The Providence, Provision, and Protection of God – Br. James Koester

Br. James Koester

Jeremiah 1: 4–10
Psalm 71: 1–6 1
Corinthians 13: 1-1 3
Luke 4:21–30

It all started out so well, Jesus, in the synagogue, in his hometown. No doubt, the benches were full that Sabbath morning, as would have been usual. Maybe people knew that Jesus, and some of his pals, had come home for a visit. They had perhaps heard that Jesus had seen, as perhaps they had, that crazed and crazy John the Baptist down the Jordan valley[1]. They might even have known that Jesus was just back from spending six weeks, alone, in the desert[2]. They might have heard that Jesus had taken up as a wandering teacher and preacher, and was developing quite a reputation[3]. They knew that something was going on out there, in the world beyond their little village on the top of a hill. But they may not have connected this kid, now the grown man sitting among them, with anything more than a wayward come home. As I said, it all started so well, and in fact, except for some mild curiosity, so routine.

But slowly things began to take a turn. It wasn’t that Jesus was asked to read the lesson from the prophets that day.[4]We do that, and no one gets excited! No, nothing unusual was happening. There was nothing to be excited about.

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Jeremiah and Luke on Vocation – Br. David Allen

Jer. 1:4-10 / Lk. 4:21-30

Both the readings from Jeremiah and from the Gospel for today have something to tell us about vocation. The passage from Jeremiah tells us about the call of God to the reluctant young Jeremiah to become a Prophet.   The Gospel reading tells us about Jesus proclaiming to the people of Nazareth his vocation to be a prophet. Read More