Sermon for Epiphany 3: "Today"

+ 3^rdSunday after the Epiphany – January 27^th, 2019 +

Series C: Nehemiah 8:1-10; 1 Corinthians 12:12-31; Luke 4:16-30

Beautiful Savior Lutheran, Milton

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. 

In Luke’s Gospel, wherever you find Jesus, you find God’s Word.

When the magi came to Jerusalem to find the King of the Jews, God’s Word led them to Bethlehem, to the Word made flesh for us. At the age of 12 Mary and Joseph found Jesus in the temple studying the Scriptures with the rabbis, listening to God’s Word and asking questions. In the wilderness as Jesus rebukes Satan’s temptations by quoting God’s Word.

Wherever you find Jesus, you find God’s Word. And wherever God’s Word is, there Jesus finds you. 

So it’s no surprise that when Jesus visits the synagogue in his hometown of Nazareth we find him reading and proclaiming God’s Word. 

And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read.And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,

 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
    because he has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives    and recovering of sight to the blind,
    to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”

We hear this story often enough that it’s easy to forget that what happened in Nazareth that Sabbath day is truly remarkable. The One foretold by Isaiah fulfills all the prophets’ words. Jesus, the Word made flesh reads his own words.Jesus reveals himself as the prophet who not only speaks God’s Word but is God’s Word, who reveals himself as Savior for you, restores our fallen creation, and is rejected on the cross for you. 

Jesus rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

Jesus’ preaching reveals that he is the anointed one, the chosen One, the long expected Messiah. He comes to deliver Good News to us. To restore us and his fallen creation. To set us free from sin and death. 

For Jesus’ Word not only reveals who he is, but who we are as well. We are the poor in need of Good News. We are the blind in need of eyes to see and ears to hear our Lord. We are slaves oppressed and held captive to by sin, death, and the devil. 

What a difference our word is from Jesus’ words. With our words we slander, lie, curse our friends, loved ones, fellow Christians, people we don’t even know; we gossip, lash out, and always try to get the last word in. We use our words to serve, glorify, and point to ourselves. Like the people in Nazareth we often look for God apart from Jesus’ Words. We reject Jesus’ Word for our own words. 

But not Jesus. Jesus’ Word proclaims his suffering and dying for you. Jesus Word heals you. Rescues you. Sets you free. Delivers God’s grace and favor in Christ who was rejected for you. 

Luke summarizes everything Jesus does and says in that one word, “Today”. 

Jesus proclaims his word of revelation and restoration to us as he did the shepherds:For unto you is born this day – today - in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 

Jesus’ Word delivers his word to us as he did to Zacchaeus, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.  For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Jesus word rescues and frees us as he did the thief on the cross, Today you will be with me in paradise. 

“Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

Wherever you find Jesus, you find God’s Word. And wherever God’s Word is, there Jesus finds you.

Jesus finds you in the word and water of your Baptism. Jesus finds you in his Word of Absolution that pronounces liberty to us who were captive to sin: “I forgive you all your sins in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Jesus finds you in the Word that fills bread and wine with Jesus’ body and blood given for us.

That’s why Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church and Preschool exist: by God’s Word and for God’s Word. That’s our calling, our vocation. We are to be hearers Word, receivers of the Word, and then speakers of God’s Word. We’re sent to our homes and neighborhoods, our family gatherings, parks, practice, and parties. Jesus’ Word is our life as a congregation too.

This is why our life of Christian stewardship is important. It’s about more than money; it’s about supporting the work of God’s Word.

This is why our work of evangelism is important, for God’s Word is meant to be proclaimed and delivered to those who have not heard.

This is why we show mercy to others in their physical and spiritual needs, because God has shown mercy to us; and by showing mercy to others we reveal that we have heard his word. 

This is why we sing, rejoice, give thanks, and praise as we gather around God’s Word together.

This is why we have Sunday School, Bible class, and preschool: to give, proclaim, and teach God’s Word of life to our children.

Wherever you find Jesus, you find God’s Word. And wherever God’s Word is, there Jesus finds you. It’s as true today as it was in Nazareth. Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing. Today, Jesus is with us in His Word.

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.