Through the Mist
Rev. Dr. Leslie Taylor, preaching
Before I moved to California, I had experienced heavy fog but never tule fog! It was eerie driving at night when I could see nothing — only a dull glimmer of the car lights in front of me! Being in a mist or fog provides a glimpse of the experience of being in clouds while being planted on the earth.
I remember when one of the youths at a church I served mispronounced "midst" 'as "mist." That mistake created a lot of creative conversation among the youth while the adults in the room chuckled. As I pictured the text, I could see the crowd chasing him to the edge of a high cloud-covered cliff and Jesus vanishing like a magic genie — can't you?
While all that is fun to imagine, the text contains layers of meaning and significance without my dramatic imagination adding to the narrative.
This passage continues from last week, with verse 21 serving as the bridge. Jesus’ public ministry begins in Galilee at his hometown synagogue. He proclaims the reign of God, enacted with grace and liberation (healing, exorcism, acceptance, forgiveness). Empowered by the Spirit, Jesus’ ministry brings release to God's people and begins to press beyond Israel's boundaries As long as Jesus talked about "other people," his message was terrific. His popularity ended when he started talking about the people in the room.
We know now that moments of prophetic courage in public spaces are so rare. When we embrace the prophetic call as followers of Christ, we reclaim the gospel from those who would distort, diminish, and demonize it. Our call is to follow Jesus in word and deed. His example invites us to be firm when confronting powers and principalities at odds with the will and kindom of God. His ministry demonstrates a path for us to pursue justice, truth, righteousness, and abiding peace "in the midst" of despair, distraction, and division. Even when that means speaking the truth and then going through the "mist."
Based on Luke 4:21-30
Music this week:
You Are My Rock
Every Day
Eagle’s Wings
Show Me Your Ways
El Shaddai
Bread for the Journey