. And the Bible teaches us how to be on that path of life. Here are six things to live by to live in a fulfilled way.



One, recognize that God is God. God created us. God sees us. God knows us. Only God has perfect knowledge. Only God knows what the future holds. When we recognize that we are limited beings – but still deeply loved – then we have the right attitude for everything else. We are simultaneously saints and sinners. That means that no matter how hard we try, and no matter how good we are, we still mess up. We still fall short. Mistakes are made. Our intentions are not pure. But despite our failings God loves us. In fact God delights in us. God made us good. That is a goodness that no one can take away from us. It is secure. God wants to see us flourish. John 10:10 Jesus says, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”



The second thing builds from that. In Romans 12:3 Paul writes, “For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that has been assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ.”

We should have high self-esteem. We are made in the image of God after all! But that does not mean we become arrogant or cocky. Arrogance and cockiness to not lead to fullness of life. Arrogant people think they are better than others. They build their own sense of worth by tearing others down. You will never know fullness of life if you are building yourself at the expense of another. St. Paul tells the Romans that they all have value, and they need to also recognize the value of each other. A person who is focused on him or herself only is never going to experience fullness of life. Ironically it is in recognizing the full richness, capability, value, and beauty of others that we can also see those things in ourselves.



The third thing that leads to fullness of life can be heard in Paul’s 1st letter to the Corinthians, “… your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own. For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) If we want to live a fulfilled life we need to make healthy choices. We need to make healthy choices in what we eat and in what we do. A physically healthy body is more capable and feels better than an unhealthy one. If we have lived a lifetime of bad choices there is always time to change to a healthier way. Your body is God’s greatest gift to you. Inasmuch as possible, care for it well.



Fourth is to live with honesty and integrity. Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount that our “yes” should mean yes and our “no” should mean no. When we tell someone we are going to do something we need to follow through and do it. People need to find us dependable. We also need to be honest about our strengths and about our weaknesses. Many people work hard to hide their weaknesses and insecurities. That makes them annoying. Instead, be honest with yourself about what you can do and what you can’t.

Remember also that God gave you the ability to learn and to grow. If you cannot do something - but it would be important if you could - then strive to do it.

Some people get through life by playing the victim. They manipulate or trick other people into doing tasks they do not want to do.

Some people give up on a task far too soon.

Persistence is essential.

Also, much of life is mundane drudgery. Not every day is exciting. Not all tasks get rewarded. But it is often the most tedious tasks that need to be done -and done well- for the final outcome to be good.

Consider what happens when Habitat for Humanity builds a house. Lots of people want to show up for the exciting things like framing walls or putting on a roof. Few people are interested in sanding drywall joints or pulling electrical wires. These tasks are boring. But they must be done if the house is to be good. Being willing to embrace tedious tasks is important to a whole life.



Fifth is to be resilient. In Matthew 7:24-27 Jesus gives a famous parable, “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell – and great was its fall!”

When people hear that parable they forget that both houses endured hardships. The house built on rock was still beaten by wind, rain, and floodwaters. Just because you are a follower of Christ does not make you immune to life’s difficulties. When we fail we need to learn from our mistakes and try again. When unfair things happen we need to stick to it. We need to have grit. If we don’t the needs of the world will overwhelm us.

It is perfectly fine to be upset when bad things happen. It is fine to be angry when an injustice is done to you. But if you want fullness of life you need to counter those things with a spirit of growth and constructiveness. Even if you fail and fail again you will have an attitude that keeps trying.



Sixth, when you have power never lord it over others. Instead, always use power to encourage and inspire others to be their greatest selves. True leaders are never bullies. True leaders equip their followers to succeed. People will like you when you conduct yourself in a way that builds them up. Life is not a popularity contest, but if you build up others they will want to be a part of your life. In 1 Thessalonians 5:11 we read, “Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing.”



If there is a summary in the Bible for how to live a full life it is in Romans 12:

9Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; 10love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. 11Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. 13Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers. 14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. 17Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. 18If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20No, “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.” 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

1/23/22 Jesus in Nazareth Luke 4:14-30

             Former First Lady Barbara Bush is quoted as saying, “If human beings are perceived as potentials rather than problems, as possessing strengths instead of weaknesses, as unlimited rather than dull and unresponsive, then they thrive and grow to their capabilities.  (Online: https://borgenproject.org/10-quotes-poverty/)

I think that is a good foundation to understand what is going on in our gospel reading when Jesus returns to his hometown of Nazareth and speaks in the synagogue.  As we dig into that let’s note something peculiar that our gospel writer Luke does as he tells the story.  In Matthew’s gospel and Mark’s gospel Jesus begins his public ministry in the region of Galilee.  There are preaching tours and some miracles.  As Luke tells it, however, the Nazareth story is the first scene of Jesus’ ministry.

We do learn at the beginning of the story that Jesus has indeed been doing ministry in Galilee.  Verse 14 and 15 read, “Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country.  He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.”

Let’s also note something here.  There were several Jewish factions or parties in those days: Pharisees, Sadducees, Herodians, Zealots, and Essenes.  Of all those groups only the Pharisees had synagogues.  Synagogues were places of worship and learning.  (It’s suggested that the idea of current day churches originates with the synagogues.  Many Jewish communities had synagogues.)  Whereas there was only one temple in Jerusalem.  That was a place for ceremonies and sacrifices.  The fact that Jesus uses the synagogue communities as the center of his mission work strongly suggests that Jesus himself would have been considered a Pharisee.

            So, we know that Jesus has been touring the synagogues and apparently making quite a name for himself.  But what has been the content of his message?  For almost certain Jesus did not create a different message each week.  He had one message at this point and he used it everywhere he went.  Luke is about to tell us what that message is.  I believe he decides to tell us -the readers- the content of this message in context of his hometown synagogue in order to heighten its universality; and perhaps its boldness.

            Jesus reads from the scroll of the prophet Isaiah: “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 let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”  (Luke 4:18-19, loosely citing Isaiah 61:1-2, 58:6)  He then goes on to say that he is the fulfillment of that prophesy.

            This is exciting news for the hometown crowd!  He’s one of their own.  They are seeing amazing things happening right before their eyes!

            But what does Jesus actually mean?

After reading from the scroll of the prophet Isaiah Jesus gives it back to the attendant and sits down.  Remember, in synagogues those days you stood to read from scripture and then sat down in a chair up front to preach or teach.  So Jesus sits down in the chair for teaching.  The excitement builds as he says, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”  I’m sure that in their minds this meant a privileged place in God’s work.  This meant superiority, prestige, greatness and the like for them.  After all, they did help to raise this up and coming man.  They say, “Is not this Joseph’s son?”  He is one of their own.  But we the readers get the joke.  In fact, no, this is not Joseph’s son.  This is God’s son.  He is not necessarily one of their own, or at least the folks in Nazareth aren’t going to be getting any special status from God.

            Jesus points out two famous stories where God did not give the Israelites special treatment when in a crisis.  He cites stories of Elijah and Elisha where their ministry did not favor insiders.  Their ministry favored outsiders.  When Jesus says he is bringing good news to the poor it means the widow, the unclean, the religious outsiders, those of low status.  In other words, Jesus’ ministry is for all.  That then especially raises up those who can make no legitimate claim to having God’s favor.

            This doesn’t surprise us as the readers.  It’s not just because we know the whole story.  We heard this earlier in the gospel.  At Jesus’ birth the angels said they brought good news of great joy for all people.  That means not good news of great joy for just Jews.  And, the hometown folks, feeling special because Jesus is one of their own, aren’t going to be getting anything special from God.  They aren’t too pleased with that!

            The age that Jesus ushers in is one of equality.  I think Jesus’ ministry was quite in line with the quote I stared with, ““If human beings are perceived as potentials rather than problems, as possessing strengths instead of weaknesses, as unlimited rather than dull and unresponsive, then they thrive and grow to their capabilities.”

            Jesus’ ministry is not about quick fixes, even though he does heal many people miraculously.  It is about wholeness of life.  We’re going to look at that more next week.  For today we stay with the folks of Nazareth.

            Apparently they get more than just a little mad at Jesus when they discover he’s not going to do them any favors.  They aren’t going to get special status when his ministry is all about no one having special status.  They decide to kill him.

            It is a foreshadowing of Jesus’ eventual execution that they try to throw him off a cliff.  Remember last week when the devil tempted Jesus to do things the world’s way?  He said, “If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.”  The very next scene is Jesus being rejected by his own people.  He is clearly not playing by the world’s rules.

            If the point of Jesus’ ministry was to simply die unjustly then the gospel of Luke could end right here.  The people of Nazareth would have killed him.  But by some means we are not told Jesus passes through the midst of them as they try to throw him off a cliff.  And it ends with an important line, “…and went on his way.”

            You’ll remember that when Jesus was a baby he went where his parents took him.  When he was an adolescent in Jerusalem he stayed behind in the temple.  But then he decided to submit to his parents and willingly go their way.  Now as an adult he goes on his way.  Not his parents, not the hometown crowd, not even the devil is going to deter Jesus from going his way.  “His way” does not mean he will be a lone wolf.  His way means God’s way.  His way means the way of his ministry doing what he just said, “…bringing good news to the poor… release to the captives… recovery of sight to the blind… letting the oppressed go free… proclaiming the year of the Lord’s favor.”

            God’s favor for everyone sounds great

            … until you think about it.

            God’s favor for everyone means that you can’t get ahead by exploiting others.  God’s favor for everyone means that everyone has inherent dignity and worth simply because they exist.  God’s favor for everyone means no one can claim special status.  Ultimately God’s favor for everyone ends up seeming unfair, especially if you are someone who strives to do everything right.

            If you are someone who strives to do everything right the question becomes what motivates you?  Are you doing everything right because of the favor it gets you?  Or are you doing everything right because it is the most constructive and loving way to live for everyone around you?  That is a subtle difference but it makes all the difference in the world.

            When you know you have God’s favor, and that you have it securely, fears and worries of other people getting special treatment, or getting ahead instead of you, or catching breaks in life that you don’t catch, cease to matter.  You are God’s.  Your wholeness rests in God.

            Next week we’ll see more of what Jesus’ ministry means.  We’ll see some principles about what fully integrated whole life looks like.  I don’t think it’s possible to get there completely in this life, but it is a wonderful place to be.  It is where Jesus’ teachings take his followers when they trust in him.  If the crowd in Nazareth could have listened to the whole truth of his message they would have been deeply blessed indeed.  May we learn from their mistakes and then be able to receive such blessing.

1/16/22 Jesus’ Baptism and Testing Luke 3:21-4:13

             It may seem like a lot to lump the baptism of Jesus, the genealogy of Jesus, and the tempting (or testing) of Jesus all into one.  I assure you these scenes all fit together.  Actually the scene we will look at next week – Jesus returning to his hometown – fits in too, but that’s not so major a connection.

            Let’s remember something very important that we saw a few weeks ago when we had that little scene where Jesus was twelve years old and he stayed behind in the temple when his parents make their annual Passover trip.  There we realized a potentially puzzling thing – Jesus is growing in both human and divine favor.  Though he is the Son of God – and part of God’s own being – he is also fully human and experiencing growth in faith and knowledge of God.  Logically that isn’t possible.  Yet that’s how Luke presents it.  And that growth continues in what we read today.

            Jesus’ baptism is presented in a passive offstage way.  Our opening verse was, “Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized…”  That’s not the important part.  The important part comes next, “…and was praying…”  Prayer in Luke’s gospel remains vitally important for Jesus.  Always remember back to his full humanity; almost a sense of separation from God.  Prayer is an essential part of Jesus’ ongoing discernment.  You’d think he wouldn’t need it.  But Luke makes sure we realize it is key.

            It is when Jesus is praying that the Holy Spirit descends in bodily form like a dove.  A voice comes from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”  This is now clear divine endorsement of who Jesus is and his standing before God.

            Let’s make a special note here.  There’s something that will come up several times in the passage and it is our key for today.  That thing is, “Son of God.”  Jesus is called God’s Son at his baptism.  We then move directly into the genealogy of Jesus.  Luke’s genealogy takes Jesus all the way back to Adam.  However, don’t draw the foolhardy conclusion that Luke intends us to take this at all literally.  We’ve talked before that not even the author of Genesis intended Adam and Eve to be understood as literal people.  Even their names are symbolic.  The point Luke is trying to make is twofold.  One, Jesus is rooted into all of humanity.  And two, look how the genealogy plays out.  Jesus is the supposed son of Joseph, who is the son of Heli, son of… all the way back to, “son of Seth, Son of Adam,” and then the punchline… “son of God.”  Jesus is called, “Son of God.”  Adam is called, “son of God.” 

Now don’t get too carried away with this.  Luke quickly shows us his point in the next scene.  If Adam was the son of God, how did he work out as the son of God?

            I had us read the Adam and Eve story because it is the ideal set up for the testing of Jesus by the devil.  In the Adam and Eve story their real temptation is to seek self-fulfillment apart from God.  The serpent tells them, “God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God.”  The serpent tries to convince them that God has somehow left them lacking, incomplete.  That God is holding out on them.  But if they take matters into their own hands, if they do what the serpent suggests, they will find another – a better – path to self-fulfillment.

            Now remember, Jesus has grown up with the fullness of human limitations.  He knows what it is to feel created, to feel separated from God.  And so the very next scene is this new Son of God being tested by, perhaps not a serpent, but by the devil.  Look at the tests that come to Jesus.

            We are told that the Holy Spirit led Jesus out into the wilderness.  The wilderness is a scary place of chaos.  We are told that he ate nothing for 40 days.  He is near starvation.  Why?  We are not told.  All we are told is that it is God’s will that he do so.

            And so, what is the first test?  What does the devil say, “If you are the Son of God…”  Actually, that Greek word that we translate as “if” can also be translated as “since,” which is what I prefer.  The devil isn’t testing Jesus to see if he is the Son of God.  Jesus knows that.  The devil knows that full well.  There’s no question as to Jesus’ identity.  The question is how will he use that identity?  How will this son of God act?

            “Since you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.”  There’s no debate as to whether Jesus can do it or not.  The test is will Jesus use his power apart from the will of God?  Whether it makes sense or not, it is God’s will that Jesus is near starvation.  Will Jesus use his power apart from God’s will to fulfill himself?  It was within Adam and Eve’s power to eat the fruit.  This is within Jesus’ power.  Will he do it?

            Remember again, Jesus is not portrayed as a superhuman in Luke’s gospel.  He is the boy who feels separated from God and is learning.  Remember Adam.  Being God’s son is not a sure thing.  The outcome is not guaranteed.  This is going to be an authentic cosmic battle.

            Jesus replies to this test with Deuteronomy 8:3, “One does not live by bread alone.”  It is a practical application of the law.  And it shows that there is more to fullness of life than a full belly.

            Undeterred the devil shows him all the kingdoms of the earth.  And then lies.  He says, “To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me…”  No.  It was not given to him.  He stole it.  He continues, “If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.”  I don’t believe “worship me” means doing something obvious like literally bowing down and paying homage.  It means using Jesus’ power for himself.  The devil is telling Jesus to just live by the rules of the world.  Use your talents, your brains, your looks for what you want to do, regardless of what God is trying to do.

            Jesus replies with another scripture quote, “Worship the Lord your God and serve only him.”  That’s Deuteronomy 6:13.

            So the devil takes him to the center of worship and the seat of religious power – the temple in Jerusalem.  Now don’t overlook the fact that while the Jews believed God could be present anywhere, the temple in Jerusalem was God’s special house.  It was a holy place.  Only the righteous could enter.  Well, perhaps the devil doesn’t take Jesus into the Holy of Holies on the inside, but notice that the devil feels quite comfortable being in God’s house.  That’s both bold and arrogant.  It also shows how evil easily works its way into the most religious of places.

            Twice the devil has tested Jesus.  Twice Jesus has beaten the test and quoted scripture.  So now notice, the devil being quite comfortable in God’s house, now has a little Bible study with Jesus.  The devil can quote scripture quite well.  “Since you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you,’ and, ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’”  That’s Psalm 91.

            Jesus is tempted to do something spectacular.  And wouldn’t it be an effective beginning to his ministry?  How often could Jesus have made his ministry be about the miracles and his divine power?  But you know the story well.  Jesus’ ministry is about obedience to God – even when that obedience means his non-sensical death.  It is not about miracles.

            So Jesus again quotes from Deuteronomy, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.”  In other words, don’t try to manipulate God with righteousness.  God is God.  Period.  End of story.

            So the testing of Jesus appears to be at its end.  But it isn’t.

            Jesus has just spent 40 days in the wilderness.  He’s drained.  He’s exhausted.  He’s nearly starving to death.  This is certainly an opportune time to get him to mess up as the Son of God.  But he doesn’t.  And so we are surprised to find the final verse be, “When the devil had finished every test he departed from him until an opportune time.”  An opportune time?!?  Can it ever get more opportune than this?

            Yes, indeed it can.  Luke’s gospel doesn’t record it, but you can bet that the crucifixion was the opportune time.  How will the Son of God act when it is God’s will that he be arrested, humiliated, beaten, and then nailed up to a cross to die?  How will Jesus feel about his ministry when all his followers have forsaken him, and one of them even betraying him?  How will Jesus feel when he’s dying alongside criminals? 

For the Jews crucifixion was considered a cursed way to die.  Anyone crucified was considered to have been cursed by God.  And so, how faithful will Jesus as the Son of God when he is bearing the very curse of God?  How will he be as the Son of God when God himself has rejected Jesus after a lifetime of righteousness?

            How indeed???

            Luke’s gospel is one of high drama.  As Luke depicts Jesus it is a horrific story.  May none of us ever live a life as Jesus’ life.  And yet you know the ending.  Jesus stays faithful to death.  I think it is perfectly orthodox and safe to say that when Jesus was dying on the cross he had no hope or belief in the resurrection.  It was the end.  But he stayed faithful anyway.

            Jesus was the new Adam.  He was the true Son of God.  He earned it completely and totally.  Only by that has he ever earned the right to intercede on our behalf and truly be our Lord and Savior.

1/9/22 The Ministry of John the Baptist Luke 3:1-20

 (I handled this sermon more as a Bible study.)

Luke 3:1-2

Luke starts off with a Who’s Who of political and religious leadership.  Everybody who’s anybody relevant gets mentioned.  He’s doing this to not only root the ministry of John the Baptist into history but he’s also making a theological point.  Or perhaps I should say he’s making a theological jab.

I think it is supposed to come off as cynical that after listing all the high people and places the word of God comes to… John son of Zechariah.  Of course we the readers know who Zechariah and John are but no one else does – least of all the people listed before.

And does the word of God come to some important or holy place?  Does it come to Rome, or to a capital city, or to a great school, or to the temple in Jerusalem?  No.  It comes to an otherwise unknown man in the wilderness.  It comes to noplaceville.  Just like Jesus growing up in Nazareth- which was basically no place.

It is an easy trap for us to think that the word of God would somehow appear more clearly in a holy place, a church, and be spoken through a religious expert.  But this is not the case.  God can speak anywhere and through anyone; perhaps even through someone we consider to be an enemy.  It does not do to restrict God’s word to where you expect it and from whom you expect it.

My first year in seminary I had to take a systematic theology class.  Systematic theology is all about developing your religious ideas and putting them into an understandable order.  I didn’t like the class.  I’m no philosopher but I know that all philosophical systems are ultimately circular.  Where you begin already determines where you’ll end.  The same goes for systematic theology.  Still though, I admit it is necessary to have one’s belief make some sort of sense.  One of our papers was to write the system behind our own beliefs.  I pounced on a line from Karl Barth, who was a theologian we had studied.  He wrote, “Theology is a free science because it is based on and determined by the kingly freedom of the word of God; for that very reason it can never be ‘Systematic Theology.’  (Dogmatics in Outline, Harper Torchbooks, 1970, Pg. 5)  I then went on to explain why I didn’t think forcing your every belief into an orderly system was good.  Not surprisingly the professor didn’t like that!  My grade reflected that as well!  And to this day I have a love-hate relationship with systematic theology.  I recognize its value but I also recognize that much of basic Christianity resists systematition.  The truth is you just can’t put God into a box.  With John the Baptist God was acting outside of all of the people and places of power.  The same will be true with Jesus.

            Luke 3:3-6

Here Luke is loosely quoting from Isaiah 40.  You may remember from our summer series on the prophets that Isaiah 40 comes from the time of the Babylonian exile of the Jews.  The Babylonians would have these parades of their gods along straight smooth highways.  The Jews were picking up on this idea to speak of preparing a highway from Babylon back to Jerusalem for their own return.  Thus Luke is pulling out an old image of restoration to talk about God doing something dramatic and new.

            Luke 3:7-14

The New Revised Standard Version Bible translation that we use leaves out an absolutely important word to describe John’s message.  It is the word, “therefore”.  Verse 7 should read, “Therefore, John said to the crowds…”  Without the ‘therefore’ we are given no sense as to why John has such a harsh message to those who are seeking him out.

The prophet Isaiah, who Luke just quoted, regularly criticized people’s hollow religious rituals.  John is calling that out.  He is pointing out that now is the time to act.  Their priorities need to be a genuine commitment to living the principles of God, not just lip service.

Consider this quote from Joel Green in his commentary on Luke, “By labeling the crowds as a “brood of vipers,” John underscores their hopeless position apart from the way of repentance he presents to them.  Indeed, his choice of words seems deliberately to contrast with their supposed self-identification.  They are the offspring of poisonous snakes, not children of Abraham.  As elsewhere, to be born of something or someone is to share its character by nature.  For John, the crowds may claim to be children of Abraham, but their behavior deviates radically from that of Abraham; their actions suggest the influence of the viper… poisonous, hostile to life, evil.” (New International Commentary on the New Testament, Luke, Pg. 175)

Those are harsh words.  They are especially harsh given that John gives them to the common people who are coming out to him.  The gospel of Matthew records a similar message from John.  However Matthew applies it to the religious leaders.  They are particular enemies and the people are okay.  In Luke’s gospel the message is for everyone.  We have to remember that we do not have to have great power to be capable of great harm and destruction.

On hearing this message the crowds ask, “What then should we do?”  Again, these are the ordinary people who have come out into the wilderness who John has called a brood of vipers.  What horrible evils are they doing against God’s will?

John’s words come across as almost common sense.  “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none.”  Having two coats was a great luxury in those days.  “…and anyone who has food must do likewise.”  When all are working hard in an agricultural subsistence economy all must share.  It is a mistake to directly apply this teaching to the modern industrial world with our potential for welfare systems, generational poverty, and the exploitation of the goodness of others.  However, what John is calling for does apply in principle.  We should live such a way that we are aware of the dynamics and the needs of others.  We should not live and gather only for ourselves.  We need to live in light of the community around us and the whole community of humanity.

Tax collectors come to John.  You’ll remember that tax collectors were generally hated people.  They were Jews who had sold themselves out to the Romans.  They were collecting money from their own people and giving it to their oppressors; to at least in part fund the ongoing oppression!  Shouldn’t it be obvious that they should stop this and live as honorable Jews?  But John just says they should only take what is their due.  John is not creating racial or national party lines.  He is only calling on everyone to live in fair community.  The truth is that despite their many oppressive flaws the Romans were also capable of great good.

The same goes for Luke’s advice to the soldiers.  It would be easy to say they should stop what they are doing.  It would be entirely consistent with the Old Testament to tell them to lay down their weapons and radically depend upon God for protection.  But that is not the case.

Again, John’s message is highly practical.  He calls on people to work hard, live fairly, and be in community with others. 

Luke 3:15-20

Luke portrays the adult John as following that which was prophesied at his birth.  He does not see himself as the messiah.  He is not competing with Jesus for attention.  He is doing what he is called to do.  Through the Spirit he knew the time was at hand.  He was pointing towards Jesus who would soon be coming.  He was subservient to Jesus.  He was a servant of what God was doing. 

            In the final verses we see John exit the stage.  He is imprisoned.  We will hear from him again in chapter 7, but now the stage is set for Jesus to take over. 

            We know the stories well so what happens is no surprise, but we do get a foreshadowing of the trouble Jesus will get in when we read that John is imprisoned by Herod.  It always seems to be the case that when power systems are threatened they get to work neutralizing the threat.

            Jesus will face many challenges during his ministry.  We’ll be reading them throughout.  But none of them are real threats until Jesus goes to Jerusalem.  Then his ministry directly challenges those who are invested in the status quo.  Then is when he really gets into trouble.

            We leave the story here for today.  Next week we look at Jesus’ baptism and the real beginning of his ministry. 

Epiphany 2022

January 6 is Epiphany.  It is the celebration of the Wise Men reaching the baby Jesus and presenting him with their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  Even though it counts as a major church holiday (It ranks right up there with Good Friday, Easter and Christmas after all!) it is largely overlooked in the western world today.

 

It is especially overlooked this year as many Americans are remembering the 2020 attacks on the United States Capitol Building.  I certainly have opinions about the attack, the election results, and the overall course of our nation’s politics.  But I am not going to use this space as a platform to proclaim them.  It seems as if most everyone has made up their mind about such things.  Nothing I write will change anyone’s thinking.  You’ll either agree with my thoughts (and perhaps praise me), or you’ll dismiss my thoughts as coming from the “wrong” perspective (and perhaps reject me and conclude that I have nothing worth saying).  That reality is why we need to be celebrating Epiphany more than ever.

 

An epiphany is a manifestation of a god.  The Wise Men who visited Jesus were probably pagan astrologers from the Parthian Empire.  You’ll remember that at the time of Jesus the Parthian Empire was almost as mighty as the Roman Empire, and its boarder was less than 100 miles east of Jerusalem.  Tensions between the two empires was intense.  Through the appearance of a star God revealed Godself to people of a foreign nation and competing religion.  God was transcending both national boundaries and religious boundaries.

 

God still does the same things today.

 

You probably know that I believe our western society is ripping itself apart from the inside out.  Our biggest threat is not from some outside power.  It is our very own selves.  The steep decline -actually let’s call it the “collapse” - of the church is only one symptom of a much bigger problem.  The roots of our problems are many and complex.  I’m not going to explore them all here.  But I think I can safely summarize them by saying that our world is becoming ever more horizontal.   Or perhaps I should say people’s self-identity is becoming ever more horizontal. 

 

What I mean by horizontal is that people are looking to earthly things for self-fulfillment; and ultimately self-identity.  They look to:

material things,

social acceptance,

human accomplishments,

financial security,

creature comforts,

personal power/dominance,

ethnicity/race,

political affiliations,

and more.

They use these things to define themselves. 

They use these things to feel good about themselves. 

They use these things to make themselves feel worthwhile.

 

When your world revolves around such things it is essential for you to protect and preserve them at all costs.  To lose them is to lose your own self.  These things are horizontal because you can find them by looking to the left and to the right.

 

Where did the Wise Men find their truth?  They broke from the horizontal and looked upward!

 

While it is an overly simplistic world view to say that God is “up there” it is helps us understand that we must look above ourselves if we ever want to find meaning.

 

I believe people are desperately trying to find meaning through: rampant consumerism, obsession with personal appearance, worship of celebrity and power, and addictions of all kinds (alcohol, drugs, food, sex).  These are perhaps the ‘sacraments’ of our day.

 

We need an epiphany!  As individuals, and as a society at large, we need to have the humility to recognize that we do not have it all together.  We need to recognize that we cannot fix things on our own.  We need to realize that we cannot find fulfillment within ourselves.  Human intellect is not a god.  Wholeness ONLY comes from God.  It only comes by looking upward and trusting the intangible truth that God loves you.

 

Jesus said that those who want to save their lives will lose them and those who lose their lives for his sake will find them. (Matthew 16:25)

 

It’s Epiphany!  Look upward!  See the stars.  You probably won’t see any new ones but you’ll be looking in the right direction.  God who is above and beyond all things made you.  God knows you.  God loves you.  You are guaranteed to find wholeness of being through Him.

1/2/21 2nd Sunday of Christmas Luke 2:40-52

 Last week I said that I often make a mistake when I think about the baby Jesus.  And I believe most people make the same mistake.  We don’t really think about it carefully, but we just assume that somehow the baby born in a manger is aware of his divinity – or that he somehow has full knowledge that he is God incarnate.

Of course it makes no sense.  How could the brain of a newborn possess such extraordinary self-awareness.  But let’s not be too hard on ourselves.  The whole thing is based on an impossibility.  Mary’s pregnancy is an impossibility, or more properly, something miraculous.   So why can’t we have another miracle here?  And that makes a lot of sense.

Of the four gospel writers Luke alone tells us anything about Jesus as a child.  Mark says nothing.  John says nothing.  Matthew has Joseph, Mary, and Jesus flee to Egypt for several years.  So there is something of his childhood there.  But then Jesus appears before John the Baptist fully grown and ready to go.  But with just a couple scenes Luke fills us in on a lot.

The final verse that we read last week in worship was 2:40, “The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.”  I had us repeat that verse this week too because it is a bookend to the verse which ends the scene, 2:52, “And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor.”

That is an immensely revealing verse for how Luke understands Jesus.  Especially, “increased… in divine… favor.”

Increased in divine favor?  What does that mean?  Isn’t he the sinless one?  Isn’t he God, part of the Trinity?  Isn’t he the Son of God?  Isn’t he born with the fullness of God’s favor?  How can he increase in it?

Let’s look at the verses in between to get some answers.

We are told at the beginning that Jesus’ parents go to the temple for the Passover festival every year.  We are not told whether Jesus went with them every year or not, but that really isn’t important.   What is important is that we see that Jesus is being raised in a devout Jewish family.  They live by the letter and the spirit of the religious law.

Then when Jesus is 12 years old something happens.  It is difficult to say for certain that 12 years old was the age for adulthood for a man in those days.  Current Jewish practices were created centuries later.  Whatever the case, at age 12 a boy was considered to be getting on toward maturity and having the ability to think and do more for himself.  That is where we start to see a problem.

Now Luke doesn’t tell us anything about what might be an obvious thought for ourselves.  Why didn’t the twelve year old Jesus just tell his parents that he wanted to stay?  Well, again, he is of an age to start expressing more independence.  Also, remember his mother’s rather bold trip to Elizabeth when she was probably of a similar age!

There we start to get some clues.  Jesus is running up against a problem.  As a good Jewish boy he would be expected to live by the 10 Commandments.  You’ll remember that commandment number 4 is, “Honor your father and mother.”  And remember, that commandment isn’t just for when you’re a kid.  It goes for your whole life.  Children of any age were expected to honor their parents.  “Honor” does not mean that you have to submit to, or always obey.  No, but it does mean to be respect and love them always.

So, on one hand Jesus needs to honor his parents.  And yet as Luke tells it, by age 12 Jesus is showing that he has a deepening sense of who he is.  He recognizes that God is his Father.  He recognizes that his Father’s house is the temple in Jerusalem.  And he recognizes that he wants to learn and grow from the religious experts who are there.

In these verses Jesus speaks for the first time.  His first words are, “Why were you searching for me?  Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”  We can see a divide forming here.  Jesus assumed that his parents knew what his priorities had to be.  It is almost as if he expects them to know of his divine identity and help to shape it.  But apparently they did not.

A major turning point happens in this scene.  That is probably the main point that Luke is trying to make with it.  Jesus is starting to think and act for himself.

Jesus was given no say as to the circumstances of his birth.  In fact his parents had no say either.  It was quite clear that they were travelling by the command of the government.  And that crowding meant they didn’t get much choice as to the birth setting.  But then as we read last week, at 8 days old we are told that Jesus’ parents brought him up to Jerusalem.  So they were doing the acting.  Jesus was passive.  This week we see that the text starts with his parents making their annual Passover trip to Jerusalem.  They took Jesus with them.  But once there Jesus’ growing independence starts to show.  He stays behind.  Then notice verse 51 at the end of the text, “Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was obedient to them.” 

In other words, Jesus is indeed being obedient.  He is following his parents’ will.  But now he is doing so because he chooses to do so.  They are not taking him places anymore.  He is obedient by his own conscious decision.

One of the developmental tasks of childhood, teenage years, and young adulthood is to develop, discover, and affirm one’s identity.  When we say that Jesus was both fully human and fully divine, we cannot shortchange the fullness of Jesus’ humanity.  So, as this story from Luke brings up, like any full human, Jesus is developing, discovering, and affirming his identity.  He did not arrive as an infant complete and whole.  He arrived as an infant who was fully an infant.  By the guidance of the Spirit he grew into his identity just like any other person.  He had no shortcuts.  He had no predetermined path.  It was a true journey of developing a self-identity.

The words we heard in the second reading, which was from Hebrews 5, remind us of an important thing, “Therefore [Jesus] had to become like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God…”

“…in every respect,” includes growing and learning.  It includes the normal path of developing a self-identity.

It is easy to pray to Jesus as if he were somehow a superhuman, as if he was God striving across the earth in human form; but ultimately unfazed by the gritty reality of life.  But that is a mistake.  When we say Jesus was fully human we mean he was fully human.  As Hebrews says Jesus was like us in every respect.

That is God’s love for us.  God did not come just to show us the way.  God did not come to give us a lecture on how to be holy.  God came both to be an example of righteousness, but also -if such a thing is possible- to know what it is to be a human by becoming one.  In other words, God’s own knowledge increased in the incarnation; although again, that is an impossibility.  But God wanted to know what it truly felt like to be limited, to have questions, to have struggles, to have doubts, and to develop an identity.

Jesus knows and understands all; deeply well.  You can truly pray to him as a friend – an equal.  Absolutely completely totally real and relatable.  Jesus was not too holy to be touched.

This passage rounds out the birth stories of Jesus and John the Baptist.  Next week we meet John the Baptist as an adult.  The next week we’ll meet Jesus as an adult and realize that the fullness of his identity and ministry do not come to shape until his baptism.  Then and only then is he ready for the ministry ahead.  And as you know the story well, it will be a complex ministry.  There will be many joyous times and many conflicts too.

For today realize just how merciful and completely understanding God is of our humanness through Jesus.  We do indeed have a Savior who is one of us.  Someone who knows and understands completely, and is therefore deeply merciful and forgiving.