this is just something i started writin after readin one of my fav passages in scripture; luke 4.18-19 and following...mandy and i have sort of taken the 18-19vs to be a sort of call/mission giving/hope giving nature of it...anyway, here's some rambling thoughts..."...the eyes of all were fixed on him..." (4.20)
there was an expectation that had slowly built up in the room...and expectation that what He'd say next would ignite them...causing such a fervor and excitement that they wouldn't be able to contain it...and as he began speaking, their thoughts continued...
"...all were speaking well of him and wondering at the gracious words which were falling from his lips..."(4.22)
could it be?! is this true...yes, this is what we've been waiting for, desiring for so long...we are finally going to see this hope realized...but how is the son of a carpenter going to get Israel back on top...
then Jesus goes and messes it all up...all they were going to ask for was a little display of power that would show them that Israel, God's favorite, was going to return to the top...and Jesus knowing what there were wanting...says no, i'm not gonna do it, and here's two previous miracles you all know so well to chew on...
"...and all the people were filled with rage.."
what the heck just happened?! these two miracles that happened forever ago are what cause this commotion...why? did they have some kind of problem with a widow getting her grub on or a leper gettin some fresh skin?
allow me to make a comparison that could result in my gettin my rear handed back to me in a nice little package...let's say a governor declares that some of the stimulus money our gov't is handin out like candy would be spent on the education and health care for individuals who were in the state illegally...imagine the upheavel that would follow! why is my tax money being spent to care for and help those who aren't even supposed to be here?! Imagine the picketing and protest marches on the capital building...They don't deserve to benefit from our system!!
when Jesus mentions the widow from Sidon and the Syrian leper, he is trying to show those loyal Jews that their 'system', their hope...God's promise was not limited to their own self-benefit...but the Gospel message, the year of the Lord's favor was going to be good news even for those wretched occupying Romans if they so choose to live under Christ's Lordship...this passage was not a passage of hope for Israeli supremacy, Jesus was saying, but a passage of hope for the inclusivity of God's kingdom...
...this is why we desire a community that exists not for our own sake...
...this is why we desire a community that exists to share this message of hope for any we have the privilege of meeting...
...this is why we desire a community that is not dominated by any one culture other than the Kingdom's culture...
...Lord, hear our prayer...
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