"Jesus: Friend of the Persecuted"

     Dear Friends in Christ,  

   What do you think of when you hear the word “persecution”?  What pictures, what images come to your mind?  Perhaps you think of the early Christians who were sometimes thrown into prison, or thrown to the lions, or crucified, or beheaded simply for being believers in Christ.  Or maybe you’re aware of more modern day examples of persecution as described in this book I read a few years ago entitled Jesus Freaks.  This book serves as a powerful reminder to us that persecution of Christians did not stop after the 1^st century, but it has continued in full force ever since then.  In fact, you might be surprised to learn that more Christians died for their faith in the last century than in the preceding 19 centuries combined?

   I would suspect that these are the pictures that most typically come to your mind when you hear the word “persecution.”  But persecution can take much more subtle forms, like the wife who faces her husband’s scorn and ridicule and pressure every Sunday when she gets ready to go to church and he wants her to stay home with him or do something recreational rather than spiritual.  Or the student in high school who maybe steers clear of the weekend beer bashes and gets labeled as a “holier-than-thou” or a “goody-two-shoes.”  Or the office worker who refuses to compromise her Christian standards when her boss asks her to do something dishonest or unethical or immoral and she ends up losing her job as a result?

   I don’t know how many of you here this morning have ever experienced any type of persecution for your faith, but if you have, you’ve come to the right place today.  Because we’re going to spend our time taking a look at a day in the life of Jesus when he felt the sting of persecution as we continue with the sermon series that I’ve been preaching for much of this year entitled “The One and Only.”  And even if you’ve never been persecuted for your faith, today’s story will still prove helpful as it reminds us of the day-to-day challenges that many people in our world face today as they struggle to remain true to their Christian beliefs and convictions.

   Now in our text we read about what I would call the day that Christ went home.  Prior to this return to Nazareth, Jesus had been preaching throughout the surrounding region of Galilee and had been well received by all.  Unfortunately such would not be the case as he preached his first sermon in his hometown.  This was the place where he had spoken his first words, where he had uttered his first prayers, where he had hammered his first nail.  Everyone in town knew him.  And let me tell you something, there is no tougher crowd to preach in front of than the one that has known you all your life.  I know because I’ve been there and done that.  Some years ago I was invited to preach for the 140^th anniversary of the congregation I was raised in, Zion Lutheran Church in Staunton, IL.  When I accepted that invitation, I recalled how many of my classmates from high school had once threatened to come to my first sermon there and sit in the front row and make faces at me.  Well, they didn’t do that, but that still did not prevent me from having the worst case of nerves and the worst case of cottonmouth that I’ve ever had in the pulpit.  Thankfully, though, things went well and the people were overly kind and gracious in their comments to me after that service.

   And initially that’s the reaction that Jesus received when he stood up in the synagogue, read a passage from the book of Isaiah about the coming Messiah, and then began his message by declaring himself to be the fulfillment of that passage.  Our text says: “All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips.”  But then something happened.  It’s like a light went on as they remembered that this Jesus who was speaking with such eloquence and authority and claiming to be the long-awaited Messiah was still just a local boy.  And so the people began to murmur among themselves.  They said, "Isn't this Joseph's son?"  Matthew adds a bit more of what was said in his account of this story where he has the people asking: "Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Aren't all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?"  

   Please understand, the thought of a Messiah was not new to these Nazarene folks.  They, like all Jews, were hoping and looking for the Messiah to come.  They just didn’t expect him to come from down the street.  Or to put it another way, Jesus did not fit their preconceptions.  And oh, the power of preconceptions.  They can completely warp or blind us to reality. 

   I remember the first Promise Keepers gathering I attended years ago.  I went with certain preconceptions based upon what I had been hearing and reading about from some of my fellow Lutheran pastors.  I went reluctantly, almost fearfully.  And had the Holy Spirit not broken down those preconceptions and barriers that I harbored in my heart, I would have missed out on what proved to be one of the highlight experiences of my life.  So preconceptions can be dangerous if not destructive.

   And while the Nazarenes had certain preconceptions about Jesus, what about you?  Do you believe, for example, as some do that if you commit your life to Christ all your problems will disappear?  Do you believe that any diseases you have will be healed or that any financial shortfall you may be experiencing will be miraculously provided for?  Do you believe that every person you share the Gospel with will become a faithful follower of Christ?  I’m not saying God cannot do those things for you if he so chooses, but if he doesn’t, if he doesn’t live up to your preconceptions, does that alter your view of him?  Does that send your faith packing? 

   Sadly, that’s exactly what happened to the hometown crowd in Nazareth.  You see, Jesus came to the synagogue that day to wake people up, to let them know that their time of waiting for the Messiah had finally come to an end.  But let’s face it.  Sometimes people don’t like to be woken up, do they?  My wife used to have a wonderful way to wake up our kids when they were younger.  She’d go in their room, open the shade, and start singing a bright and happy song in the most cheerful voice she could muster.  But guess what?  Our 2 girls did not appreciate that one bit.  They’d moan and groan and pull the covers over their head and burrow themselves as deep as they could into their cocoon-like beds.  Why?  Because they were comfortable in their dark world.  And sometimes people get so comfortable in their dark world of sin that they don’t want the One who once called himself the Light of the world shining his light into their world. 

   That’s what happened with the people of Nazareth.  Rather than open up to the light that Jesus was bringing to them that day, Matthew tells us in his account of this story: “They turned their backs on him.”  But Jesus doesn’t back down.  He doesn’t soften his message.  In fact, he uses the negative reaction of the crowd to teach the hometown folks a lesson by bringing up 2 Old Testament stories that really get them riled up.  We don’t really have time to get into these stories, but let me just say that the one dealt with a widow to whom the prophet Elijah was sent in order to provide for her during a time of a great famine while the other dealt with the healing of a leper whose name was Naaman.  In each of these cases, it was a Gentile, or non-Jew, who was aided while the Jews were overlooked, the implication being that God might do the same to the folks in Nazareth if they continued their negative reaction toward Jesus.  And that greatly offended Jesus’ Jewish audience for they were of the opinion that they when it came to God, they had a corner on the market.  They had a monopoly on God.  After all, they were his chosen people.  So our text describes their reaction in rather graphic detail:  “All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him down the cliff.  But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.”

   What a sad ending to this story!  Don’t we wish it had a different ending?  Wouldn’t it be great if it ended with these words: “Upon seeing the reaction against their brother, James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas rushed to his defense.”  Or how about this: “Aaron, Jesus’ lifelong friend, stood up in his defense and told the crowd to leave him alone.”  Or what about this ending: “Peter, James, and John, Jesus’ newest followers, encircled their leader to protect him.”  Any of those endings would be a whole lot better than the one we have, but unfortunately they’re not there.  No one spoke up for Jesus.  As I thought about that it occurred to me that as painful as was the rejection that Jesus experienced at his own crucifixion, that may not have been as painful as the rejection he felt the day when he was run out of his own hometown by his friends and neighbors.

   This is indeed a sad moment in the life of Christ, isn’t it?  But it can also be an inspirational moment for us, especially if you’ve ever found yourself faced with similar rejection or persecution.  For it helps to know that Jesus understands how you feel at times like that.  He knows what it’s like to be turned away by his family.  He knows what it’s like to have friends say one thing and then do another.  He knows what it’s like to have people patting you on the back one minute and stabbing you in the back the next.  Yes, Jesus has a special place in his heart for the persecuted because he himself was persecuted. 

   So let me wrap things up by offering a few suggestions for those of you who are maybe being persecuted right now as well as those of us who may one day be persecuted for your faith.  First of all, expect it.  In John 15:20 Jesus tells his disciples: “Remember the words I spoke to you: `No servant is greater than his master.'  If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”  In his Sermon on the Mount Jesus calls us to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world.  Well, salt always stings the wound, doesn’t it?  Light always threatens the darkness.  And since we live in a wounded and darkened world, we can pretty well expect that if we take that responsibility seriously, we’re not always going to be well received.  So expect persecution.

   Then secondly, be wise.  Col. 4:5 says: “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.”  We need to be alert for ways and opportunities whereby we can share our faith and our Savior with others without getting in their face, without beating them over the head with a Bible, without dragging them into the kingdom.  Sometimes that means not saying a word at all, but instead setting an example.  Somebody once said, “You are the only church some people will ever see.”  And if that is the case, make sure they see in you a clear picture of Christ and his church are all about.

   Then thirdly, be prayerful.  In Matt. 5:44 Jesus says: “Pray for those who persecute you.”  Admittedly not an easy thing to do.  But if we look at these people through the eyes of Jesus, if we see them as individuals whom he loved so much that he was willing to die for them, then we’ll find it much easier to pray for them, especially asking God to bring them to saving faith in Jesus so that they might join us in heaven someday.

   Then lastly, understand that you have a friend in Jesus.  You’ve endured harsh words?  He endured harsh words.  You’ve endured ridicule?  He endured ridicule.  You’ve been ostracized for your faith?  He was crucified for his.  He understands better than anyone.  Let’s bow our heads for a word of prayer:

Dear Jesus, we thank you for being not just our Lord and Master, not just our Savior and Redeemer, but also for being our Friend.  Since you know what it’s like to experience the sting of rejection and the pain of persecution, I pray that you would extend your tender love and care to anyone here today who knows what that feels like.  Regardless of where that persecution takes place, whether it’s in the home, in the work place, in the school, in the neighborhood, please comfort them, strengthen them, and empower them to remain true to you.  And if we know of anyone who might be facing such persecution or rejection, help us to be a friend to them so that they’ll know they are not alone. 

    And Lord, as we speak of this subject today, we can’t help but be reminded of our brothers and sisters throughout the world who find themselves faced with severe, sometimes life-threatening persecution everyday.  Please surround them with your protection and through your Holy Spirit endow them with a faith that cannot be shaken.  Use their witness to touch the hearts of those who would seek to do them harm and to lead their enemies to the Savior’s waiting and forgiving arms.  In Jesus’ name.

      Amen.