So, when I wonder and imagine what my return there would be like, I am confident I would be met with some contempt and resistance. For one, sadly, I think that many Lutherans in Tampa suffer from a lack of proper catechization that has plagued the LCMS for a few generations, now, so to hear a preacher that they know quote from the Small Catechism (and the Book of Concord), as he likes to do, could easily be received as a show of special or better knowledge and be met with resistance and complaint. “How dare you presume to teach us this?” and “How can you be like that?” would be added to the regular litany of complaints.

“Familiarity breeds contempt,” is an idiom learned from Aesop. Even so, Aesop was not the only one to say it. In today’s Gospel, Jesus taught something similar: “Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown.”

Jesus grew up in the little town of Nazareth. The people there knew Him as Joseph and Mary’s son. They watched Him grow up and learn to care for His family, as any good Jewish boy was supposed to. He learned His step-father’s trade, and so the people knew of His craft (and may have had some of His creations in their homes). They knew that He left town and went into the wilderness around Jordan and was baptized by His relative (though His whereabouts for the forty days after that were a little sketchy, I’m sure, when He was tempted by the devil). After His time with Satan, “And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.” (Luke 4:14-15)

In such a short time, Jesus had acquired a reputation outside of Nazareth: He had quickly developed into a glorious teacher. In fact, He had even already begun casting out demons and healing diseases, according to Mark. (cf. Mark 1:21ff) Certainly, news of this spread to His hometown. Then, one day, He returns home. On the Sabbath, He went into the synagogue, as was His custom. While there, He took the position to read; He was handed the scroll of the prophet Isaiah and found the 61st chapter and began to read:

When He finished, He handed the scroll back and sat down, the position a teacher took when he was teaching. And so you might imagine that when “the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him,” they were so in amazement, eyes wide open, mouths to match. “What was Jesus going to say?” “What is this little carpenter going to do?”

“Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” “Today, as I read from Isaiah, I am proclaiming to you that I am He whom Isaiah was writing about. I was the One who gave Isaiah the words to proclaim and write, and I am the One who those words are talking about. I, Jesus of Nazareth, am here to preach the gospel to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, to give sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed. Truly, truly, I say to you that in Me is the year of the Lord’s favor.”

The people marveled at this: “These are gracious words indeed. It is a time to rejoice if now is the time of God’s favor.” But, there was an air of contempt about them: “Wait a moment, isn’t this Jospeh’s son? Isn’t this the same man we knew as a little boy who we saw grow up? The same boy whose tears we wiped when he scraped his knees? The same boy who played with our children? The same boy who caused his parents grief by staying behind in Jerusalem when we were traveling back home? How can He, of all people, say this? There’s no way this same boy could be the Messiah God promised!”

So, knowing their minds and hearts, Jesus continued his sermon: “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.” In other words, “Prove yourself! We’ve heard the stories of you being a glorious teacher. We get that; we saw and heard that today. But, we’ve also heard the stories of your miracles in places not here. Do something here, too, so that we may see and believe.”

And Jesus continued:

The people expected miracles, so Jesus brings up two miracles from the past, performed by two of the greatest prophets in Israel’s history. But, notice to whom these miracles were performed. During a time of great famine in the region, many in Israel were suffering, but to none of them was relief given, only to a widow in Zeraphath, a gentile! Israel’s history is replete with lepers; none of them were miraculously cleansed by Elisha, but he did, by God’s Word, cleanse Naaman, a Syrian—a gentile and enemy of Israel!

What’s the moral of all of this? Miracles are not meant to prove God’s credentials to those who already have His Word. Jesus was in the synagogue and read from the Isaiah scroll to the people of God assembled in that place. He preached the Word of God to them. They had no need of miracles; they had God’s Word on it. Also, it was a reminder that God was the Creator and Redeemer of all, Israel and gentile alike, and that Israel was supposed to bring the good news of salvation to the nations. It is a lesson that fills the book of Isaiah, who wrote passages like

Now, I’m not claiming to be the second coming of Christ. For one thing, I didn’t come as He left, a sure and certain sign that I am not He. But, the message I am given to proclaim is the same as His. Now is the acceptable year of the LORD. The words you heard from Isaiah 61 are fulfilled in the life of Christ and in your own lives. Jesus of Nazareth has done all of those things Isaiah spoke and wrote, and you, dear people of God, are the recipients of that fulfillment.

• “To preach the gospel to the poor.” To you poor, miserable sinners is proclaimed the gospel of the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation.
• “He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted.” To you who are weighed down by the cares and worries of this world is declared that Jesus has borne all of your cares and burdens, and He promises you eternal rest in life everlasting. You have His Word on that, a Word that is sealed to you in your baptism.
• “To proclaim liberty to the captives.” You who were captive to sin have been set free; the burden of your sin was taken from you by the Christ and crucified with Him. “[O]ur old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin.” (Romans 6:6-7)
• “And recovery of sight to the blind.” That blindness that prevented you from seeing God in Christ has been healed. Through the waters of Holy Baptism, you have been given the eyes of faith that can look with confidence upon your God and recognize in Him your Creator and Redeemer.
• “To set at liberty those who are oppressed.” Once you were at odds with God and children of the devil, oppressed by Him and His deceit that you are no beloved creation. But now Christ has come and defeated the devil, crushed his head by His death on the cross, and freed you, His most cherished creation, from Satan’s power and deceitful oppression.

Yes, dear hearers, now is the acceptable year of the LORD. You have His word on it. Do not be like the Nazarenes who looked for God’s favor and power in miracles. You know Jesus by His Word, because “faith comes by hearing.” (cf. Romans 10:17) That does not mean that He leaves you without miracles; there is in simple means of water, bread, and wine—combined with the Word of God—the greatest miracles of all: forgiveness, life, and salvation. God’s promise to those who believe is not for miracles for this life; on the contrary, God’s promise for those who believe is resurrection from the dead and the life of the world to come, just as we confess.

Yes, dear baptized, now is the year of the Lord’s favor. Therefore, joyfully proclaim that Word of God to the nations! For, just as Elijah and Elisha were sent to gentiles in Israel’s day—even to the enemy of Israel—the Church today is sent to the gentiles of this day and age to proclaim that in Christ there is forgiveness and life and salvation. Just as Israel had the Word of God in Isaiah that they were called in righteousness to be a light to the gentiles, so the Church also has the Word of God in Matthew that tells you to go and make disciples of all nations—of all people—baptizing and teaching them. What a joyous task to be about, to share the good news of salvation that you have been given—to share the words of Christ:

Yes, dear friends in Christ, now is the year of the Lord’s favor. The Gospel lesson ends with the people of Nazareth rising up against Jesus and attempting to throw him over a cliff. It is tempting to do something similar, especially when you don’t get your way with God—when He doesn’t answer your petitions in timely fashion or in the way you wanted—you want to throw Him over the cliff of your lives. Dear hearers, do not put God in your little boxes; the point is not to have your way with God, but that God has His way with you. Because, when God has His way with you, it is most certainly the year of the Lord’s favor—for that is when you confess your sinfulness, and once again hear that precious gospel, have your broken hearts healed, be released from captivity, recover your sight, and are set free from oppression.

And so it is my joy and privilege to proclaim to you who are here and receive His Word, that God has had His way with you and does have His way with you, and so you are forgiven for all of your sins!