A Dangerously Familiar Story

“Then He began to speak to them. ‘The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!’ Everyone spoke well of Him and was amazed by the gracious words that came from His lips. ‘How can this be?’ they asked. ‘Isn’t this Joseph’s son?’ Then He said, ‘You will undoubtedly quote Me this proverb: physician, heal yourself - meaning, do miracles here in your hometown like those you did in Capernaum.’ But I tell you the truth; no prophet is accepted in his own hometown. ‘Certainly there were many needy widows in Israel in Elijah’s time, when the heavens were closed for three and a half years and a severe famine devastated the land. Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them. He was sent instead to a foreigner - a widow of Zarephath in the land of Sidon. And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, but the only one healed was Naaman, a Syrian.’ When they heard this, the people in the synagogue were furious. Jumping up, they mobbed Him and forced Him to the edge of the hill on which the town was built. They intended to push Him over the cliff, but He passed right through the crowd and went on His way.” (Luke 4: 21-30) (Also read Jeremiah 1: 4-10; Psalm 71: 1-6; 1 Corinthians 13: 1-13) Students often drop by my office when they are facing uncertainty in their life and ministry. One of the most common conversations we have centres on uneasy preaching moments.

For some it is that fearful time when they step into the pulpit for the very first time. They seek advice and a boost of confidence. Others solicit counsel in navigating the frightening world of pastor search committees and that terrifying act known as the “trial sermon.” One group of students however, reports what they believe to be good news. They have been invited to go back and preach a sermon in their home congregation. As I listen to their report and share in their excitement, I am also reminded that once upon a time there was another who went home to preach and the results were not scrapbook worthy! Luke’s gospel portrays that account in the early days of Yeshua’s ministry. He positions the story in a powerful place within the gospel framework. Matthew and Mark place their account of this story well into the calendar of Yeshua’s work (Matthew 13: 53-56; Mark 6: 1-6). Luke however, places this story fresh on the heels of Yeshua’s temptation in the wilderness. Luke’s theological connections are clear: it is no surprise that in the wilderness, Yeshua faced great temptation and adversity when engaged in conflict with the devil. As one reads the account, you sense the hostility in the wilderness. Then Yeshua retreats back to Nazareth, his hometown. Luke’s setup is perfect. Whereas Yeshua was attacked “out there,” one would naturally assume that He would be welcomed with open arms back home.

I.) Following the assaults in the wilderness, Yeshua retreated home to His routine place of worship. As He gathered with family and friends in the synagogue, He stood to read the text that was handed to Him (4:16). As He finished reading the familiar words from Isaiah, He closed the book, sat down and spoke to the people. As He spoke of YAHVEH’s fulfilment so powerfully realized in that moment, the onlookers gasped at the power and authority that Yeshua possessed. They commended not only the words of Yeshua but His family legacy as well. “Is this not the son of Joseph?” (4:22). These people knew Yeshua. They knew his family. He came from good stock. They had seen Him work in the shadow of Joseph in the carpenter’s shop. He was one of their own. He had calluses on His hands and sawdust on His apron. They trusted Him and they listened to Him with great pride. The affirmation that Yeshua received that day was fitting of the kind of hospitality one expects when returning home. As Yeshua speaks to them, you can almost hear the “Amen’s” erupting from the place of worship. They approved of Yeshua and they approved of His words. Little did they know that the sermon wasn’t over; it was just beginning.

II.) No sooner had the words of affirmation lifted from the lips of Yeshua’s audience did the tone of His message begin to shift. He wasn’t there merely to pacify the sentiment of the home folks. His mission was not to massage the status quo; His mission was to obliterate it! “Truly, I say to you that no prophet is accepted in his own country” (4:24). The words that are about to be uttered are not the familiar “feel good” words the people have gathered to hear. The old adage “familiarity breeds contempt” is fitting of what is about to be heaped upon Yeshua. They only thoughtthey knew Yeshua. They were about to hear a different message altogether. There is such a strong prophetic image inherent to this passage. The prophet speaks not what we want to hear; rather, the prophet speaks words of conviction, words of challenge and words from YAHVEH. Typically, authentically prophetic preaching comes with a hefty price tag. Whenever we preach to the powers, we typically pay the price. While Yeshua’s words were personally dangerous for Him, they were also dangerously familiar words for the Hebrew ear. As He recalled the ministry of Elijah and Elisha, He reminded His listeners that both of their revered prophets had provided ministry to those outside the ranks of Judaism. In the days of famine, Elijah was sent to the widow of Zarapheth (4: 25-26). Moreover, Elisha ministered to a leper named Naaman from Syria (4:27). These dangerous words were readily understood by the audience. Whereas moments earlier the crowds blessed the words of Yeshua, with this shift in Kingdom emphasis away from an exclusively Jewish audience to a universal one, the blessings deteriorated into curses.

III.) Though Luke does not record it, there is a prevailing truth in this passage that begs to be noted. Evidently, when Yeshua closed the book, the people closed their minds and hearts. They utterly refused to listen to this radical idea that YAHVEH just might want to include all persons in His redemptive plan. The whole synagogue was filled with wrath and vitriol. They would welcome the safe Yeshua, but the prophetic Yeshua was too risky and radical for their tastes. They not only disavowed His words but also actively attempted to kill Him right then and there. They drove Him out of the city and to the edge of the cliff in an attempt to kill Him (4:29). They were unsuccessful in this attempt. In a few years, the crowds would lead Him to another hill where a cross and death waited. Luke wants us to catch the moment. Yeshua had just returned from the wilderness and His temptation. Now the home people treated Yeshua as cruelly and as disrespectfully as did the devil. The devil took Yeshua to a cliff and offered Him all that was before Him (4:5); the crowds took Him to a cliff and offered Him a headlong trip over the edge to the bottom of the ravine. And then Yeshua does what I fear He has been forced to do on a regular basis. He walks away. He walks away from the familiar faces of the home people and into the anonymous uncertainty of the world. Their words of affirmation toward Yeshua betray them. They wanted no part of a Kingdom where the ordinary rules of engagement are no longer operative. If we are not careful, when the power of the gospel leans our way, if our spirits match that of the people of Nazareth, Yeshua will walk away. He did it once and He just might do it again.