I’ve always been fascinated by Luke 4:16-21. Jesus has achieved some fame as a prophet and he returns to his hometown of Nazareth. There he is invited to preach to the synagogue so he takes his place in front and chooses to read from Isaiah chapter 61. Have you ever wondered why, of all the passages Jesus could have preached from, he chose this one?

 

Jesus Rejected at Nazareth
^{Luke 4:16} And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. ¹⁷ And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,

¹⁸         “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

because he has anointed me

to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives

and recovering of sight to the blind,

to set at liberty those who are oppressed,

¹⁹         to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

²⁰ And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. ²¹ And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

 

I’ll be preaching from this same text this coming Sunday at Canyon View but as I was translating the text from ancient Greek in preparation for my upcoming lesson, I came across the word thrauo, “oppressed.” This is the only place it is used in the New Testament and it literally means “to break into pieces.” Now that is a vivid image isn’t it?

Part of the ministry of Jesus (and part of our ministry as Christians) is to heal broken hearts! Unfortunately, all too often Christians are responsible for just the opposite. We can be too critical and we’re often swift to judge others.

Jesus often used humor to poke fun at this kind of hypocrisy. Do you remember when he talked about the Pharisee’s soup? “You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!” (Matthew 23:24) I can just picture a camel doing the backstroke in a bowl of chicken soup while the poor Pharisee is chasing a gnat around the dish with his spoon.

Have you heard of the “Jesus Preaching Principle”? Jesus pointed sin out to saints but he pointed sinners to God. In other words, people whose lives are in pieces already know that. They don’t need people to point out their condition; they need people to point them to a loving God who can heal them. On the other hand, sometimes people who claim to know God need to have someone point out the camel in their soup.

“Ummm, waiter! What’s this camel doing in my soup?”

“I believe it’s the breast stroke sir…”

 

 

 

There is a delightful old joke about a monk who took a vow of silence. He was only allowed to speak to the head of the monastery once a year. At the end of the first year, he was asked, “Brother, do you have anything to say?” to which he answered, “The beds are hard!”

Another year passed and he was asked, “Brother, do you have anything to say?” to which he answered, “The food is bad!”

Finally, another year passed and he was asked, “Brother, do you have anything to say?” to which he answered, “I quit!”

The head of the order shrugged his shoulders and replied, “Well, I’m not surprised. All you’ve done since you got here is complain.”

A week has passed and I still can’t speak. I have a terrible sore throat and I’ve hardly gotten out of bed. I’ve even resorted to channel surfing. I’ve watched more TV in the last week than I have in the last five years. I’m afraid I might become a “Swamp People” addict! (That’s a television show about hunting alligators in the swamps of Louisiana where the main characters are Cajuns who race around in boats shouting, “Choot ’im! Choot ’im!”)

It’s been an interesting experience. For example, people will shout from across the house, “John, do you want anything?” That’s really nice but I can’t shout back “I’d love a Fudgsicle!” Or, it’s natural when I whisper, people whisper back to me like we’re keeping some great secret.

It’s a great challenge for a preacher to lose his voice! Imagine what it would be like, if suddenly all of the preachers lost their voices? Before you add that to your prayer list, my dear friend and fellow minister, Jim Hinton observed, “Well, they could still send text messages!” That may be, but an unspoken dread most ministers share is a kind of discouragement that causes us to wonder if we are doing any good? Is anyone really listening to what we have to say? Are we relevant or just tolerated?

One of the curses God pronounces on Israel through the prophet Amos is a famine for the Word of God (Amos 8:11, 12):

“Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord God,
“when I will send a famine on the land—
not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water,
but of hearing the words of the Lord.
They shall wander from sea to sea,
and from north to east;
they shall run to and fro, to seek the word of the Lord,
but they shall not find it.”

The challenge for preachers is two-fold. The first is not to give up but continue to speak out. Noah preached for over 100 years and no one except his own family listened to what he had to say; yet he is called a man of God. The second is the far more important imperative. The famine isn’t of preachers but of “hearing the words of the Lord.” It isn’t enough to just speak. We must be sure of our message! Now excuse me while I gargle again and try to find my voice for Sunday’s sermon.

Through the centuries there have been many powerful symbols used of Christianity. One of the earliest is the fish and that’s appropriate because there are many references to fish and fishing in the Gospels. Jesus told his apostles to lay down their nets and follow him and he would make them “fishers of men,” (Matthew 4:18, 19). But there is another, better, reason. The Greek word for fish, ichthus, (pronounced “ik-thoos”) is an acronym for Christians:

I is the first letter in the name “Jesus” (I in Greek is the same as J in English)

Ch is the Greek letter “Chi,” the first letter in “Christ”

Th is the Greek letter “Theta,” the first letter in “Theos,” “God”

U is the first letter in the Greek word for “son”

S is the first letter in the Greek word for “savior.”

When you put them altogether, it spells “Ichthus” (“Fish”) which stands for “Jesus Christ, God’s Son and Savior.” Some writers have even speculated it was a kind of sign/counter-sign for early Christians as they traveled during times of persecution. When you entered a new city and were trying to find other Christians, you would casually draw the lower half of the fish symbol in the dust. If the other person was a brother, he would draw the upper half completing the symbol. I’m not sure that is true but it is a wonderful story isn’t it?

Other Christian symbols were the lamb, the Good Shepherd with the lamb on his shoulders (Luke 15), the “Chi-Rho” symbol (It looks like an X with a P – the Greek letter R – superimposed on it. These are the first two Greek letters for “Christ.”), the Alpha and Omega (the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet signifying Jesus is the beginning and the end. See Revelation 1:8; 21:6; 22:13), the anchor (Hebrews 6:18, 19), and even the pelican (legend says when a pelican can’t find food for its young, it wounds itself and feeds them on her blood).

Of course the most famous symbol of all is the cross but there are two variations: the cross and the crucifix. The difference is a crucifix portrays Jesus hanging on it and this symbol plays a powerful role in Catholicism, however I believe the cross is the better symbol because on a crucifix, Jesus never gets off the cross. We worship a Risen Savior who triumphed over death and that is why we celebrate and that is why we have hope of eternal life!

 

^{Mark 14:51} And a young man followed him, with nothing but a linen cloth about his body. And they seized him, ⁵² but he left the linen cloth and ran away naked.

Only the Gospel of Mark includes this story that seems so out of place in the Passion of the Christ. Jesus had been praying in the Garden of Gethsemane when Judas betrayed him to the mob with a kiss. One of the disciples, probably Peter, tried to defend Jesus but the Lord told him to put down his sword and all the disciples fled away into the night. Jesus is taken to the home of the High Priest for questioning and only Mark tells us about the young man clothed in a bed sheet who tried to follow. The crowd grabbed him but caught only his sheet. The poor young man ran away into the night through the streets of Jerusalem naked!

Who was he and why did Mark include this rather comical story in the midst of such a serious scene? Some way it was the fulfillment of Bible prophecy: “ ‘and he who is stout of heart among the mighty shall flee away naked in that day,’ declares the LORD,” (Amos 2:16) but the Bible itself never makes that claim.

For centuries Christians have suspected the young man was John Mark, the author of this gospel and disciple of both Peter and Paul. Many believe the Last Supper took place in the home of John Mark’s mother, Mary (See Acts 12:12, 13) and that’s the first place Judas would have gone with the mob to find Jesus. Mark, aroused from his sleep, wrapped only in a sheet ran through the streets of Jerusalem to the Garden to warn Jesus. But it was too late. Robbed of his robe, Mark too ran away into the night with the other disciples.

Peter tried to save Jesus with his sword. Mark, the nearly naked disciple tried to warn Jesus but Peter lost his sword and Mark lost his bed sheet. What they and the heavily armed crowd didn’t understand is Jesus willingly went to his death. He loved us that much!

 

 

Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus and Easter commemorates the season of his death, burial and resurrection but are they based on fact? No serious scholar doubts Jesus of Nazareth had a birthday and a day on which he died but how certain are we of those exact dates?

Frankly, Christmas Day was chosen on the basis of convenience. Of course there is no doubt Jesus was born but the exact date is completely lost in antiquity. In fact, the Bible says Jesus was born while Herod the Great reigned but Herod died in 4 B.C.! It’s more than likely that Jesus was born around 6 B.C. but, as for the day or the month, that’s anyone’s guess. The earliest Christians didn’t celebrate Christmas and much later, when some of them wanted to create a holiday to celebrate his birth, they chose an existing pagan holiday and “sanctified” it with new meaning.

On the other hand, while “Easter” with its bunnies and eggs was also a pagan holiday, the timing is pure coincidence. The events surrounding the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus were linked to the Jewish feast, Passover, and have been celebrated every Sunday from the very beginning of Christianity.

Passover celebrates the liberation of the Jewish people from Egyptian slavery (Exodus chapter 12). On the night of the 10^th plague, the Israelites sacrificed a lamb and painted its blood on the doorposts of their houses. The “death angel” passed-over their homes when he saw the blood sparing those within. Blood represents life and it took the sacrifice of an innocent life to set them free. Likewise, the historical Jesus died on the eve of an historical Passover giving his life to set us free.

Since Passover is a lunar holiday, the date on our calendar varies from year to year. Likewise Christians have been divided about whether to celebrate the anniversary on the actual date of the event (which would fall on different days of the week) or to always link it to the actual day, Sunday. Here, in the West, it is traditionally celebrated on “Resurrection Sunday” and while we honor the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus every week (as Christians have from the beginning) it is especially heart-warming to celebrate Resurrection Sunday knowing it is firmly based in historical fact.

Looking for some place to worship on Easter? Why not visit the Canyon View Church of Christ in the Clairemont neighborhood of San Diego? Won’t you join us Sunday, March 31^st? We’ll enjoy coffee and breakfast breads starting at 9:00 AM with a special presentation for all of the adult classes in the auditorium to follow at 9:30. Worship will joyfully begin at 10:00.

 

Yawn.

One of the most memorable characters from the book of Proverbs is the “sluggard.” He is a lazy man. He can’t leave his house because “the sluggard says, ‘There is a lion in the road, a fierce lion roaming the streets!”

“As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed.”

“The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth,” (Proverbs 26:13-16).

The sages of the middle-ages called sloth “the first deadly sin.” Sloth, in modern vernacular, means “laziness.” We might think of laziness as a weakness or common fault, but would we call it a sin? (See Proverbs 6:6-11.)

My first observation is that laziness doesn’t necessarily mean a lack of activity. Heaven knows we’re packing more and more into already too busy lives but is it purposeful activity? Are we moving towards a goal or are we just bouncing off the walls? Do we believe it because we’ve heard something so often we accept it as truth or do we believe (and behave) because we have discovered a precious truth?

Second, sloth prevents us from escaping lazy preoccupations and paying attention to the things that have eternal significance. For example, for the lazy of the world, love is something that “just happens.” We “fall in love” and we “fall out of love.” Marriages are based on phileo (friendship love) or eros (erotic love) with the result when the attraction is over, so is the relationship.

Christian lovers are attracted to each other and they are friends with each other but marriage is based on agape (a love that is controlled by the will). Agape can never be lazy. It is proactive and involved. It works. It builds. It does. Therefore, if love is something we should do, then lazy people, who are unwilling to put forth the effort to love, should be justly condemned!

Let’s look at another example. Unfortunately, many Christians have just enough gospel to make them miserable, but not enough to make them joyful. They know enough about the biblical message to keep them from doing those things the world is tempting them to do; but they do not have enough of a commitment to God to do those things through which they might experience the fullness of His joy! I am convinced more people will be condemned at the Judgment because of sins of omission than commission.

Tony Campolo wrote, “Sloth deadens, but the Spirit gives life. Sloth thrives on feelings of inferiority, but the Spirit gives us the assurance that we are the children of God. Sloth is self-centered, but the Spirit creates a burning desire to change the world. Sloth leaves us bored and empty, but in the Spirit we find the fullness of God’s joy.”

 

I really believe Dr. Luke’s second book, “Acts of the Apostles,” is misnamed. There were 12 apostles (not counting Paul) and Dr. Luke’s book really only focuses on two of them: Peter and Paul. We might call the fifth book of the New Testament, “Acts of Some of the Apostles.” (Remember Luke didn’t name his book so we are free to call it anything appropriate.) However, I think a better title would be “Acts of the Holy Spirit.” The Holy Spirit is mentioned over 60 times in Acts!

Talking about the Holy Spirit makes some people uncomfortable. The old King James translation talks about the “Holy Ghost” and that makes us even more uncomfortable. Some of the pioneers of the Restoration Movement even denied the Holy Spirit was anything more than God’s power at work. Others equated the indwelling Spirit as simply incorporating the word of God into our lives through reading the Bible!

So what can we expect from having a relationship with the Holy Spirit? First, this relationship is available to every single Christian. The Spirit was poured out upon the earth on the day of Pentecost and every baptized Christian (is there any other kind?) receives forgiveness and the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38).

Second, the work of the Holy Spirit is to make us holy. Something that is “holy” has been (1) set apart (2) for God’s purposes. We are forgiven (justified) when we become Christians. We become holy (sanctified) through the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Third, the Spirit fills us with power. Some people try to wait to become Christians until they are “better” people. That’s like trying to cut a log with a chainsaw without ever firing it up! The Spirit gives us the power to live holy lives and makes real change possible.
The Holy Spirit is God’s gift but can you imagine someone receiving a lovely birthday presentwrapped in shiny paper and topped with a beautiful bow. What would you think if the birthday boy simply set the package on the shelf for all to see but never opened it? We have received the gift of the Holy Spirit but many, many people have never taken the time to open the package!Fourth, the Holy Spirit gives us assurance. Satan often takes the form of a nagging voice: “You’re really not a very good Christian.” (Christians aren’t perfect – they’re just forgiven!) The presence of the Holy Spirit is God’s guarantee of our salvation. (See 2 Corinthians 1:22; 5:5; Ephesians 1:14.)

So how do we do that? First, say “Thank you!” God has given you this special gift. Worship is an attitude of gratitude. Second, just like a GPS won’t help you reach your destination unless you refer to it; learn to listen for the Spirit’s voice. Third, “let go and let God.” It’s time to relax and start turning our troubles over the God. Finally, the best place to see the Holy Spirit is in the rearview mirror. Take time to remember and reflect on what God has done in the past. He spoke to the fathers. He rescued Israel. He gave us his Son to show us the way and now He has given us his precious Holy Spirit to empower us in his service.

My grandkids have introduced me to the cartoon series, Phineas and Ferb. It’s about how they spend their “104 days of summer vacation.” They are always inventing and building things and having fantastic adventures. Those two are never bored.

Wouldn’t it be great if life was like that — never boring – but we can’t always have mountain top experiences and, thankfully, we don’t always live in dark valleys. Sometimes life is boring: “same ol’, same ol’” and sometimes our faith goes through “dry places.” Bible study becomes meaningless and prayers are repetitious. We find ourselves just going through the motions.

I wonder if, in the days before his public ministry, John the Baptist ever got bored in the desert? Did his diet of locusts and wild honey ever seem stale? Did he get tired of looking at sand, rocks and scrub brush? If he did, what advice would you give him?

“Just be faithful Brother Baptist! Keep on keepin’ on.” But we are not called to stagnation and “faithfulness” can even become a way of rationalizing complacency or outright negligence.

Someone else might encourage John the Baptist to, “Keep growing!” That isn’t necessarily biblical advice. It sounds like something Oprah or Dear Abby would suggest and what if you lack the motivation to do even that?

“Persevere! Our preacher keeps talking about Christians persevering. Winston Churchill said, ‘Never, never, never, never, never, never, never give up!’” And while the Bible does call for perseverance, it doesn’t allow for hollow perseverance. Paul told the Romans, “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord,” (Romans 12:11).

I think John the Baptist understood the need to maintain an internal faithfulness. We need a sense of duty and a sense of passion. That sense of passion comes from seeing faith at work. That means spending time with my brothers and sisters, sharing our passion and our energy. When I see the Spirit at work in others I am more likely to sense his presence in my own life.

And finally, what is the difference between sitting at home on the couch – bored – and standing in line for an hour at Disneyland? Anticipation! So what are we waiting for? The Lord is coming and that is exciting!

Mark Twain might have been a wonderful writer but he was an unusually bad judge of great opportunities. He squandered a fortune on harebrained schemes that lead him to financial ruin.

One time he exercised amazing self-control and steadfastly refused to invest in the invention of a poor but brilliant young inventor. The young man offered him a large share of his company if Twain would but invest $500 in his scheme. Twain saw no future in the contraption and so he sent Alexander Graham Bell on his way.

Of course Twain wasn’t alone. Joshua Coppersmith was arrested in Boston for trying to sell stock in the telephone. After all, “All well informed people know that it is impossible to transmit the human voice over a wire.”

The first iron plow (1797) was rejected by New Jersey farmers because they felt it poisoned the land and stimulated the growth of weeds.

Bob Hope refused to invest in his friend’s “amusement park” and sent Walt Disney on his way empty-handed.

Col. Sanders was rejected 1,009 times before the first restaurant accepted his chicken proposal.

We might get a chuckle out of these stories but how many people refuse the love of God because redemption just seems “too good to be true.” How about you?