Jesus' first sermon
He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. 17 The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
18 "The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, 21 and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." (Luke4:16-21) |
I remember my first sermon. I as 19. It was on Genesis 3, the Fall. The sermon wasn't very good. Actually, when I read it now, it's downright embarrassing.
Jesus preached his first sermon in his hometown (like I did). At first glance, it looks like it was just as bad as mine. He starts by reading a sermon of Isaiah and then simply says: "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." Well, it very nearly got him killed. In comparison, my home congregation were patient.
When one looks a little more closely, the words are a lot more radical than any lame sermon I ever preached:
Good news to the poor;
Freedom for the imprisoned;
Sight for the blind;
Release for the oppressed;
and the unwarranted, undeserved and unexpected release from debt that Jubilee brings.
As I read these words again, I feel ashamed about how easily we (the Church) have watered down the radical intentions of Jesus. How far has the Church fallen?
The Church began as a liberation movement in Jerusalem, Judea, the Middle East and Mediterranean Europe. Persecution couldn't stop us. God knows they tried. Over the years, the Church has given the world gifts like education, health care and democracy. These gifts, for a tyrannical and violent world. The world is more beautiful as a result. And now, at best, we drink tea and talk about the days when the pews were full! The Word made flesh calls us to be agents of His kingdom, carriers of radical good news, freedom fighters, healers, those who seek fullness of life for all God's people. This is what a Missional Church is – the people of God involved in the world Christ died to save.
We are the Jubilee people – the recipients and carriers of the unwarranted, undeserved and unexpected cancellation of debt. We work for justice and fullness of life.
Now that is a sermon worth preaching.
George the Meek.
George Marchinkowski is husband to Sascha and father to Leah (11) and Zoe (8). He serves the congregation of St Mungo's, Bryanston, and is committed to the development of Missional congregations in the UPCSA. | 
