Luke 4:14-44 "The Preaching and Power of the Kingdom in the Synagogues" Jesus says that the purpose for which he was sent was, I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God. This is also why I have been sent to you. To preach to you the good news of the kingdom of God. The good news of the kingdom is that the Year of the Lord's Favor has come. For 500 years Israel has longed for this day. For 500 years the faithful have prayed "thy kingdom come!" And now, Jesus says, I have been anointed by the Spirit of the Lord to establish the kingdom of God. Jesus explains this in his teaching, and he exhibits it in his healing and casting out demons. So right here in Luke 4, at the beginning of Luke's account of the ministry of Jesus, you have the two "P's" of the kingdom: the preaching of the kingdom and the power of the kingdom. Because today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing. It is still today. And today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts, but listen! And believe the message that Jesus speaks to his church! Introduction: The Synagogue and the Temple Did you notice that everything in this passage happens in or around a synagogue? Verse 15 introduces this section by saying that Jesus "taught in their synagogues." In verse 16 Jesus went to the synagogue in Nazareth on the Sabbath day (as was his custom). In verse 31 we learn that the next thing he did was teach in the synagogue in Capernaum, and that he went from the synagogue to Simon's house. And in verse 44 the passage concludes And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea. (v43-44) What is particularly interesting is that after all these references to the synagogue in chapter 4, there are no references to the synagogue in chapter 5, and only one in chapter 6. There must be some reason why Luke emphasizes what Jesus does in the synagogue at the beginning of his ministry. Luke has spent a great deal of time in chapters 1-3 on the temple. Zechariah saw the angel Gabriel in the temple. Jesus was taken to the temple as an infant, and returned when he was 12. Luke rearranges the order of the temptations in order to highlight the devil taking him to the pinnacle of the temple last. And Jesus life and ministry will move from the synagogues of Galilee to the temple in Jerusalem. Indeed Luke's gospel will end with the 11 returning to Jerusalem where they were "continually in the temple blessing God." (24:53). What was the synagogue for? We often assume that the synagogue was a place of worship. But that is not what the Jews called it. After all, God had commanded in the OT that Israel was to worship in one place and that one place was now the temple in Jerusalem. Because you cannot worship God without a sacrifice, and you can only offer sacrifices at the temple. Rather, the Jews called their synagogues "schools" or sometimes houses of prayer, but the main purpose of the synagogue was to be a place where Jews came together (the word "sunagoges" means "to assemble") and study the scriptures. Since Jews could only worship at the temple, they gathered every Sabbath in the synagogues in order to study the scriptures and pray --and when they prayed, they prayed toward the temple, because every synagogue was built in such a way as to point toward Jerusalem. Solomon, after all, had said that God's people should pray "toward" the temple, and the Jews took that literally! Everything about the synagogue was oriented toward the temple. Probably the closest analogy we have to the synagogue would be Sunday school or Bible studies places where we study the scriptures and pray and sing, so that we can learn how to worship and serve the Lord our God better. One other note in introduction. I should draw attention to the geography of our passage. Everything in Luke 4:14-9:50 takes place in Galilee. Verse 44 says And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea. Some manuscripts say "Galilee," others "Judea." Galilee makes more sense based on the rest of the places where Jesus is preaching in Luke 4-9. Luke's gospel is structured around place. Chapters 4:14-9:50 are set in the context of Jesus' Galilean ministry. That doesn't necessarily mean that everything in these chapters happened in Galilee. But Luke makes only a few references to geography in his gospel, and those few references are selected very carefully. From Luke 4:14-9:50 the focus is on Jesus' Galilean ministry. 9:50-19:27 is set in the context of Jesus' traveling from Galilee to Jerusalem, and 19:28-24:53 recount the final days of Jesus' life in Jerusalem, along with his death and resurrection. The ministry of Jesus begins in a synagogue in Galilee it will end in the temple in Jerusalem. And from there he will ascend to the heavenly temple, where he will be seated on the throne of his father, David, at the right hand of God. Even the geography of Luke's gospel supports his claims about Jesus being the one in whom the kingdom comes. 1. The Preaching of the Kingdom in the Synagogue at Nazareth (4:16-30) It is interesting that Mark and Matthew wait until the end of Jesus' ministry in Galilee to speak of his rejection at Nazareth. Luke puts it up front. Some have treated this episode as Jesus' inaugural address, as though this was Jesus' first sermon. That is not necessarily the case. After all, in verse 23 the people say "What we have heard you did at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well." suggesting that Jesus has already been active in preaching and healing. And verse 15 says that "he taught in their synagogues" (plural) suggesting that chapters 4-9. are a summary of that preaching, not necessarily a chronological account. So we should not say that this episode was Jesus' inaugural address. Rather, this is Luke's inaugural address! You see this all the time in history books and you see it frequently in sermons as well! Sometimes taking a later episode and using at the beginning helps your reader or hearer understand the point better. Even today, I am supposedly talking about the life of Jesus, yet I have already told you that Jesus will wind up at the right hand of the Father! What is the point that Luke wants to establish for Theophilus here at the beginning of his account of the ministry of Jesus? Luke's point is to demonstrate that the coming of the kingdom and the coming of the Christ are one and the same. In Jesus, the kingdom comes. In Jesus, the Messiah comes. In Jesus, all the scriptures are fulfilled. In Jesus, the Gentiles are brought in. Remember that Luke is the one who will chronicle in his second book the way in which the Gentiles are included in the kingdom. Luke is also the one who at the end of this book will tell us that Jesus said that "all things must be fulfilled which are written in the law of Moses, and the prophets and the psalms, concerning me." (24:44) So Luke starts with Jesus' sermon on Isaiah 61. Jesus says that Isaiah 61 is all about him. Jesus had been asked to teach that Sabbath, and so they hand him the scroll of the prophet Isaiah, and he unrolled it to where it was written, 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, to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor. Jesus has just been baptized. He has been led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted, and he has returned to Galilee now in the power of the Spirit. And when Jesus reads this passage from Isaiah 61, he says: Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing. In saying this, Jesus is claiming to be the Spirit-anointed one who brings the kingdom of God. He is claiming to be the Christ. Notice how they respond: all spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth. This is Joseph's son! Not bad--for a carpenter's son! But Jesus says, Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, 'Physician, heal yourself.' What we have heard you did at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well. But no prophet is acceptable in his hometown. Nazareth is but a parable of what lies in store for Jesus. He is rejected in his hometown. For a time he will find great acceptance throughout Galilee and Judea. But in the end he will be rejected there as well. Because Jesus is the true Israel he came to his own, but his own did not receive him. Jesus' explains this in verses 25-27, by telling them stories of Elijah and Elisha how there were many Israelite widows in need in Elijah's day; but Elijah was sent to a Sidonian. Likewise, there were many Israelite lepers in Elisha's day, but none was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian. Do Jesus' hearers understand the idea of the mission to the Gentiles? Probably not. But they do understand that Jesus is rejecting them. Did you notice this? Prior to Jesus's saying this, they are speaking well of him! They haven't rejected him they are looking forward to great things from Jesus. Jesus will put Nazareth on the map! Jesus has already said that the Spirit of the LORD is upon him, so that he might proclaim good news to the poor that he might do great works in bringing sight to the blind and setting at liberty the oppressed. He has already said that this is what he has come to do. But now he tells the Nazarenes, but it's not for you! The Kingdom of God is coming. I am the Spirit-anointed prophet who brings the Kingdom of God, the year of the Lord's favor. But it's not for you. We shouldn't be asking, "why do they reject Jesus?" We should be asking, "why does Jesus reject them!" It will not do to try to answer this by looking at Matthew 13 and explaining this because "took offense at him." Luke doesn't tell us about that part until after Jesus angers them. What is Jesus doing? Isaiah 42:6-7 had said that God would send his Servant to enlighten the Gentiles. The promise to Abraham was that all nations would be blessed through his seed. Jesus is saying that his prophetic mission is like that of Elijah and Elisha. What does that mean? Elijah and Elisha prophesied the downfall of the house of Ahab. They were prophets of judgment, who combined the preaching and the power of the kingdom against the rulers of their day. Jesus' hearers understood full well that Jesus is speaking against them. He is saying that he will not heal their sick. He is saying that they have no part in the Kingdom of God. Why? Why would Jesus tell his own hometown synagogue: "The kingdom is here but not for you!"? It is because Jesus is not a wandering conjuror with a bag of tricks. He will not yield to the call for him to be simply a wonder-worker. The power of the Kingdom of God is not a power that can be manipulated. The people of Nazareth are selfish. They want the power of the kingdom for their own benefit. And Jesus says no! Verses 31-41 explain why. 2. The Power of the Kingdom in the Synagogue at Capernaum (4:31-41) As we go through Luke's gospel, we will frequently see that the performance of miracles is designed to demonstrate the power of the Kingdom. They are not to satisfy the desire or curiosity of the people. For that matter, they are not primarily for the sake of the those in need. There were no doubt many sick people in Nazareth, but Jesus says that he will not heal them. No, the primary purpose of Jesus' exhibition of power over the devil, is in order to demonstrate the coming of the kingdom. The power of the kingdom is always exercised in conjunction with the preaching of the kingdom. This is an important point for us. Too often churches have gotten involved in social or political programs, with a focus on helping the poor, or achieving a political goal. But they don't know why they are doing it. Helping the poor is not an end in itself. There were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian. Jesus shows that the power of the kingdom always works to serve the preaching of the kingdom. And where his preaching has little effect (in Nazareth), his power has little effect. But in Capernaum, they were astonished at his teaching, for his word possessed authority (4:32). And when a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon called out, Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are the Holy One of God! Jesus responded by rebuking him, Be silent and come out of him. The demons know who Jesus is! But Jesus commands them to shut up. This is not the time or the way that Jesus wishes to reveal his full identity. Later in verse 41 Jesus will again rebuke those demons who call him the "Son of God" Because they knew that he was the Christ. Why doesn't Jesus want everyone to know that he is the Christ? the Messiah? It is because they have the wrong idea of what a Messiah should be. They want a Messiah who will fight the Romans. Jesus must first teach them about the Kingdom of God. Because only after you understand the Kingdom of God will you be able to see that Jesus is the Messiah. But when the people see Jesus's power over demons, they say: What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits and they come out. The power of the kingdom is the demonstration of the preaching of the kingdom. What Jesus has said is that the kingdom is coming in him. Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing. And what he does demonstrates his point. Because wherever Jesus goes, there the kingdom of God is revealed. Verses 38-39 again demonstrate this, as Jesus rebukes Simon's mother-in-law's fever. Jesus is demonstrating the power of his word the power of his teaching. He rebukes demons, and they leave. He rebukes fevers, and they leave. The power of the voice of Jesus is the power of the kingdom of God. When Jesus speaks to you, when Jesus calls you, it is a call that moves you we have been called out of the kingdom of darkness, into the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. And it is his voice that does this. When Simon's mother-in-law is healed, she responds by rising and serving Jesus. That is to be our response as well! If you have heard the voice of Jesus, then arise and follow him. We'll have more of a chance to look at Jesus' teaching on the Sabbath later, but there is one small point to be seen here in verses 40-41. Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to him, and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them. And demons also came out of many . . . This is the Sabbath day. The word has spread that a great healer has come. But they do not ask him to heal on the Sabbath. They wait until the sun was setting until the Sabbath was over. They understood the principle that the Sabbath was a day for giving rest to others. Isaiah speaks of honoring the Sabbath, "not going your own ways, or seeking your own pleasure, or talking idly." (Is 58:13) And in Isaiah 56 he says that when foreigners "keep the Sabbath" then "my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples." (56:6) We are Gentiles, foreigners, who have been brought into God's house, called by the preaching of the good news of the kingdom. Christ has given us a Sabbath-rest. In his resurrection from the dead on the first day of the week he has established the eschatological Kingdom of God. (In other words, the last Kingdom the final Kingdom). That is why we worship on Sunday the first day of the week. It's fitting that I've reached David and Goliath in the evening service. Samuel-Kings is all about the establishment of the kingdom of God in David. It dovetails very nicely with the Luke series in the morning. And tonight, there's even a wardrobe malfunction around halftime in our passage. I don't say this sort of thing very often, but if you have time to watch the game tonight, then you have time to come and worship God. I'm not a stickler on Sunday-evening attendance. If your family is tired or run-down, that's no big deal. If you are involved in serving others in giving them rest on the Lord's day, then you are doing what Christ calls you to do. But if it is a decision between doing your thing on Sunday evening, and worshiping God, which should you choose? You will only find true rest, when you find your rest in Christ! His Word gives peace. I'm not saying you have to be here on Sunday evening. I'm asking, is what you are doing instead more important? If it is, then that's fine. Conclusion: The Good News of the Kingdom (4:42-44) Verse 42 tells us that Jesus apparently healed all night. And when it was day, he departed and went into a desolate place. Jesus retreats from the crowds and finds a place of solitude. We'll hear later that Jesus frequently did this in order to find a place to pray. You can pray in a crowd. But it is much easier to pray in a desolate place when you are alone. I highly recommend it. Look for times when you can get away and find a quiet place. Go for a walk. Sit in your back yard. Turn off all the noise-producers in your life! Even Jesus needed that time! And when the crowds caught up to him, Jesus says, I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose. Jesus was sent to preach the gospel. And he taught in the synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and demonstrating the power of the kingdom in his mighty deeds. The preaching of the kingdom and the power of the kingdom must always go hand in hand. The good news of the kingdom is that the kingdom has come in Jesus, the King. The year of the Lord's favor has come. Jesus is opening the eyes of the blind and is setting at liberty those who were oppressed by the power of his Word. This is why Paul says to Timothy: devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. . . . Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers. (1 Tim 4:13, 16) As your pastor, I am called to devote myself to the public reading and preaching of the Word. Christ has told me that he will use this to save both myself and my hearers. That's why I want you to hear. Because God has promised that he will use the reading and preaching of the Word to save his people. God's word still opens eyes and sets people free. Do you believe that? Do you believe that the Word of Christ can overthrow your enemies and give you peace? Then, in faith, act like it! As I seek to heed Paul's call to devote myself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and to teaching, your call is to devote yourself, as Luke tells us in Acts 2, to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayers. We are to be a people who love to gather around God's word.