01262022 – Luke 4. 14-21 The Nazareth Synagogue
This is early Lukan material. You do realize that this is “one of the earliest”- “adult pictures” we get of the man we call Jesus.
Jesus is just back from his Baptism, by John in the River Jordan…and from his forty-day-sojourn in the wilderness of temptation.
It wasn’t “that long ago,” that he left mother, family, job, career, (such as it was) and walked out to go and listen to John the Baptizer in the wilderness area.
It was something that just wasn’t done.
You just don’t get up and leave and walkout…especially on whim. Not when you have responsibilities. But leave he did.
No one in Nazareth is any more the wiser as to “what he went through.” What it was like for him, or what he possibly endured…
The knew he left.
You don’t just leave your mother.
That kind of behavior was frowned upon, condemned, looked down upon, ridiculed, and spoken of behind closed doors.
In an honor and shame society, he just dishonored his family and friends, the village included.
So, he went out to listen to the Baptizer…now, almost two full moons later he shows up back home…
And yes, to be honest, he looks worse for the wear. Just what happened “out there?” He’s not the same man they knew…and thought well of.
He looks haggard, drained, thinner, he’s lost “a lot of weight.” The guy is just skin and bones now. He looks like he is need of a good meal.
And yet he smiles, and glows, and there is still that “old warmth about him.”
You can tell he is glad to be home. There is something special about the humble small village of Nazareth.
There are no disciples, no followers, at least not yet. He hasn’t called out to anyone. He returned alone…by himself.
And his family and friends were glad for his safe return. They were glad he was home again. The village can use him.
There were rumors, reports, and much in the way of talk, about him while he was in the land of Judea. There was some speculation, as well.
Little tidbits were being told and retold…concerning him. It was said that he was teaching in the Synagogues of Judea.
There were wild and crazy stories being associated with him. Healing. Preaching. Teaching. Even some talk about miracles. But we discounted all that as idle chatter. We knew him too well.
The details of this passage tell us much about the ordinary life of Jesus. It was his custom to go to the synagogue on the Sabbath.
He wasn’t afraid to get up and read…as he had done many times before. You know some people read, others sit back and listen. Jesus got up and read often.
It was like he had never left.
Although he seemed to be looking at the people of Nazareth differently. It was hard to put your finger on. He didn’t stare exactly because to do so would be rude. But he watched. He observed. He noticed seemingly everything. It was almost as if, he was looking right through you.
He saw how families with little ones struggled to survive.
He saw the children who hungered for a morsel of bread…but were forced to go without.
He saw how the majority of the people of the village were disposed of their land.
Land they once owned, land now taken from them.
They worked the land for “other land owners.” And they received little in return for their labors.
He watched with grave concern those begging for whatever someone would give to them. And he seemingly took pity on the girls given over to prostitution…
So, when the opportunity arose in the Synagogue. He asked for the scroll of Isaiah. Of course, all eyes were on him. They were fixed on him.
He read standing, and then sat down -the posture for serious teaching. It was a moment of grace, promise, and acceptance. This was his community. He was home. He was accepted and loved…no matter what he had endured or what had happened to him. His family seemed relieved. Very relieved. Jesus was home, again!
He told everyone they were suffering unjustly! God takes their side! And always had! And, always would.
And then he said something odd and something strange. He said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me.” And you just knew, he was no longer talking about Isaiah. He meant it. Something was different. This was personal. Amen.