1 4th Sunday After Epiphany, yr c, 1/31/2016 1 Corinthians 13:1-13; Luke 4:21-30 Drawn to Jesus Rev. Dr. Deborah M. Jenks ********** What first drew you to Jesus? Why were you so attracted to him, when you first heard of him? Take a moment and think about it. What draws you to Jesus? What is the first thing that comes to your mind? What was it you accepted about him?... Maybe it s the picture of Jesus as a baby lying in a manger. Or maybe it s some of his words - like the Beatitudes, Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.... It might be stories of Jesus as a healer or accounts of his resurrection. It is important that we ask ourselves this question. Partly because we can easily take Jesus and who he is for granted, as we habitually go about our lives and habitually come to church. Knowing what draws us to Jesus is also important, because if we identify ourselves as people of faith and followers of Jesus, we will be asked by others who Jesus is. What first drew me to Jesus? What was the initial attraction? What was it that got my attention? When I was a child, what first drew me to Jesus was his welcoming, acceptance of children. Three of the gospels - Matthew, Mark and Luke - tell of when people were bringing children to Jesus that he might lay his hands on them and bless them. The disciples spoke sternly to them and tried to keep the children away. But Jesus said, Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs. As a child I really loved Jesus for this. If there was
2 anything I hated as a little kid it was being told I wasn t big enough for something. I was intensely curious and hated being left out of anything. I didn t like having to go and play or go in the other room when adults seemed to be doing and saying such interesting things. As the oldest of four I was always quick to come to the defense of those who were being picked on, put down or discounted in some way. I loved the way Jesus got under people s skin, brought them up short when they were so quick to judge others. Like the time when a crowd of people dragged a woman they accused of adultery before him, daring him to stop them from stoning her to death as the law dictated. And Jesus, after silently scratching in the dirt with a stick, said to the crowd, Let whoever is without sin be the first one to throw a stone. And no one could bring themselves to throw a stone, because they each knew in their hearts that they could not say they were without sin. I really loved that about Jesus. When the people of Jesus home town first heard him, they loved him for he spoke well and with gracious words. He was one of their own and he made them proud. To their ears Jesus proclaimed that the Word of God meant good news, liberty and healing for them as God s people. These words from one of their own were very satisfying to them. But then, as Jesus continued to speak, they began to hear things they did not want to hear. They resented that Jesus had done good things in Capernaum - a town with many Gentiles, those outside the Jewish faith but not in Nazareth. Using the examples of Elijah and Elisha, two of Israel s greatest prophets
3 who healed outsiders, Jesus pointed out that God Word from Isaiah was not only for Jesus own people. It was for all people, including the enemies of Israel. For Jesus to point to God at work for good among their enemies so enraged many of his own people, that they drove him out of town, and wanted to throw him off a cliff. As I learned more about Jesus, as I listened and heard more of what he said and did, I found that there were some things I d rather not accept, some things I d just as soon ignore. Jesus said things like: You have heard it said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. If anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also;... You have heard it said, you shall love your neighbor and hate you enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. (Matt. 5:38f.) That Jesus would consort with my enemies, with those whose actions I considered unloving, uncaring, unwelcoming, those whose lives seem to be in total contradiction to what I value; well it gives me pause. With that fierceness I had as a child defending those who were being teased, I have a very difficult time accepting that God would save and redeem all people even those who judge others, and hurt others, and find all kinds of reasons to justify their behavior. The gospels tell us that Jesus throughout his ministry sat at the meal table with all sorts of disreputable, dishonorable, and dubious people. This made the religious and righteous people very angry. Why was Jesus, who was obviously a one blessed by God, why was he sitting at table with such low, unworthy people? It made people so angry they sought to kill him, and they succeeded.
4 I had a teacher once who was leading us in a study of Jesus table fellowship with sinners and what it meant. The teacher pointed out that we all would rather identify with whoever are the good guys in any story or situation. We tend to put ourselves in the best light and in the best role. So when we hear of Jesus sitting at table with others we tend to put ourselves in their place. We are the ones whom Jesus came to save. We are the ones for whom Jesus came, we are the ones Jesus loves, and that is why he sits at table with us. But, is that what Jesus is really showing us in the gospel? The teacher asked us each to think of one person who we cannot personally abide. Someone we would find it hard to sit next to and talk to. He also asked us then to think of one person who we would consider our enemy. Then he asked us to think of someone the world considers bad or evil. He then asked us to picture Jesus sitting with these people and us at the same meal table. Everything in me wanted to run in the opposite direction as I contemplated this picture. I was enraged that God would save and heal and redeem such people. I wanted to reject the implications of this table fellowship of Jesus. When all in the synagogue heard what Jesus said, they were filled with rage. They got up and drove him out of down. They wanted to hurl him off a cliff. (par. Luke 4:28-29) As I was about to reject this Jesus who ate with my enemies, who gave the grace
5 of his presence to those who do evil in this world, who healed seemingly without judgment, I was given the grace to remember why I was drawn to Jesus in the first place. What first attracted me to him and why I became his disciple. I remember Jesus who makes no distinction between who was important and unimportant in the world, who welcomes both small children and large adults. I remember Jesus, on his way to heal the daughter of a Roman commander, who notices when someone touched the hem of his garment and is healed. I remember Jesus who said, Let whoever is without sin cast the first stone. And I remember that I myself was not without sin so who am I to throw stones? If God can love, and heal, and redeem me, then God can love and heal and redeem my enemies. God can love and heal and redeem all that is wrong and bent and evil in this world. God s saving grace for me is that even when everything in me screams judgment or hatred or rejection, Jesus shows us that God never rejects us. God loves us, loves all and is merciful, In Jesus, God is always inviting and welcoming all to eat with him at his table. And that gracious love and acceptance that seeks to heal, restore and make all things new, is why I am drawn to Jesus. Amen.