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Today on Growing Through Grace. The admiration for the local boy, their silent praise of his demeanor, certainly in moments turned to whispers and nods and scowls of anger and unbelief. They rejected his word to them about themselves. I love going in your grace. You have your end on me. And all that I do want, love will keep me strong. I love being in your grace. You're listening to Growing Through Grace with Pastor Jack Abelem, of Morningstar Christian Chapel in Whittier, California. It's good to be with you. We appreciate you planning to spend the next half hour with us. We'll get back to our study in the Gospel of Luke and pick up at chapter 4 verses 20 through 30 as Jesus continues his ministry in his hometown of Nazareth. Our teacher will remind us that it's always hardest to minister to those the closest to us. Here's Pastor Jack. Shall we open our Bibles this morning to Luke chapter 4 verse 21? We read in verse 22 that everyone bore witness to him and marveled at the gracious words which came out of his mouth. At least the initial response was favor. The word "carris" is oftentimes meaning grace, but it is also translated sweetness sometimes. And at least the hometown proud when Jesus was speaking and delivering the good news of his coming and reading those scriptures out of Isaiah. Delivered him in such a way that people were drawn to him. It was news with joy, it was news with kindness. There was no hell, fire and damnation here. This was just a presentation of himself to them of his purpose and of his purpose. Notice in verse 21 that the word says, and he began to speak to them. So we know that he had other things to say that Mark and Luke and Matthew do not record, we don't have any information. But needless to say, by the time you get to the end of verse 22 and they liked his initial approach, his graciousness, they began to say to themselves, "Wait a minute, it isn't this Joseph's son." And so as Jesus began to speak, it became clear as he was speaking that he was saying something more than just you know, they had maybe imagined they were bewildered maybe a little incredulous about what he was saying. It wouldn't take long before they were furious. On the one hand there's the Savior, our Savior, explaining Isaiah 61. If you ever wonder what it's about, you just now you can go listen and see what Jesus said about it because that's certainly the right interpretation. They admired the manner in which his presented his word, but eventually they were not at all moved by his claim. They liked his demeanor, they didn't like the message very well as it became clear. For one thing as Jews, they did not see themselves in any of those metaphors out of Isaiah. They weren't poor in spirit. They weren't broken-hearted. They didn't see themselves as captives or blind or oppressed. They came to see miracles. Do the things that you did in Capernaum. Do them here, he will say, to them in the next verse. I know what you want. You want me to put on a show. I'm here to give you life. And as the message became clear and this idea that somehow they needed more than just miracles, they needed a change of heart. Their religion and their pride blinded them to the truth of their need for salvation by faith. And so they became angrier. In fact, angry enough that by the time you read just a few verses down, they actually attempt to kill Jesus. The hometown boy made good, the one that they admired so much. It happened in 9 or 10 verses. And the whole thing kind of rolled over. The admiration for the local boy. Their silent praise of his demeanor certainly in moments turned to whispers and nods and scowls of anger and unbelief. They rejected his word to them about themselves. It's kind of like we go out and share the gospel. I don't know if you've probably had the same experience. People will listen to you in the news. The good news of God's love, the good news of God sending his son, the good news of his death and resurrection. But then when you make the application, you're the sinner. You need a savior. He died because you failed. All of a sudden the joy goes into a whole different attitude. And so often it changes dramatically. You must be born again, not me. I don't need him. He's a good man. He's a good God. I believe all that the Bible does but it doesn't really apply to me like that. Jesus made great claims here. So do the false prophets. So what is the proof then? Well before the resurrection it was certainly the fulfillment of these very verses out of Isaiah that spoke of who he was. He did what no one else could do. Who else was opening the eyes of the blind? Who else was preaching to the poor? Well they wanted to see miracles maybe for their entertainment sake. He will say at the end of verse 23 whatever you've done in Capernaum do here in your own country, hey we're your hometown facts. We got to see what we heard about. And yet the real authenticity of Jesus's claims were seen in the lives of the people that he had touched in the lives that are changed in those who have faith and have believed in him. Did the gospel go to the poor? Well we said yes last week poor in spirit was certainly the application but did it go to the poor financially? Of course it did. A lot of times today gospel preachers go to the rich. It's a financial issue. I don't think Jesus would hunt that down. He spent more time with the outcasts and the prostitutes and the sinners and the street folks and the commoners. They're the ones that he went to speak to. They're the ones that were drawn to him. The religious elite, the wealthy, the successful, they weren't at all. Did the gospel go to the poor? It did. Did it go to the broken heart? Ask Mary Magda what the Lord did for her. Ask the woman with the issue of blood. Unable to be functioning in society and yet just one touched from the Lord one word from his mouth and she was made whole. Were the captives set free and the blind eyes opened? The demon possessed man at the tombs out of his mind violent and angry until the Lord came. Ask the sin infested. Ask the blind men who came and the lame that the Lord alone could make them walk. The gospels chronicle Jesus' minister filled with those things. In fact I think we mentioned to you last week when John the Baptist was in prison and by the way the impetus for Jesus in his second year ministry going public and forceful was John had been taken out of the scene and so the Lord came up to the north and began or really to continue what John was preaching. But in Luke I think it's chapter 7 we'll read about those men from John saying are you the one that we should be waiting for? Is there somebody else? And at that very point we read that the Lord that very hour began to cure those with infirmities and deliver those who had afflictions and evil spirits and opened the eyes of the blind and gave them sight and then he said to them and he quoted out of Isaiah go tell John this because the proof was in the doing and the proof was in the healing and in the deliverance and in his power. The people have plenty to go on he had proved his claims. It brought many here to the synagogue that day to see him. He would refer to his works and what we read this morning in John. He actually said to the people if you won't believe what I'm saying to you look at what I'm doing. Who else is doing this? Who else can pull this off? If I don't do the works of my father don't believe me but even if you don't believe me look at the works you might know that I am he. And then you read there in John I think it's verse 39 chapter 10 so they sought to seize him but he escaped out of their hands. The response to the proof was kill him. Let's get rid of him but that's no solution at all for your sin. Here Jesus' gracious words were heard but his message of who he was was not. It wasn't that they didn't have the proof they did. They had just decided they would reject the evidence out of hand. And I would say that to you that the world is the same way. There is plenty of proof of God's existence of his power and of his ability to change lives and you're one of them. It's just that people have made up their minds and the evidence as clear as it might be is not evident enough for them and so they set a desire. The question in verse 22 is this not Joseph's son. We'll be heard again. Go to John chapter 6 where Jesus is speaking to the crowds about being the bread of life. I'm the bread that came down from heaven. If you eat of me even if you die you're going to live and their response was this. Is this not the son of Joseph? Well it wasn't. His father and his mother we know them. Now he tells us he's come down from heaven. What's wrong with this guy? Who else is healing the sick? Maybe we got to pay attention. The proof is in the doing and do he did. In John chapter, I think the verse right at the end they asked for more signs. Show us a sign. Show us more signs. What shall we do to do the works of God? This is the work of God. You should believe in him whom we've said. And then they said this to him. What sign will you perform so that we might believe in you? What work will you do? You know our fathers ate mana in the desert. He gave them bread from heaven. Jesus said Moses didn't give you bread from heaven. My father did. The bread of God is he who comes from heaven to give life to the world. He pointed to himself. It isn't that the proof isn't there. It's just that the heart's not willing to hear. When he in John chapter 7 in the middle of the feast was teaching and the Jews began to marvel at his words. And they said out loud to one another, who is this guy that has these kind of letters or understanding if you will? He's never studied. He hasn't been around. We know who he is. He has no education. Jesus said to them, "My doctrine is not mine but him who sent me. If anyone will do his will, he'll know whether this doctrine is from the Lord or if I'm speaking it of my own authority." In other words, if you really want to get to know God, submit yourself to him. Take the evidence and run with him. And then God will show himself to you. The people of Nazareth had rejected the testimony and the witness of all that Jesus had done during this unrecorded year of obscurity because we don't have much to go on. We have a wedding feast at Canaan. We have a noble son who was healed there in John. But we read verse 14. Jesus went everywhere. So the ministry was thriving. He was very popular. Certainly most people knew of him by the end of this first year. But it is this second year of application that really the gospels cover more than anything else. The hearts of the people here were not open. They walked only by what they thought they knew of Jesus. Well, isn't this Joseph's son? Well, no, it's not Joseph's son. They refused his claim, though the facts and his miraculous works gave credence to his word. You don't believe me? Believe what I've done. How often do you suppose people turn from Jesus even today? Because somehow they've been given false information by false teachers. And so they don't know him. As they should always have been convinced that if people know the Jesus, I know they'd love him. It's just they don't know him. He's misrepresented constantly. How many folks do you think have turned away from wanting to walk with the Lord because of the attitudes we've taken? Or the things we've said? Or the manner of life we've chosen? It cost Moses the opportunity to lead a whole generation of people into the promised land. Misrepresentation. When Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians chapter 6 to the church in Corinth, he said to them, look, we've always tried to be a good example of whatever place we find ourselves. And for 12 verses he laid out all the junk he'd had to go through, the terror, the persecution, the mockery, the threats and all. He's in every place. We just wanted Jesus to be seen. We just wanted him to be known. We don't want to damage the testimony that we've been given. Or undermine. God helped us to accurately represent Jesus to the world. But look, these Nazarenes had made up their minds. Jesus, without considering all of the facts, without taking into account all of the obvious, and for many it would seal their eternal destiny. Jesus said in verse 23 as they began to kind of be riled up by what he was claiming before them. You will certainly say this proverb to me, the physician, he'll yourself. Or take care of your own life, if you will. Whatever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also hear in your country. So they wanted to see what they had heard Jesus had done elsewhere. How about you do that for your people? Wear your people. But that would hardly have helped them since their hearts were closed and they were not willing to hear. And the Lord didn't come to entertain. He came to say, we read in verse 24, "Assuredly Jesus that I say to you that no prophet is accepted in his own country." It's hard to reach your own family usually. You'd like to reach them first, but you're usually the toughest ones. I remember sharing with my dad years ago and he said to me, I changed your diapers. Sorry, Dad. But he meant by that, you know, now you're going to tell me about life. I raised you. I fed you. I took care of you. Now you want to tell me about Jesus and my need. Now 12 years later he got saved. But it is hard to reach your family. Family tend to look at you like the Nazarene's looked at Jesus. You know, you're just not, you should probably be the greatest example of the changes God brought. And yet Jesus knew and he saw their response as a lack of acceptance of him. He was saying whatever pious Nazarene was thinking to himself, well, if you're the Messiah, then I'm Isaiah the prophet. Come on. You've been in this city for 30 years. You built my dining room table. How about you entertain the hometown crowds? Too much to ask? Blind, poor, prisoner, oppressed? Who do you think you are? But he had gone through all of Galilee preaching for a year. It's not that big. It's maybe 25 miles deep and 40 miles wide. They needed to get over their familiarity and consider the evidence honestly, but they were unwilling to do it. So the Lord doesn't go back again to say, well, remember the miracles I did. He basically had referenced that. Instead he turns to the real heart of the matter, which was an unwillingness on the part of those he was ministering to to listen and respond. Their spiritual sufficiency and their pride. And the Lord takes two Old Testament examples, which they would have known very well, of faith, but even harder Gentile faith. Non-Jewish faith. He literally infuriated them in the synagogue to talk to them about the spiritual need that once realized was able to then see the miraculous work of God. But that the faith needed to proceed the miracle. Or if you will, the trusting God needed to come before God's provision and miraculous hand wouldn't work. So we read in verse 25, the Lord says, "But I tell you truly, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah when the heavens were shut up for three years and six months, and there was a great famine throughout the land, but to none of them was Elijah's scent, except to Xeraphath in the region of Zion to a woman who was a widow." The story is found, you can read it in 1 Kings chapter 17. The Lord had sent Elijah to this woman of Sidon during the time when you read there of a great drought and famine. When he arrived, he found her with just enough food to make one more meal for herself, and for her son before she was resigned to the fact, you're going to starve to death, and nothing left. Elijah's response was surprising. He said this to her, "As God's profit, make me meal first. And if you do, God's promise to you is that you will not have a flower bin that will go empty or an oil jar that will fail." Now, that would take great faith. It's your last meal. Maybe that's good, it's your last meal. She amazingly obeyed the strange words of Elijah for as long as the famine endured, she would be provided, and she was. You can read that there in that story there. Why did she trust Elijah? If she had been like these from Nazareth, she would have said, "Come on, miracle first. I need a miracle. I want to be entertained." But Elijah insisted otherwise, and without evidence, this Gentile woman gave up her final meal and trusted that the Lord would provide, believing the words of the prophet of the Lord. Now, I say why, and my answer to me is I think it is easier when you're down to your last meal to go, "Are I here? I don't take it. I don't care." What's one meal going to do? It might have been hard if she had three weeks worth of food left, but she was out. She had nothing left. That's kind of how you come to the Lord. You've got nothing left. While you have ideas, while you have plans, while you have outs, while you have contingency plans, the Lord might very well be down there somewhere. I'll call you if I need you. But when you're out of ideas, and when you're out of ability, when you're out of plans, you're the Lord. I give up. The problem for those in Nazareth was they weren't out of ideas. They hadn't run to the end of themselves yet. And so there was no miracle. There was no work of God that could be done. But she was down to her last meal. Her poverty and her fatal lack of resources put her in her position where she was willing to just trust the Lord rather than trust the barrel, which was all but empty. Her blessing was that she was desperately poor and she knew it. That's how you get saved. And that's how you love the Lord. I've always been convinced that there are people in the church that know the Lord but don't really know him. It's like Peter, before he got on the boat and watched Jesus catch fish. You know, he'd been with the Lord for a year, but now he saw the Lord's work and his whole attitude towards him changed. If you really know the Lord in your poverty and your need, you really will love him with all that you have. Mary Magdalene's a pretty good example of that. The man of the tomb that we mentioned begged the Lord to let him go with him. He said, "No, go back and tell the city what I've done." And he reluctantly did what he was told, but he really wanted to hang out with Jesus. And I think that's the difference between those who kind of know him and then those who have come to depend upon them for their very lives. You'll see those folks at church more often, and in service more often sacrificial in their service because they are that close to the God that has done so much for them. This woman was aware of her poverty. She didn't know where she would turn. Her blessing was that she was aware of. If these analogists wanted further proof of Jesus's claim to the poor and to the blind, all they had to do was trust him, but that was the problem. In their own eyes, they saw no need for him whatsoever. They were good citizens of Nazareth in church, if you will, on the Sabbath. They were there every week. And the comparison of a Gentile woman to a Jewish mindset was an insult to them and infuriated them. And if that wasn't enough, the Lord wasn't finished. You had one more story to tell them, to get them to the same place. If you're going to see my miracle in your life, you're going to have to see your need in yours first. In that order. Verse 27. And many lepers, lepers, lepers, lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha, the prophet. And yet none of them were clean except for Naaman the Syrian. I think as they listened to Jesus, their anger just must have soared. This story of the leper and name in the leper is found in 2nd Kings Chapter 5. If you remember the story, he was a Syrian commander of an army. He was sent by the king of Syria to Israel because in the king's house was a Jewish slave girl. He was led to the king. If Naaman would just go to Israel, we have a God in Israel who heals and delivers the leper. And she sent him in the hopes that he would find cure. After all, the leper was an incurable disease. There's still a good portion of our study remaining, so we'll pick up the balance of Luke chapter 4 verses through 30. The next time we're together. This has been the first part of a three-part study taught by Pastor Jack Abeland. If you'd like to get the entire message, we do have that available for you. All you need to do to order, simply contact us and ask for study number 42-46. And when you get a hold of us, be sure to mention the call letters of the radio station that you're listening to as we look around at our society or even closer to home and our own family members. You may come to realize that depression is very prevalent and has literally become an epidemic, leading many to seek drastic measures for relief. Pastor Jack has written a book that's titled "Hope for the Hopeless." In this book, Pastor Jack uses the solid truth of God's word to outline our hope during times of need, whether it be as a result of depression or fear. So if you'd like to get Pastor Jack's book for the Hopeless for yourself or for a family member or friend or if you'd like to get today's study, just dial our toll free phone number at 866-88-GRACE. That's 866-88-4-7223. 866-88-4-7223. You can also order by mail, just address your letter to growing through grace, P.O. Box 1954, Whittier, California, 90609. And as always, we have this and all of our resources online at growingthroughgrace.com. Just log on to growingthroughgrace.com. And that will bring things to a close for us today. We do appreciate you tuning in, so until next time, as you daily walk with our Lord Jesus Christ, may you continue to grow in His grace. Growing Through Grace is a listener-supported ministry brought to you by Morningstar Christian Chapel in Whittier, California. A Calvary Chapel Outreach. You
