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Luke 4:21-30

Jesus Walks Away

February 2, 2025

Fourth Sunday after Epiphany

Lectionary Year C

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ASK (a.k.a The On-Ramp)

Good morning!
Have you ever been playing a board game that you like to play, and at first you where doing really well but then, after a couple of bad turns, you were suddenly in last place?
Or maybe you've been playing a video game that you really like, but then you get stuck on a level and keep doing really badly?
Has either thing ever happened to you?
When that has happened to you, what did you do? Did you keep going? Did you quit? Did you ask for help?
If you stopped playing the game and walked away, did you stay away from the game forever? Or did you come back at some point and try again?

TELL (a.k.a. The Freeway)

In today's scripture story, we hear about a situation that started well, but then goes badly.
The story starts with Jesus returning home and visiting with the people he had grown up with. The town was excited about him being back home as a teacher.
They were so excited that they asked him to teach them in their worship service.
And at first, they are pleased with what Jesus is saying.
But as Jesus explained the first few things that he said, the people quickly became upset with him.
In fact, they were so upset with him that they tried to hurt him!
At that point, Jesus decided to walk away.

SHARE the Good News (a.k.a. The Destination)

Both the townspeople and Jesus experienced a difficult moment in today’s Gospel story.
The townspeople did not respond well, at all, to a teaching moment.
But the way Jesus responds to the difficult moment is worth noting.
Jesus says what he needed to say as a teacher, and once he sees from the people’s response that the conversation has gone from good to bad, just like a board game or video game can go from good to bad, Jesus then walks away.
However! Even though Jesus walked away in today’s story, Jesus didn’t keep walking away. He didn’t quit forever.
Just like you didn’t quit playing board games and video games for forever, Jesus didn't quit sharing God’s love, healing, and forgiveness because of one very bad moment.
And, because Jesus didn’t quit, we have all these stories of his life and his teachings that help us to know why and how we can live God's better way just like Jesus did.
As we learn from Jesus how to live God’s better way, we also learn how to walk away from bad situations without letting it stop us from living and sharing God’s better way – just like Jesus did.

And that’s the Good News for today. Let’s pray.

CLOSING Prayer

This is a repeat-after-me prayer.

Dear God,
Dear God,

Thank you for Jesus…

…who shows us…

…how to keep choosing your way…

…even when we’re in a really bad situation.

Thank you and Amen

Originally posted January 16, 2013

Updated on January 5, 2025

Written and edited by Nathanael Vissia

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