Rebuilding With Jesus

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Introduction

  1. We’ve been watching Alone
    1. First week or two is all about essentials
    2. After 2 weeks they’ve gone into a regular pattern.
    3. Common question: “What am I doing out here?”
  2. After the first scramble to get everything, they settle into routine
    1. They struggle without a purpose
    2. The purpose of prize money is far out they rarely even mention it
  3. Where is our purpose?
    1. Initial conversion keeps you busy
    2. After that it’s along road of discipleship
    3. The reward of heaven is so far away that we feel a lack of purpose
  4. We’re going to find our purpose
    1. By looking at how Jesus understood his

Jesus in Nazareth

Luke 4:14–16 ESV

14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country. 15 And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. 16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read.

  1. This is the first thing Luke tells us Jesus is doing after his baptism
    1. It gives us an example of what Jesus was teaching in all the synagogues
  2. This time he’s at home
    1. It’s his custom, so they’ve heard him before
    2. And he’s got something special to say today

Luke 4:17–21 ESV

17 And 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 proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 20 And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

  1. This is all about me
    1. The spirit is upon me
    2. He has anointed me
    3. He has sent me
    4. And it’s been pretty obvious throughout Luke’s Gospel
  2. So far in Luke’s gospel we’ve been given an understanding of who Jesus through:
    1. His miraculous birth
    2. His incredible knowledge at the age of only 12
    3. His baptism
    4. And being tempted in the wilderness
  3. And all of this has been fueled by the Spirit of God from the beginning
    1. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit
    2. He grew strong in the Spirit
    3. The Holy Spirit descends on him at his baptism
  4. And now, after his temptations, he is returning home in the power of the Spirit
    1. And when you’re given the Spirit, you’re given a job!
    2. That job is described in Isaiah 61:1-3

Jesus’ Job

Isaiah 61:1–3 ESV

1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; 3 to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.

  1. He came to give good news to the poor
    1. Broader than people who don’t have money
      1. Poor in spirit – realize moral bankruptcy
      2. Poor in status
      3. Poor in society
    2. Just like we say “That poor guy” without implying anything about his bank account
    3. People who are in helpless and dire straits
  2. Nazareth saw themselves as poor
    1. They were helpless in the face of Rome
    2. They were captives looking forward to liberty
    3. They were the blind ones waiting for God’s light
    4. They were the oppressed looking for a deliverer
  3. Jesus says all that you’ve waited for is happening today – it’s the year of the Lord’s favor
    1. That would be the year of Jubilee
    2. Pattern of seven’s leading to the Jubilee
    3. It was a giant reset button
    4. Imagine what that could do for you?
  4. God is hitting the reset button on his relationship with his people
    1. The captives in exile will be freed
    2. Sins against God forgiven
    3. The people restored to their land
  5. Everything bad is being replaced with something incredible | 61:3
    1. It’s a time for celebration
    2. They can never be taken from God again – oaks of righteousness

Good News For Us

  1. That good news is for us as well
    1. How many of us have had our hearts broken because of our broken world
      1. Growing up our church was rocked by two nasty divorces at the same time
      2. Early war footage in Ukraine and Israel
      3. I’m broken-hearted over the kids I see suffer
    2. How many of us feel like captives to sin?
      1. There’s plenty we struggle with
      2. But there’s that one sin you just can’t shake (Paul couldn’t either)
    3. Wouldn’t it be great if we could just hit a giant reset button?
  2. God wants to hit the reset button too
    1. He doesn’t want to burn everything down and start over again – he wants to rebuild
    2. Illustration: I gave up on my PT cruiser – I was tired of starting over and over with it
    3. God is stubborn in his love
  3. So you get all of these things
    1. God is going to mend that broken heart
    2. He’s going to free you from that sin and the death it brings
    3. He’s going to take all those things that make us cry and give us a party hat
    4. And then he gives you a job

Our Job

  1. Luke 4 is only a snapshot of what Jesus said
    1. Luke 4:21 – this was only the beginning of what he said to them
    2. If all of this was really being fulfilled, then the people of Nazareth knew what came next

Isaiah 61:4 ESV

4 They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.

Isaiah starts of with the Spirit of God on me – Jesus

But then it switches to they – who are they?

They are:

  • They are the poor who heard the good news
  • They are the ones with broken hearts healed by God
  • They are the ones who have been liberated
  • They are the ones who have started to celebrate with God

THEY ARE US!

  1. God wants to rebuild a broken world and he’s inviting us to rebuild with him
    1. This isn’t limited to rebuilding Jerusalem after the exile
    2. Look at verses 5-6

Isaiah 61:5–6 ESV

5 Strangers shall stand and tend your flocks; foreigners shall be your plowmen and vinedressers; 6 but you shall be called the priests of the Lord; they shall speak of you as the ministers of our God; you shall eat the wealth of the nations, and in their glory you shall boast.

  1. Israel would function as priests
    1. Just like God wanted them to be after the Exodus
    2. The nations would be invited in by Israel and join in the rebuilding efforts
  2. We live in ruins
    1. Living in the ruins of false religion and worship
    2. Captive to their sins and shortcomings
    3. Hearts shattered and all they can do is try and hold the pieces together
    4. And they live in such darkness they don’t even see the ruins that they live in
  3. It is your job to rebuild with Jesus – to go tell them the good news
    1. Just as we have, so can they
  4. The gospel is more than “What must I do to to be saved?”
    1. Bigger than restoring our worship
    2. Bigger than rebuilding the relationships we have with each other
    3. Now we look outwards and see a world in ruins
  5. You were saved for a purpose
    1. It gives such satisfaction
    2. How much more exciting to be a part of someone’s salvation?
    3. Instead of complaining about all the things wrong in the world, God has given you an opportunity to be a part of the solution!

Nazareth Was Excited

Luke 4:22 ESV

22 And all spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth. And they said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?”

  1. It sounded great to them!
    1. Freedom!
    2. Rebuilding!
    3. Release!
    4. Forgiveness!
  2. Asking if this is Joseph’s son isn’t necessarily negative
    1. Imagine if one of our own became a celebrity or President
    2. They’re amazed that one of their own is a prophet!

But the amazement doesn’t last long

Luke 4:23–24 ESV

23 And he said to them, “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘ “Physician, heal yourself.” What we have heard you did at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well.’ ” 24 And he said, “Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown.

You’re amazed now, but they’re some implications of all this that you haven’t thought of yet

  • They would claim that Jesus wasn’t the one to start rebuilding
  • They would claim that his signs were just rumors
  • They would lose all amazement, excitement, and faith that any of this was happening.

They would become so disinterested in Jesus that they would actually try to kill him:

Luke 4:29 ESV

29 And they rose up and drove him out of the town and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could throw him down the cliff.

Take a moment to think about how brutal this all is

  • Hunter is off to develop his preaching skill
  • It would make a lot of people happy to hear him preach a great lesson
  • Some might even think “Wow! This is Lance’s kid?”
  • What would he have to say for you to want to murder him?

Here’s what Jesus said:

Luke 4:25–27 ESV

25 But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens were shut up three years and six months, and a great famine came over all the land, 26 and Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. 27 And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.”

  1. Jesus tells of two stories in Israel’s past
    1. There was a famine in the days of Elijah – but he only went to the Gentile woman in Zarephath
    2. There were plenty of lepers in the days of Elisha – but he only healed Naaman – a Gentile who waged war on Israel
    3. But he didn’t send prophets to any of the Israelites
    4. Completely backwards to the Jewish mindset. We’re God’s people. They’re filthy Gentile sinners!
    5. If you want to enjoy the good news, you have to understand that it needs to be preached to people we aren’t going to like
  2. You think you’re entitled to God’s Jubilee
    1. But you don’t want anybody else to enjoy it
    2. So God is going to leave you behind because you’re not interested in rebuilding with him
    3. As God says if you want to be forgiven – you need to learn how to forgive others
  3. It’s a warning for us
    1. That we can think that our personal salvation is all God cares about
    2. That after baptism all I have to do is show up
    3. Twiddle my thumbs until Judgment day comes
    4. Only for him to wonder at why we wasted so much time sitting around doing nothing

Conclusion

Salvation is so much bigger than your own. God has invited you to make something out this big mess – to be a part of the rebuilding effort. God didn’t give up on you and throw you in the trash – he begins again with you time and time again as we slip and fall and crumble to pieces.

He wants us to take that same approach to the rest of the world. It’s not something we hope God chucks in the trash. It’s not something we give up on repairing. It’s a world full of broken hearts that God says you have a part in healing.

Will you join him?

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