What Jesus Did : Luke 4:22-24 - Home Court Disadvantage
by Phil Ware
Home Court Disadvantage - Luke 4:22-24
All the people said good things about Jesus. They were amazed at the beautiful words Jesus spoke. The people said, "{How can he speak like this?} He is only Joseph's son, isn't he?" Jesus said to them, "I know that you will tell me the old saying: 'Doctor, heal yourself.' You want to say, 'We heard about some things that you did in Capernaum. Do those same things here in your own home town!'" Then Jesus said, "I tell you the truth. A prophet is not accepted in his own home town." (ERV) Full TextKey Thought
In sports, teams play all season to have the home-court advantage in the playoffs. Yet the ancient proverb is true in matters religious, "A prophet is not without honor, except among his own folks in his own hometown and in his own family." While we can think of lots of reasons why that would be true, the bottom line is that we expect our experts to be from out of town with credentials that include places we haven't been and degrees we haven't earned. To have someone from among us be used by God in special ways can provoke jealousy and stir cynicism. That's why it was so important that Jesus be one of us—to specifically show us that the way we are to walk is possible. That there were no great expectations of Jesus by those among whom he was raised should not surprise us. That he grew up like all of us did (with family and friends in a real-life historical setting) should motivate us to reach for more than our shallow dreams often allow. While we may be saddened by Jesus' rejection by his hometown folks, let's not let the same thing happen with those that God would use mightily among us. Let's encourage them to Kingdom greatness and believe that God can make any among us—young or old, big or small, and including you and me—into something great for his use.
Today's Prayer
Father, use me to encourage your people to find their gifts to serve you. Use my faith and conviction to help them dream bigger dreams for your Kingdom and for their place of service in that Kingdom. Raise up from our congregation great leaders for the future of your Church and for the cause of Christ. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Today's Verses in Context
Jesus went back to Galilee with the power of the Holy Spirit. Stories about Jesus spread all over the area around Galilee. Jesus began to teach in the synagogues. All the people praised him. Jesus traveled to Nazareth, the town where he grew up. On the Sabbath day he went to the synagogue like he always did. Jesus stood up to read. The book of Isaiah the prophet was given to him. Jesus opened the book and found the place where this is written: "The Spirit of the Lord (God) has come to me. God chose me to tell good news to people that are poor. God sent me to tell people who are prisoners that they are free, and to tell the blind people that they can see again. God sent me to free the weak people from their suffering and to announce that the time has come for the Lord to show his kindness." Jesus closed the book. He gave the book back to the helper and sat down. Every person in the synagogue watched Jesus closely. Jesus began to speak to them. He said, "While you heard me reading these words just now, the words were coming true!" All the people said good things about Jesus. They were amazed at the beautiful words Jesus spoke. The people said, "{How can he speak like this?} He is only Joseph's son, isn't he?" Jesus said to them, "I know that you will tell me the old saying: 'Doctor, heal yourself.' You want to say, 'We heard about some things that you did in Capernaum. Do those same things here in your own home town!'" Then Jesus said, "I tell you the truth. A prophet is not accepted in his own home town. What I say is true. During the time of Elijah it did not rain in Israel for three and a half years. There was no food anywhere in the whole country. There were many widows in Israel during that time. But Elijah was sent to none of those widows {in Israel}. Elijah was sent only to a widow in Zarephath, a town in Sidon. And there were many people with leprosy living in Israel during the time of the prophet Elisha. But none of those people were healed; the only one wasNaaman. And Naaman was from the country of Syria, {not from Israel}." All the people in the synagogue heard these things. They became very, very angry. The people got up and forced Jesus to go out of town. Their town was built on a hill. They brought Jesus to the edge of the hill. The people wanted to throw him off. But Jesus walked through the middle of them and went away.-- Luke 4:14-30 (ERV)
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