Summary of the Text
Highlighted Text: Luke 4:14-21
Summary of the text: A Tough Way to Start Ministry
In this captivating passage Jesus’ new followers discovered early on this was not going to be a ‘pleasure cruise.’ Jesus’ inaugural ‘sermon event’ back home in Nazareth turns into an angry crowd seeking to throw him over a cliff. Beginning new chapters in life can be stressful. I can remember one of the first sermons I gave as a collegian driving to a little church in Colby, Kansas. I must have gone on too long because afterwards a farmer greeted me at the door and said ‘Nice sermon son. By the way, when you’re done pumping, just let go of the handle.” In today’s lectionary Luke puts his own stamp on this event that both Matthew and Mark record. Jesus has already faced the Tempter and is now beginning the “great Galilean mission.”
Right from the beginning Luke show how Jesus fulfills the prophecies of Isaiah. As he enters the synagogue as an honored guest he is invited to say a few words from the Scriptures. It appears the synagogue system in northern Palestine at this time did not have a ‘Clergy Rabbi or Pastor’ per say but different respected people were asked to do that Sabbath’s reading. They handed the scroll of Isaiah to Jesus. He finds the well-known Messianic passage of the inbreaking of the Kingdom of God into this broken world. Jesus reads it standing up in honor of the Word.
He then sits down (yeshivat) to take his role of the teacher. As the room quietly waits with every eye staring at him to hear his commentary, Jesus unloads the bombshell of ‘this scripture is fulfilled right now; right here.” He then reminds them that God’s work is for Gentiles as well as Jews. Luke then describes in the next verses they are so offended they took him to a cliff to throw him over and kill him. But Jesus just walks through the middle of the enraged crowd and into the next stop of his ministry. Preaching can be dangerous. It takes courage to be faithful to God’s call. Every generation of preachers has known this, but today it may take more courage than ever ‘to speak the truth in love’.
I learned early on from a Messianic mentor of mine many things. He was a Polish Jewish survivor who had lost all his family to the Nazis. He discovered Christ as his Messiah and spent the rest of his life sharing in mostly hostile settings. One thing stuck with me deeply. “Mark, never preach to your fans – or to your critics. Simply tell the truth.” Jesus lives out his ministry to the Father, on behalf of the world, in such a single minded way.
When we face criticism it is hard not to ‘take a few shots’ from the pulpit at our opponents. It’s also just as hard not to ‘take the bait’ of our well-meaning fans and ‘go to the popular menu’ for the morning. This passage reminds me as a pastor to do the work God has called us to while leaving the results to Him. As I learned from a professor in St Andrews through his thick Scottish accent “Ye canna convince people at the same time that you are a great preacher, and Christ is a great Savior. Pick which one you want.”
Rev. Dr. Mark A Brewer is a third-generation Presbyterian clergy. Previously Mark was the Sr. Pastor of four churches – Cherry Creek Presbyterian in Denver (1980-1992), Ward Presbyterian in Detroit (1992-1994), Colorado Community in Englewood Colorado (a multi campus/ multi-racial church 1993-2001), and Bel Air Presbyterian in Los Angeles (2001-2013). Two of these Mark was the founding pastor. Dr. Brewer was also the president of The Ministry Lab Network from 2013-2016, bringing an innovative approach to training ministry leaders about the nuts and bolts of lived pastoral ministry.
Mark’s holds an undergraduate degree in psychology from Colorado State University. He holds both a Masters of Divinity and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Fuller Theological Seminary. Mark has also taught as an adjunct professor at Fuller Seminary. and authored two books “A Walk into the City” and “Spiritual Intelligence.”
Mark has been married to his wonderful wife Carolyn (an Occupational Therapist) since 1978 and have three married children of their own as well as seven grandchildren. His greatest accomplishment other than his wife and wonderful family is becoming a board member of The Pastor’s Workshop in late 2021.
Sermon Resources
Key Illustration
Only The Dead Go with the Flow
By illustration, I have been told that when a cow is born, she innately senses that her departure from her mother’s warm womb to a cold, scary, unknown world outside is upon her. In response, she will resist birth and try to stay in the womb. On the other hand, the absence of such resistance is often a sign of a stillborn calf. Relating to our world of death, “going along” is a sign of death. Living fish swim against the stream.
Only the dead go with the flow.
Additional Sermon Resources
Illustrations