Sermons for the Month

Releasing the Power of Jesus Among Us
DATE: July 6th, 2003
SERVICE: Fourth Sunday After Pentecost
TEXT: Ezekiel 2:1-5; Mark 6:1-13
“To all of you Saints here this morning, grace and peace to you from God our Father, from His Son, Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit. AMEN

It seems only appropriate that on a weekend when we remember our country's history that we also recall the long history of the proclamation of God's word. Imagine, if you will, a time line. On one end is the year 590 BC, nearly 2600 years ago. Then, near the middle is the year 34 AD when Jesus was on this earth, conducting his public ministry. And, at the other end of the time line is today, 2003 AD. And, in each time period, God's challenging, life-altering, words are spoken and heard.
We begin with the Prophet Ezekiel in today's first lesson. Ezekiel lived during a trying time in the lives of the people of Israel, who you'll remember were considered God's chosen ones. The nation of Babylon had invaded Palestine, captured Jerusalem, destroyed the temple, and many of the Israelites were sent into exile in a foreign country. Ezekiel went with them.
In the portion of scripture we read today God tells Ezekiel that he will be sent to the people of Israel, a nation of rebels, who are impudent and stubborn. (Don't you imagine that Ezekiel was thrilled about such a call???) Ezekiel will speak God's word to them, and, God says, whether they hear it or refuse to hear it, it will be clear that a prophet has been among them. In other words, Ezekiel is to be unwavering in his proclamation. The unfortunate testimony of scripture is that, for the most part, they refused to hear.
Then we fast-forward about 600 years from the days of Ezekiel to the time of Jesus. The people of Israel are back in Palestine, and have been there for some time. Now the Romans dominate their land. They are waiting for a great prophet, the Messiah, to appear among them. And, indeed, he has come in the person of Jesus Christ. But, somehow, things have not changed all that much for the people of Israel because these descendants of the ones to whom Ezekiel spoke are as impudent and stubborn as their ancestors.
They refuse to see what is right in front of their eyes. Jesus had once again returned to his hometown. When he taught in the synagogue, those who heard him were astounded and wondered about the source of his wisdom and knowledge. But, their amazement did not move them to appreciate Jesus. Instead, they rejected him.
It's clear that they have heard about, as the lesson puts it, the "deeds of power that he has done." There's no doubt that the word has spread concerning the even that is described in last week's lesson, and people know how he brought the 12-year-old daughter of Jairus, who had died, back to life. They also knew how he calmed the wind and the waves that were about to capsize a boat on which the disciples were sailing. His ability to heal people is a documented fact. Like the people who lived in Ezekiel's day, it should have been obvious to them that a prophet was among them. Isn't it a sad commentary on human nature that they were offended rather than impressed by all that Jesus had done?
They just can't get over the fact that the hometown boy has made a name for himself. One writer I read said that, "they might have been interested in his opinion about building a house or shaping an ox yoke. They knew that Joseph had taught him some carpentry skills. But now Jesus - this young man - sounded as if he possessed the wisdom on the ages - and they didn't like that".
Instead they make comments like, "He's a carpenter, so he could not possibly be educated. He's the son of Mary and Joseph; they're as common as the rest of us. He was raised right here in this village. We are acquainted with his sisters and brother, there's nothing especially impressive about them." For whatever reason - my guess is jealousy - they did not give Jesus the respect that should have been offered to someone who taught and healed as he did. When they saw Jesus, they did not see the Messiah.
His own people think they know him well, and they are sure that his common beginning makes it impossible for him to be anything other than an ordinary man. They have, in effect, erected a wall. The scripture says that, "Jesus could do no deeds of power there." We need to understand, though, that their unbelief did not take away the power of Jesus, but it certainly had a dampening effect on it. Their doubt built a wall and restricted what Jesus could do. So, instead of trying to convince them, he moves on, amazed at their unbelief.
Their rejection of Jesus is the backdrop for what happens next. The disciples go out, two by two, telling people who Jesus is and demonstrating his power. They are not to waste time on anyone - like the people of Nazareth - who will not hear their message. They preach, they heal, and they cast out demons in Jesus' name. Unlike the impudent and stubborn people in Jesus' home town, the disciples believed that God was at work in Jesus, they allowed God to work through them, and people knew a prophet - indeed the Messiah - was among them.
Now let's move down our time line to this day. None of us would like to say that we are impudent and stubborn like the people of Israel, nor would we ever say that we do not believe that Jesus is the Messiah. Unlike the people of Nazareth we believe - at least in theory - that Jesus can do great things.
But, do we really feel the NEED for Jesus to be active among us? Do we really believe that it is vital that the Good News of God's love in Jesus Christ be proclaimed? Do we want the Christian church to thrive and be a change agent in people's lives? Do we really want to alleviate suffering in the world? Do we really care that there is justice and peace in all the earth? Or, are we happy as long as we are comfortable and expectations are low? Because we would prefer that God didn't expect too much from us, then perhaps we begin to expect too little of God, and thus we limit the ways that Jesus can work among us.
This weekend as we give thanks for the abundant blessings that are ours as citizens of this country, we must acknowledge that our blessings can become a burden if we trust them and focus on them more than we trust and focus on our Lord.
Like the disciples do we allow God to work through us, or are we more like the people of Nazareth who either cannot, or choose not, to see Jesus for who he is as he stands among us?
I used a phrase in last week's sermon that you'll hear from me time and time again. When we are faithful, God is faithful. Had the people of Nazareth opened their eyes and seen Jesus the Messiah rather than Jesus the hometown boy, their lives would have been changed. As it was Jesus could do little because he had little with which to work. When the disciples went out to preach, to heal and to cast out demons it was those who received them whose lives were never the same. Those who turned their backs were literally left in the dust.
The potential for Jesus to work among us here at Faith Lutheran Church is limited only by our willingness to open our eyes and our hearts and to give of our time and our talents so that Jesus can transform us and then use us to change the world.
The time line continues beyond today. May all who look back at us say, "Obviously they knew that a Prophet, that the Lord Jesus, was among them."
AMEN