Questions that guide Luke & us I propose that most of us are wrestling with two major questions: 1.“Do I really belong among the people of God since I am so _______________?” 2.“How am I supposed to live intimately with all these people who are so different than me?” I propose that most of us are wrestling with two major questions: 1.“Do I really belong among the people of God since I am so _______________?” 2.“How am I supposed to live intimately with all these people who are so different than me?”

Key Takeaways from Last Week We need a fundamental change of mind in how we think about:  Power & greatness  The direction of history  True righteousness  What a changed life looks like

JESUS’ KINGDOM MANIFESTO Luke 4:14-30

What is a manifesto? “a written statement declaring publicly the intentions, motives, or views of its issuer” Famous manifestos:  Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx & Friedrich Engels  I Have a Dream speech by Martin Luther King Jr.

What is a manifesto? “a written statement declaring publicly the intentions, motives, or views of its issuer” Famous manifestos:  Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx & Friedrich Engels  I Have a Dream speech by Martin Luther King Jr. What do we seem to think is Jesus’ manifesto?

Luke 4: Then Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about Him spread throughout the entire vicinity. 15 He was teaching in their synagogues, being acclaimed by everyone.

Luke 4: Then Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about Him spread throughout the entire vicinity. 15 He was teaching in their synagogues, being acclaimed by everyone.

Luke 4:16 16 He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. As usual, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up to read.

Luke 4:16 16 He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. As usual, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up to read.

Luke 4:16 16 He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. As usual, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up to read.

Luke 4: The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to Him, and unrolling the scroll, He found the place where it was written: 18 The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim freedom to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.

Luke 4: The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to Him, and unrolling the scroll, He found the place where it was written: 18 The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim freedom to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.

Isaiah 58: They seek Me day after day and delight to know My ways, like a nation that does what is right and does not abandon the justice of their God. They ask Me for righteous judgments; they delight in the nearness of God.” Sarcasm!

Isaiah 58: “Why have we fasted, but You have not seen? We have denied ourselves, but You haven’t noticed!” Selfish rituals!

Isaiah 58:2-10 “Look, you do as you please on the day of your fast, and oppress all your workers. 4 You fast with contention and strife to strike viciously with your fist. You cannot fast as you do today, hoping to make your voice heard on high. Selfish rituals were not changing their minds & hearts…

Isaiah 58: Will the fast I choose be like this: A day for a person to deny himself, to bow his head like a reed, and to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a fast and a day acceptable to the Lord? 6 Isn’t the fast I choose: To break the chains of wickedness, to untie the ropes of the yoke, to set the oppressed free, and to tear off every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into your house, to clothe the naked when you see him, and not to ignore your own flesh and blood? God’s kingdom prioritizes self-giving love

Isaiah 58: Then your light will appear like the dawn, and your recovery will come quickly. Your righteousness will go before you, and the Lord’s glory will be your rear guard. 9 At that time, when you call, the Lord will answer; when you cry out, He will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you get rid of the yoke among you, the finger-pointing and malicious speaking, 10 and if you offer yourself to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted one, then your light will shine in the darkness, and your night will be like noonday. We experience the blessing we long for as we give ourselves away to others…

Isaiah 61:1-3 The Spirit of the Lord God is on Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners; 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of our God’s vengeance; to comfort all who mourn, 3 to provide for those who mourn in Zion; to give them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, festive oil instead of mourning, and splendid clothes instead of despair. And they will be called righteous trees, planted by the Lord to glorify Him.

Isaiah 61:1-3 The Spirit of the Lord God is on Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners; 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of our God’s vengeance; to comfort all who mourn, 3 to provide for those who mourn in Zion; to give them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, festive oil instead of mourning, and splendid clothes instead of despair. And they will be called righteous trees, planted by the Lord to glorify Him. The Messiah!?!?!

Luke 4: He then rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. And the eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on Him.

Luke 4: He then rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. And the eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21 He began by saying to them, “Today as you listen, this Scripture has been fulfilled.”

Luke 4: He then rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. And the eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21 He began by saying to them, “Today as you listen, this Scripture has been fulfilled.” 22 They were all speaking well of Him and were amazed by the gracious words that came from His mouth, yet they said, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?”

Luke 4: He then rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. And the eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21 He began by saying to them, “Today as you listen, this Scripture has been fulfilled.” 22 They were all speaking well of Him and were amazed by the gracious words that came from His mouth, yet they said, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?”

Luke 4: He then rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. And the eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21 He began by saying to them, “Today as you listen, this Scripture has been fulfilled.” 22 They were all speaking well of Him and were amazed by the gracious words that came from His mouth, yet they said, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?”

Luke 4: He then rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. And the eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21 He began by saying to them, “Today as you listen, this Scripture has been fulfilled.” 22 They were all speaking well of Him and were amazed by the gracious words that came from His mouth, yet and they said, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?”

Luke 4: He then rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. And the eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21 He began by saying to them, “Today as you listen, this Scripture has been fulfilled.” 22 They were all speaking well of Him and were amazed by the gracious words that came from His mouth, yet and they said, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” The fact that he was a local boy meant they would reap some special rewards

Luke 4: He then rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. And the eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21 He began by saying to them, “Today as you listen, this Scripture has been fulfilled.” 22 They were all speaking well of Him and were amazed by the gracious words that came from His mouth, yet and they said, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” “Me first” or “we first” thinking is devastating: “I have the right to ______.” “I deserve ____________.” “If I do _______, then God and others own me _________.” “Me first” or “we first” thinking is devastating: “I have the right to ______.” “I deserve ____________.” “If I do _______, then God and others own me _________.”

Luke 4: He then rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. And the eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21 He began by saying to them, “Today as you listen, this Scripture has been fulfilled.” 22 They were all speaking well of Him and were amazed by the gracious words that came from His mouth, yet and they said, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” “Me first” or “we first” thinking has no place in the kingdom of Jesus: When you surrender to Jesus, you are laying down your rights. When you surrender to Jesus, you are admitting that the only thing any of us deserve is judgment and hell. When you surrender to Jesus, you are realizing that God is not your puppet on a string, and you can’t do anything to ever get Him in your debt. “Me first” or “we first” thinking has no place in the kingdom of Jesus: When you surrender to Jesus, you are laying down your rights. When you surrender to Jesus, you are admitting that the only thing any of us deserve is judgment and hell. When you surrender to Jesus, you are realizing that God is not your puppet on a string, and you can’t do anything to ever get Him in your debt.

Luke 4: Then He said to them, “No doubt you will quote this proverb to Me: ‘Doctor, heal yourself. So all we’ve heard that took place in Capernaum, do here in Your hometown also.’” 24 He also said, “I assure you: No prophet is accepted in his hometown. 25 But I say to you, there were certainly many widows in Israel in Elijah’s days, when the sky was shut up for three years and six months while a great famine came over all the land. 26 Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them—but to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. 27 And in the prophet Elisha’s time, there were many in Israel who had serious skin diseases, yet not one of them was healed —only Naaman the Syrian.”

Luke 4: Then He said to them, “No doubt you will quote this proverb to Me: ‘Doctor, heal yourself. So all we’ve heard that took place in Capernaum, do here in Your hometown also.’” 24 He also said, “I assure you: No prophet is accepted in his hometown. 25 But I say to you, there were certainly many widows in Israel in Elijah’s days, when the sky was shut up for three years and six months while a great famine came over all the land. 26 Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them—but to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. 27 And in the prophet Elisha’s time, there were many in Israel who had serious skin diseases, yet not one of them was healed —only Naaman the Syrian.” Jesus is intentionally provoking them

Luke 4:28 28 When they heard this, everyone in the synagogue was enraged. How did their previous admiration so quickly turn to deep rage & hatred?  Jesus pushed hard on & exposed their faulty religious beliefs & expectations

Luke 4:28 28 When they heard this, everyone in the synagogue was enraged. How did their previous admiration so quickly turn to deep rage & hatred?  Jesus pushed hard on & exposed their faulty religious beliefs & expectations “What happens in Nazareth prepares for what will happen in Jerusalem. Prophets do not preach to those who already agree with them and do not deal in flattery and soft-soap to win high ratings. They declare what God will do and what God requires. They speak the truth that people often do not want to hear. This rubs against the grain of a culture that treats religion as a consumer item. Those who adjust the Word of God to meet market trends, assuming the consumer is always right, are simply peddlers (2 Cor. 2:17). Those who come to religion assuming that the chief goal of God is to glorify humankind and asking, ‘What will it all get me?’ receive only spiritual chaff. Like the Nazareth gathering, people of any culture are tempted to focus only on themselves rather than on God. Prophets speaking the truth will as often meet with misunderstanding, staggering hardships, and bloody violence as with a warm welcome. They may be crushed, but the message will not.” - David E. Garland in Exegetical Commentary on Luke “What happens in Nazareth prepares for what will happen in Jerusalem. Prophets do not preach to those who already agree with them and do not deal in flattery and soft-soap to win high ratings. They declare what God will do and what God requires. They speak the truth that people often do not want to hear. This rubs against the grain of a culture that treats religion as a consumer item. Those who adjust the Word of God to meet market trends, assuming the consumer is always right, are simply peddlers (2 Cor. 2:17). Those who come to religion assuming that the chief goal of God is to glorify humankind and asking, ‘What will it all get me?’ receive only spiritual chaff. Like the Nazareth gathering, people of any culture are tempted to focus only on themselves rather than on God. Prophets speaking the truth will as often meet with misunderstanding, staggering hardships, and bloody violence as with a warm welcome. They may be crushed, but the message will not.” - David E. Garland in Exegetical Commentary on Luke

Luke 4:28 28 When they heard this, everyone in the synagogue was enraged. How did their previous admiration so quickly turn to deep rage & hatred?  Jesus pushed hard on & exposed their faulty religious beliefs & expectations What about you?

Luke 4: They got up, drove Him out of town, and brought Him to the edge of the hill that their town was built on, intending to hurl Him over the cliff. 30 But He passed right through the crowd and went on His way.

Luke 4: They got up, drove Him out of town, and brought Him to the edge of the hill that their town was built on, intending to hurl Him over the cliff. 30 But He passed right through the crowd and went on His way. Luke 19:10 -- For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.

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