Come Alive – Day 17

Welcome to Come Alive: 21 Days. These entries are coinciding with our 3 week vision series that we are currently in and we pray they both challenge and encourage you. This post was written by Allan McCullough, the Director of the Gathering.

Take a minute to read Luke 4:16-30.

One day, when Jesus is in His hometown, Nazareth, He heads over to the Synagogue and is asked to publicly read from Isaiah.  So, He grabs the scroll and reads Isaiah 61:1-2, which is a messianic prophecy.  What’s interesting here is when Jesus is done reading, everyone can’t stop starring at Him.  For some reason, nobody had ever heard anybody read the Scriptures as Jesus just did.  Sensing this, Jesus says to the crowds something to the extent of, “Your right, I’m saying that’s me.”  (my paraphrase) 

Most people in the Synagogue had already heard of Jesus either because of some of the miracles He had performed when He was over in Capernaum but mostly because He was Joseph’s son.  So, many of them were perplexed but also mesmerized and maybe even beginning to believe that He could be the Messiah.  Then Jesus says something weird.  He says, “…no prophet is acceptable in his hometown.” 

Huh?  What do you mean, Jesus? 

Well, it was a preemptive comment.  Because what Jesus was about to say would cause the crowd to riot.  Jesus says two things: 

1. During the time of Elijah, there was a great famine in Israel and there were many widows in need.  However, Elijah was sent to help none of them except the GENTILE widow Zarephath.
2. During the time of Elisha, there were many lepers in Israel but Elisa was sent to help none of them.  Instead, he was only sent to the GENTILE Naaman.  

Then, those in the Synagogue went crazy and tried to murder Jesus.  

Think about it.  What cord did Jesus strike to get such a rise out of this crowd? 

It seems to me that by declaring Himself to be fulfilling Isaiah 61:1-2 and then reminding the crowd of these two points of Israel’s history, Jesus was announcing that the Kingdom that He was bringing was not an ETHNOCENTRIC kingdom.  The Kingdom He was bringing was a Kingdom that was for all nations, not just for Israel.  

The cord that Jesus struck was a deep ethnocentrism that existed in Israel who expected a Messiah that would make Israel great.  They did not expect a Messiah who would include Israel simply amongst all nations in His blessing.  The message of the Bible is that God’s plan of redemption is and has always been for all nations and all peoples. (Gen 12:3, Ps 67, Is 66:18, Matt 24:14, Gal 3:8, etc…) 

As we think about our world this week, we need to take some time to reflect on how ethnocentrism and racism deeply grieves the heart of God.  Despite political progress, this is an issue that is very much alive today within the Church, within our city, and within the world.  Not only is it just ethnocentrism, but there is also prejudice when it comes to socio-economic status, level of education, appearance, and disabilities amongst other things. 

The reality is that since the Gospel is for all peoples, the Bible does not assume but emphatically declares that all people have equal need for the Gospel. (Rom 3:9, 23) 

John MacArthur says, “…people by nature are hostile to God, utterly unable to obey God out of pure motives or from a pure heart, and therefore unable to do anything that truly pleases God (Rom. 8:7-8).” 

If this is the description of all people, than the idea that certain people are superior to others based on any condition is nonsensical.  We all need the saving work of Jesus Christ.  God has called us to be people who are humble that have a love for our neighbor fueled by gratitude for the underserving grace we have received.  The Kingdom of God knows nothing of any prejudice and will include people of all colors, tongues, cultures, and personalities.  

Pray that God would reveal where any prejudice or belief of superiority could be present in your heart and then ask yourself the following questions.  If you find yourself answering ‘yes’ to any of these, repent.  Confess this to the Lord and to someone you confide in.  Ask the Lord to change your heart and give you greater view of His Kingdom.  Ask the Lord to show you how underserving you are of His grace so that prejudice can be crushed by gratitude. 

1. Do I subconsciously limit my close relationships to those who are of the same color or ethnicity as myself?
2. Do I more easily share my faith with those who share the same color or ethnicity as myself?
3. Do I have a problem with interracial marriage?
4. Do I look down upon those who are poor?  Do I believe that I deserve the material blessings I have and those who are poor do not?
5. Do I form opinions of other people based on the car they drive?  This could go either way.  Maybe you drive a nice car and judge the one who drives the clunker.  Or you drive the clunker and you judge the person who drives the nice car.
6. Would I be uncomfortable if a homeless person attended my Frontline campus?
7. Would I be uncomfortable if a homeless person joined my Regional Community or Small Group?
8. Am I uncomfortable around those who have mental or physical disabilities?
9. Do I subconsciously limit my close relationships to those who have similar personalities and interests as myself?
10. Do I form opinions about people and limit relationships with those who seem “socially awkward.” 

There are many more questions we can ask.  All of us have prejudice somewhere inside because every one of us are sinners.  We look forward to the Day where Christ will return, remove sin, and destroy all prejudice.  The Day where all nations, tribes, and tongues will worship Him forever. (Rev 7:9)  Let’s anticipate that Day by rallying around the grace of God and as a church wage war against the prejudice that is present within us.  To “Come Alive” in our world, is to align our hearts with God’s heart for the entire world and for all peoples.

- Allan McCullough

To listen to the sermons from this series, please click here.

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