He's Not Just Ours

The episode when Jesus goes home to preach on the Sabbath in Luke is confusing upon first sight.  He reads from Isaiah and sits down, they marvel, he tells them the scripture is now fulfilled in their midst.  They marvel more.

Then He sharply rebukes them all:
Luke 4:22–27 (ESV) And all spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth. And they said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?” 23 And he said to them, “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.” 24 And he said, “Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown. 25 But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens were shut up three years and six months, and a great famine came over all the land, 26 and Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. 27 And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.”

Why did Jesus respond this way?  

Because He's not the son of Joseph.  He's the Son of God.  He's not just theirs to keep or parade around for their glory.  His mission is for the sake of the whole world and future generations.  

Their question was regarding how important He made them feel about themselves - He's one of our sons!  His response was to remind them it's not about them alone, there are gentile nations this message is going to just as it happened with Elijah and Elisha!  Those were the signs of God's ultimate plan of redemption for the nations.

Their response is telling:

They seek to push Him down a cliff.  Isn't that crazy?  They find out He's not just going to bless them and their village alone, so they would rather lose Him completely. 

How often we do that in the church world.  Making our ministry, our calling, our family, our history, our work the center of the mission.  The truth is - whatever dear thing we hold onto - family lineage in the example of the Nazareth Crowd that day - ultimately it is not about that!  We are a part of God's plan.  He will never be a part of our plan.  

Jesus doesn't belong to us, He belongs to the whole World.... or should I say.... WE ALL BELONG TO HIM.

PRAYER:

Father, help me to see that I'm part of your plan.  Forgive me for trying to make you or Jesus part of my plan.  I now know how foolish it is to attempt to use You for my glory.  I seek your forgiveness, I receive your Grace by faith.  Use me as you want me.  Amen.