Listen to Sermon
Pastor Tom Johnson, February 3, 2019
Surrounding us on every street and throughout the city and state there are millions of little signs that have the same message. This sign is required on every vehicle on the back as well as the front. It is a license plate that says, “Land of Lincoln.” Lincoln was born in Kentucky, moved to Indiana when he was 7 where he most likely developed his great character, then moved to Illinois at age 21. It should come as no surprise that different states identify themselves as his home state.
Jesus was born in a different region in Bethlehem, spent his early years as a refugee in Egypt, and then moved to Nazareth. Those in Nazareth are thrilled to hear him read Scripture, preach the good news, and do miracles until they recognize him as the one who grew up with Mary and Joseph the carpenter. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” “Isn’t this the same guy that helped install new door posts in our home a few years ago?” You’ll remember that when Nathanael was told that Jesus the promised Messiah was from Nazareth, he asked, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” (Jn 1:46). Nazareth was considered unimportant—back country—a hilly area far away from trade routes. They had a distinctive accent. Now is their chance to be known for something wonderful and great—the Messiah’s hometown.
Jesus knows the thoughts and intentions of their hearts. Jesus spoils their desire to make a name for themselves and lay claim to him. They will not have “Land of Jesus” on their license plates. Jesus brings up two of the greatest of prophets—Elijah and Elisha. Both were homegrown Israelites. But both were called to take God’s message, power, and healing to foreigners. In both cases, God reveals himself as the true and living God to people who are born outside of Israel and worship other gods. They experience miraculous healing and even the raising of the dead to new life. Jesus’ point is that he is not Jesus, son of Joseph. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” they asked. No, he is not. He is conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. You cannot dismiss him as just another hometown boy. They think Joseph is his biological father. But what is truly significant is that they despise his humanity. They cannot believe that the Messiah they had longed hoped for could have such humble beginnings and have grown up right under their noses. And no, Jesus will not be used as a pawn to advance the fame and regional pride of Nazareth.
What was true for them is true for us. Many people accept Jesus as a great teacher and prophet. We still are perplexed by the eternal Son of God who became human. Even Mary asked, “How can this be?” when she was told she would give birth to the Son of the Most High. It is still difficult for us to grasp the truth that Jesus is both God and Human. He is one Person with both divine and human natures. He is God the Son together with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. As C.S. Lewis famously said, “He is either a liar, a lunatic, or Lord.” And we still have turf wars over Jesus. It seems unfair, strange, and perplexing when God reveals his power to people who are very different from us. We want a tame Jesus—a predictable Jesus who does things in familiar and manageable ways.
Throughout the Islamic world, people are having “the Jesus dream” as our friend Pastor Hicham has shared with us in years past. I’d like for God to do that in this neighborhood. But nobody owns Jesus—not even Christians—not even Lutherans. And why can’t we experience the explosive growth of Lutherans in Chicago as we have seen in the Lutheran church in Africa? Just as Jesus did not just come for Nazarenes and Israelites so he did not just come for Lutherans or Chicagoans but for every tribe, tongue, ethnicity, and people.
One of the great ironies of this account is that God uses the rejection and violence of Jesus’ hometown to propel him forward to bring salvation to the world. The mob takes Jesus to the brow of a hill to throw him off to his death. Jesus miraculously passes through their sin and death to bring light and life to the nations. So Jesus will once again face the mobs. They will take him to the brow of another hill—this time outside of Jerusalem—Golgotha, the place of the skull. They will again attempt to discard him and throw him away as garbage. They will despise and mock him with a placard that says, “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” Just as Jesus predicts, they will say, “Doctor, heal yourself.” “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One.” “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself,” they will say. Jesus will pass through their hatred, violence, and sin again—our hatred, violence, sin, and death itself on the Cross. He will miraculously pass through death and the empty grave. He brings light and life to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people.
To all the world Your summons You are sending,
Through all the earth, to ev’ry land and race,
That myriad tongues, in one great anthem blending,
May praise and celebrate Your gift of grace. (“O God of Light” LSB 836 v. 4)
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