It
is good to praise the Lord
and
make music to your name, O Most High,
proclaiming your
love in the morning
and your faithfulness at night,
to the
music of the ten-stringed lyre
and the melody of the harp.
For
you make me glad by your deeds, Lord;
I
sing for joy at what your hands have done.
Psalm 92
Song: O worship the king,
Prayer:
Almighty and merciful God, We bring you our humble thanks for your goodness; for your love in redeeming us; for your grace and hope of glory.
Give us a sense of beauty. May our lips and live be devoted to serving you through the coming week.
In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, and the power of your Holy Spirit.
Amen
Song: How deep the father’s love for us,
How Deep the Fathers Love for Us - Stuart Townend - YouTube
Reading: Psalm 14
Song: There is a redeemer,
There is a Redeemer by Sarah Groves lyrics - YouTube
Reading: Luke’s gospel, chapter 4, verses 14 to 30
Prayer:
Heavenly Father. Thank you for the privilege of being able to meet with you, and each other freely. We know that we can meet with you any time and any place, but it is good to set aside a time for you.
Forgive our lack of faithfulness, and forgive our doubts. When doubts overwhelm us, we pray that you will be there with us and support us.
We pray for victims of harassment, persecution and imprisonment. Where there are Christians who have to meet in secret, we give thanks for their continued witness and faithfulness. We pray for all who bring your light into the darkest of places.
We pray for our government, and pray that they may have the wisdom to meet the crises with which they are confronted. Especially at the moment, we pray that they will be given the strength to cope with the financial crisis, and the difficulties in the health service.
May they be given rest in between their duties. We thank you for their service.
We pray for our family and friends, the people with whom we meet. May they be aware of your presence in their lives, and may they know that we are praying for them.
Help us to trust in you, that you have your hand on all our affairs.
May you will be done,
Amen.
Song: Come let us sing of a wonderful love,
Come, let us Sing of a Wonderful Love - YouTube
Jesus rejected at Nazareth
When people return home after experiencing success there is often a great celebration or act of welcome. Last year when the Lionesses returned home in triumph, there was the open-topped bus ride through the adoring crowds, banquets and honours.
When there is a “Local person makes Good”, there are usually newspaper headlines and memorials. In Sheffield a letter box was painted Gold to celebrate Jessica Ennis’s win at the Olympics.
This apparently did not happen for Jesus. He came home, read the scripture at the synagogue, and made a rather extraordinary claim. His “home crowd” turned into a lynch mob after they heard him. Fortunately he had a miraculous delivery, otherwise it would have been “Game Over” as we say today.
We have no record of him ever returning to Nazareth.
They presumably heard him teaching in other synagogues, so when he came home on the sabbath he was invited to read. We don’t know whether the reading in question, from Isaiah, was part of some sort of planned lectionary, or whether he chose it himself.
The
Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is
on me,
because
the Lord has
anointed me
to
proclaim good news to the poor.
He
has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to
proclaim freedom for the captives
and
release from darkness for the prisoners,
to
proclaim the year of the Lord’s
favour
Isaiah 61, vv1,2
The atmosphere must have been electric as he announced “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” He was claiming to be the promised Messiah. He spoke well, and all were amazed.
This was a very bold claim. The Old Testament looked forward to this event.
Jesus still brings redemption and salvation. He still opens people’s eyes ro God’s kingdom.
And yet, he was met with scepticism (as often he is today).
Then the scepticism turns to fury. How can this scripture be fulfilled by this man, they asked?
Mark reports it like this: “Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?”
Mark 6: vv2,3
This is the man who mended their fences, repaired their ploughs and made their doors fit. How could he be so special?
People reject Jesus today, and have done in all ages. They cannot see the relevance of a man from so long ago and so far away. The bible was written centuries ago.
This simply shows the importance of studying the word of God. The need for bible study and groups such as Christian Unions and the like.
Witnessing to friends and family is often more difficult than to others. Just like the people of Nazareth knew Jesus, our friends and family know us, all about us, about our shortcomings and deficiencies. This generates the same scepticism that Jesus was met with.
Jesus reminded them that God broke out of the bounds of Israel. He was there for the foreigners as well.
John says in his gospel “He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.”
Not just for one nation, for all the world. Matthew says “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
We don’t need to be Jews, clever, or influential. We just need to believe, and trust. This way we will not miss out on the full relationship with God which is available to us all.
Song: Tell out my soul
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