Jesus Revealed his Mission: God’s Inclusive Love

As I was pondering today’s passage, I began to list some of the greatest debuts in history. We’d have to include Henry Ford’s Model T (1913), the IBM Personal Computer (1981), the Sony Walkman (1979), & of course, Jackie Robinson’s Major League Baseball debut on April 15, 1947.

Aside: Allegedly, when Jackie Robinson left his home to go to the ballpark for his first start, he told his wife Rachel, “I’ll be easy to spot on the field. I’ll be wearing number 42.”

However, upon reflection, I would contend that the greatest debut in human history is recounted in our reading today. Let’s take a closer look.

Aside: Speaking of debuts, I like the story of the solider starting basic training. The Sargeant comes into the barracks at 4:30 a.m. banging the trashcan lids. A solider groggily says, “Quiet down, Sarge. We’ve got a big day tomorrow.”

Matthew and Mark refer to this service as occurring mid-ministry. Luke wanted to create an orderly account of Jesus’ life, so I submit that Luke deliberately places this scene at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry because this sermonette establishes the main themes of Jesus’ earthly mission. (Interestingly, all of the details Luke includes in this scene like the Chazzan handing Jesus the scroll, Jesus standing while reading Scripture, & then Jesus sitting down to begin the teaching portion of the service sync up with what we know about the traditional synagogue service in that era.)

Some skeptics consider Jesus as a nice country Rabbi with wonderful teachings who was thrust into prominence as some sort of accidental Messiah. However, Jesus’ deliberate selection of the verses for His debut shows the folly of such thinking. Jesus is clarifying & defining His Messiahship on His terms:

• The marginalized will be THE ethical focus of His ministry. He will bring good news to the poor, freedom to those who are oppressed, & sight to those who cannot see.
• His ministry isn’t using a committee to set His goals. He’s not going to “tweak the system” or “work within the parameters of the organization.” He’s creating a Kingdom on earth that will bring about healing, liberation, & restoration to a broken world.
• Jesus intentionally invokes the imagery of the Year of Jubilee which proclaimed freedom across the land for all of God’s children. The Year of Jubilee is based on Leviticus 25, when every 50-years debts are forgiven, slaves are set free, & land is returned to its original families. (Trivia: Leviticus 25:19 is inscribed on the Liberty Bell.)
• Finally, Jesus tells the congregation that His ministry isn’t some 5-year plan with reasonable benchmarks cataloged on a PowerPoint & assessed each quarter. His ministry is NOW. (As they say at the Indianapolis 500, “Gentlemen, start your engines!”)

Wow. So, what might this flurry of “mic-drop” statements mean for us 2,000 years later?

God, via Jesus, is initiating His plan for salvation where freedom replaces the bondage of sin, where hope overcomes the grips of despair, where restoration & recovery are possible right now.

Jesus’ ministry isn’t about some trendy guru with a podcast, clever acronyms, & a 30-day calendar to a better you. Jesus is laying out a revolutionary ministry that will transform the world, not via legislation or regulations, but through self-giving love.

Finally, this debut breaks God’s 400-year period of silence. Jesus reminds us that God is not a passive God, that God hears our cries, cheers on our hopes, and most importantly, that God loves all His children.

Now, THAT’s an iconic debut.

We’ll wrap up with my Grandmother Rosalie’s favorite story of a first-day-of-school debut. A little boy did not want to start Kindergarten. His Mother cajoled him for days with the potential new friends, fun recesses, & neat activities. The boy reluctantly complies & admits his 1^st day was “kind of fun.” The Mom is relieved. The next morning, she comes in & opens the blinds: “Rise & Shine!  Time for school!” The boy sits up in bed & exclaims, “What? Again?”