In Luke 4:21-30, we are given a glimpse into the early days of Jesus' ministry. Jesus enters the synagogue in Nazareth, boldly declaring that the scripture has been fulfilled in their hearing. At first, the crowd is amazed at His gracious words, (they thought that Jesus was all about them and only them) but when He challenges their understanding of God’s grace (by talking about gentiles, and how God favored them), they quickly turn against Him. They reject Him, and ultimately, they try to throw Him off a cliff.
This passage brings to light the reality that following Jesus' call is not always easy. The people of Nazareth expected Jesus, as one of their own, to perform miracles for them and only for them. However, Jesus uses two stories from the Old Testament to highlight a profound truth: God’s grace is not limited to the people we expect it to be for—it extends to those we might least expect.
Jesus Challenges Our Boundaries
Jesus reminds those in attendance of the stories of Elijah and Elisha. Elijah was sent to a widow in Sidon, a Gentile, during a time of severe famine. Similarly, Elisha healed Naaman, a Syrian leper, even though there were many lepers in Israel. These stories demonstrate that God’s love and grace are not confined by the boundaries we place on them. God's work reaches far beyond our expectations, and this is what upset the people in Nazareth—they believed God's grace was meant only for them.
Jesus’ message was clear: God’s grace isn’t just for the people in the synagogue or for those who think they “deserve” it. His message is for everyone, and we need to be willing to accept and extend that grace beyond our comfort zones.
Keeping Up the Pace with Jesus
I shared a personal story from my time working as a summer staffer at a church camp in Ohio, (Kirkmont Center) where I was responsible for washing dishes. The director of the camp, Rev. Ed Delair who was influential in my journey as a pastor, gave me a challenge: how fast could I wash the dishes? I quickly found that when I picked up the pace, the others in the kitchen did too. The work became faster and more efficient simply because we were all moving in sync.
This is a powerful lesson in ministry and life. Jesus is the pace-setter, and when we follow His lead, great things happen. Just like in a band or on a football team, when everyone keeps the pace, the work flows much better. We are all called to keep up with the pace that Jesus sets for us. Sometimes that means pushing ourselves in understanding, in grace, in effort in collaboration.
The Challenge of Self-Reflection
As we consider the pace Jesus sets for us, we must also reflect on how we are participating in God’s mission. Just as Jesus wasn’t owned by those in Nazareth, neither am I owned by anyone. While I serve the church as their pastor, my call is to serve God’s greater mission—whether within this congregation or beyond. We are called to be faithful to God’s pace, even when it takes us to unexpected places or challenges our assumptions.
It’s important for each of us to evaluate our role in God’s work. Are we keeping up with the pace Jesus sets for us? Are we aligning our lives with His call, or are we resisting the work He wants to do through us? Life will eventually test our commitment. It’s up to us to make sure we’re not pretending but living genuinely, contributing our time, energy, and gifts to God’s mission.
God’s Work Beyond the Church
One of the most challenging aspects of this passage is recognizing that God’s work is not confined to the church. Just as Jesus challenged the people in the synagogue, we too must recognize that God’s grace extends beyond the church walls. It’s easy to assume that God’s love is for us, for those who already believe, but God is calling us to look outside ourselves—to reach out to those who might not look like us, act like us, or even agree with us.
In fact, God’s grace is for everyone. Jesus was clear that His message isn’t limited to a select few—it’s for the whole world. As we continue in our faith journey, we must be open to the idea that God’s work is happening outside of the church, and we are called to be a part of that.
Life Application
There are a few key things we can take from this passage:
You Can’t Force Others: We cannot force others to accept God’s grace. Just like the people in Nazareth rejected Jesus, others may reject the message we share. But that doesn’t mean we stop showing up, loving, and offering grace.
Let People Make Their Choices: People will make their own choices, even if they’re destructive. We can’t control that. Let them burn those bridges.
Water your plants: But we can choose to water our own plants—focusing on our own spiritual growth and living faithfully to God’s call. We are responsible to maintain our bridges.
Evaluate Your Participation: Life will eventually challenge the choices we make, life will call your bluff, if you are making one. Are you living authentically in your faith? Take time to evaluate how you’re participating in God’s work—are you using your gifts and talents to serve His mission?
Jesus set the pace for us, and it’s up to us to keep up, with the presence of the Holy Spirit it is possible. We may not always understand but when we follow His lead, we will accomplish incredible things. Let’s keep up with the pace to the best of our abilities. Jesus sets and lives faithfully to the mission He’s called us to—together, in harmony, for the glory of God.
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