Fourth Sunday after Epiphany January 28, 2007
Scripture	Luke 4:21-30 21 Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” 22 All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?” 23 He said to them, “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘Doctor, cure yourself!’ And you will say, ‘Do here also in your hometown the things that we have heard you did at Capernaum.’ ” 24 And he said, “Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet’s hometown. 25 But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a severe famine over all the land; 26 yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. 27 There were also many lepers a in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed through the midst of them and went on his way. except Naaman the Syrian.” 28 When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. 29 They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff. 30 But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way.
Devotional	Jesus stands before his own hometown. He knows everybody here. They recognize him as one of their own. Isn’t this Joseph’s son, the carpenter? Listen to him, isn’t he smart? What went wrong with what he said? What made them kick him out of the synagogue, haul him out of town, and to the edge of the cliff to throw him over? Does Jesus sense they are not following him? Are they ready to challenge him to do the same mighty deeds as he did in Capernaum? Do they want Jesus to perform a magic trick? What prompts his statement, “Doctor cure yourself”? As Jesus continues, he points out what happened in the days of the great prophets Elijah and Elisha. Now he identifies himself with these prophets. Elijah helps a widow but not a Jewish one. Elisha heals a leper but this leper is a commander in the enemy army. This causes their anger. God is saving people but not the right people. Jesus is speaking of God’s grace for all people. He is not speaking of God’s grace for the Jews and condemnation for all other people. God’s grace is for all people. Jesus was pointing out to the people that when God’s prophets were active it was not the Jewish people who benefited but the pagans. This was enough to anger the people. One on their own; Joe’s son, who had spoken so eloquently a few moments before was now in the process of being thrown over the cliff. It is no wonder that we have so few prophets? What is our reaction when God assists those we do not like or disagree with? Or those whom we believe do not deserve God help? Prayer: Lord may we see grace for others as quickly as we see it for ourselves. Keep reminding us that John Wesley taught us that grace is free for all.