January 27, 2013 - Luke 4:14-21

14Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. 15He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone. 16When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: 18“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, 19to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 20And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

Central Park, NYC

Jesus was led into the desert by the Spirit but comes out of the desert by the power of the Spirit.  I've always been struck by that.  The power of the Spirit accompanies us out of the desert.  

And with this power, fame begins to spread about Jesus.  You can see the headline, "Local Boy Makes Good."  And then he begins to read from the scroll, "The Spirit of the Lord has anointed me..."

You?  Wait, what did he say?  They turn to each other, "Did he just say the scripture is fulfilled?"  Wait... what's going on?  The Common English Bible translates it, "Today, this scripture has been fulfilled just has you heard it." 

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When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. 5 Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. 6And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each.

Each one heard them speaking.  They were able to hear.  Jesus makes it clear that day in the synagogue, amongst his own, that its not about what's been said but rather about what's been heard.  And so I'm asking myself, what do I hear?  When I listen to the prophet Isaiah, as quoted by Jesus in this week's text, what do I hear when Jesus reads his marching orders: 

• to bring good news to the poor,
• to release the prisoners,
• to recover sight to the blind,
• to liberate the oppressed,
• to proclaim the Lord's Year

What do I hear?  What do you hear? 

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Two men talking, a scattered crowd, a city beyond the trees. I wonder what these men would hear of Jesus' marching orders?

An alternate idea - a woman with headphones. a man also with headphones. a crowded street. We're certainly listening - but to what?

And then a completely different take - Jesus' marching orders. Are his marching orders also our marching orders? If so, where shall our feet take us?

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