We have known Jesus in the American church for a long time. Have we known Him well? Why then is it that we cannot recognize Him when He shows up in different garb?

Meditations on Jesus' Hometown: Matthew 13:53-58

Focus: ⁵⁷And
they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not
without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house. ⁵⁸And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

We have become the 21st Century hometown of Jesus where we think we know Him and can control Him and He will not comply.

Just being in the presence of Jesus is compelling to the garden variety sinner and offensive to the self righteous. We still drive Him away.

Without raising His voice or asserting His position, the strength of His words and the power of His love cause offense.

No wonder we are offended by Jesus. He won't behave the way we want Him to. He won't sit quietly in a corner and be religious.

He disturbs our thinking, disrupts our comfort, disengages our biases, and distances us from our respectability.

What if our boxed-in, over-defined, socially acceptable Jesus is a our attempt to avoid the real Jesus who disturbs our thinking?

How much more could we be experiencing if we did not take such offense at the one we have grown accustomed to calling, "Lord?"

Matthew said he worked miracles at home, but called them few, implying that there could have been so many more.

Has the American church become the familiar & contemptuous hometown of Jesus where few signs are wrought 4 our lack of faith?

This morning, Leonard Sweet posted a list of requirements Martin Luther King Jr. mandated for his associates. It takes all the mystery out of why God's hand was on this man's life and the movement.

Leonard Sweet:
" In
1963 Martin Luther King Jr. insisted that every civil-rights worker had
to sign the following pledge before they could join the mission:

"The
10 Commandments of Nonviolent Movement" "

1. MEDITATE: daily on the
teachings and life of Jesus
2. REMEMBER always that the nonviolent
movement in Birmingham seeks justice and reconciliation—-not victory.
3. WALK & TALK in the manner of love, for God is love.
4. PRAY daily to be used by God in order that all might be free
5. SACRIFICE personal wishes in order that all may be free

6. OBSERVE with both friend and foe the ordinary rules of courtesy

7. SEEK to perform regular service for others and for the world

8. REFRAIN from the violence of fist, tongue or heart.
9. STRIVE to be in good spiritual and bodily health.

10 FOLLOW the directions of the movement and of the captain on a demonstration.

Jesus keeps showing up in the culture in ways we don't expect Him and we continue to reject Him. Sadly, that rejection usually comes first from His own people.

Our problem is not that we know Him too well; it is that we have known Him so long and only superficially.

What sort of faith in Him might bring again the mighty signs?

F – Faith that takes us FARTHER than we have been before in our capacity for imagination and service.

A – ACCEPTANCE of His authority to do more than amaze us.

I – INTENTIONAL resolve to continue our quest to discover the depths of who He is in intimate relationship.

T – TESTED faith that is constantly putting itself to the test.

H- HONOR, the quality sadly lacking in Jesus' hometown.