life on the fringe

When Jesus begins to preach in the synagogue at Nazareth, people are amazed. They begin to praise him. That is, until he challenges them.

He reminds them of two moments in Israelite history, when the prophets caused miracles for Gentiles. He reminds them that Elijah stretched the provisions of a starving widow and Elisha cured the leprosy of a Syrian military commander.

When they hear it, they’re enraged; they drive him from the town and attempt to throw him off a cliff. (That’s pretty mad, if you ask me.)

We’re just as threatened by this Jesus. He tells us that God’s grace isn’t only for those in the pews. He pushes us to consider God’s love for those we don’t want to consider, for those who have been left out, ostracized, abandoned.

In just a few chapters, he will instruct his disciples to go out onto the highway and find those who are lost, lonely, and hungry and bring them into a wedding feast. Can you imagine your wedding flooded with such unsavory guests (and how they must smell!)?

Jesus reminds us that God’s grace is lavished on those who live on the fringes, and he sends us out to befriend them in his name. Can you imagine Jesus’ churches filled again? It will happen when we begin to care more about those who are not here yet than we do for ourselves. We will all have to be transformed. Oh, what a life we will share! Want more? Click here to readLuke 4:20-30.