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by Gary Sims
01/28/04
Not For Sale
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The Gospels
Luke 4:21-30 – The ‘One Thing’
Key Verses: (NRSV)

21: “Then He began to say to them, ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’” – Jesus had just finished reading a passage from the Book of Isaiah to a synagogue in His home town announcing that He was anointed to bring God’s good news to the poor, captive, blind, and oppressed of the world.
22: “All spoke well of Him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from His mouth.” – Amazed because He was the carpenter’s son? Amazed because the rumors that the Messiah had arrived just might be true? Amazed for their good fortune of being especially chosen among God’s people?
24: “And He said, ‘Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet’s hometown.” – Prophets are anointed to speak the truth. Truth can become a hard pill to swallow especially when it comes from one so intimately known.
25-27: “But the truth is…” – Jesus continues to relate two well-known stories that implied that His listeners were as unaccepting and wicked in their ways as those they scorned in these stories.
28: “When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage.” – Their truths and the values they held dear had just been turned up-side-down. This young, arrogant carpenter’s son had offered salvation on the one hand, and then leveled criticism and judgment against them on the other.
29-30: ²⁹“They got up, drove Him out of the town…,so that they might hurl Him off the cliff. ³⁰But He passed through the midst of them and went on His way.” – Their anger grew and a mob scene developed. They took Jesus to a cliff and as they came to the understanding that they would kill Him, He passed through them, went on His way, and left them to consider what had and could have happened.

Points to Contemplate:

Where do you seek truth? Must it come from experts and people far removed from you? Or do you accept the “prophets” living among you? Are there people within your community who speak of outlandish things? Do you choose to ignore them? As they speak, do you erode their message with comments such as: “I remember you when you were just this high.” Or, “I remember the time when he…” Is it possible to put these human tendencies to ridicule aside? Is it possible to listen to the prophets that God has put in your midst?
Are you filled with rage? Does your passion at times grow out of control? Are you led by these passions into sin? What is the source of your rage? What button can people push that will always ignite your anger? Do you ever wonder why this happens? Are there areas of your life you cling too tightly to? When self-righteousness begins to take control, is this a time to step back and reconsider your actions? Are these possibly times when God is asking you to grow beyond your zone of comfort and to look to a world of new possibilities?
Have you been left standing at the brink? Jesus left this throng of people at the edge of town at the brink of indecision. When you reach these moments in your life, do you turn and follow where Jesus is heading or do you stand firm in your stubbornness and stuck in your indecisiveness? Does His message of love turn your world up-side-down? Are you resisting the change He offers for your life?

Promises of the Gospel:

We search far and wide for truth. With the wisdom of Curly in the movie “City Slickers,” we have pursued the ‘one thing’… the one thing that makes everything else meaningless. We have yearned to be set free from the bonds of selfishness that hold us captive. We look for answers in newspapers, magazines, television, movies, books, philosophies, religions, and in the latest trends or fads. We cling to every utterance from our pop and movie stars with the hope that they have come to know the ‘one thing.’ And then, the Messiah arrives. He is one of us. His message is filled with hope. His message is strong – too strong. Does He really mean what He says? Are we to break down barriers and allow the entire world into this truth. Are we not the select few; the chosen ones? Why can’t He just make us feel good? Why do we have to scrutinize our life-style? Why are we asked to change? Can’t we have things the way they were? As Jesus enters our lives, these questions abound. As we stand on the brink, are we ready to turn and follow Him wherever He leads? Is Jesus the ‘one thing?’

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