Dear Christian friends:

We all know people who refuse to believe in Jesus, who reject Jesus, and thus God’s call. We can understand why people reject Jesus, because we also are tempted to reject Him and sometimes do reject Him. The Bible teaches that Jesus offends all people as they are by nature. Jesus says, "Blessed is he who shall not be offended in Me." (Matthew 11:6) And St. Paul says that the preaching of the cross is an offense to proud natural man. (1 Cor. 1:18; 2:24)

Our text tells us about the people of Nazareth who rejected Jesus when He came to preach to them. We also are at risk. We still have our old evil nature and we live among people who reject Jesus all the time. We need to become aware of our old sinful nature and think about that so that we are not deceived, but, instead, grow in faith and love and loyalty to Jesus through diligent use of the means of faith, the Word and the Sacraments.

I. People who reject Jesus know Him. Only those who know Jesus can reject Him. Millions of people in the world do not believe in Jesus because they have never heard of Him and don't know Him. These people have not rejected Jesus. But those who know Jesus can reject Him; others can't.

A. In our text we read about the people of Nazareth who rejected Jesus. Why? Jesus grew up in that town. He lived there for 28 years. The people knew Jesus' mother and father and His brothers and sisters and they knew Jesus very well. (v.22 and Mark 6:1-6) Although they knew Jesus they rejected Him and tried to kill Him.

B. We, too, know Jesus. We, too, can easily reject Him. We probably know Jesus better than we know people in our families. We all know former church members who have rejected Jesus. Some are pastors! Some at one time were strong and faithful members. Some are children of pastors or children of faithful members. Perhaps some are still members and come to church, but in their heart they reject Jesus. Ward Lamon, Lincoln's body guard claimed that Lincoln had rejected Jesus, and that is why he was often depressed and melancholy. Yes, those who know Jesus can reject Him and are often tempted to reject Him. Beware!

II. Why do people reject Jesus?

A. The people of Nazareth, Jesus' old neighbors and friends rejected Him. Why? Jesus told them that He is the Christ, the Savior God promised through the prophets, the Son of God, the Lord from heaven. (vv. 18-21) But their mind was limited. They couldn't understand that. They asked each other, "Isn't he Joseph's son?" (v.22) They couldn't understand how Joseph's son can also be God's Son. They used only their mind and reason. They refused to believe God's Word. Jesus had quoted to them the writings of the prophet Isaiah which explained how Christ the Savior would preach forgiveness to the humble, heal the sick, give sight to the blind and free the prisoners. (vv.18-19 and Isaiah 61:1-3) Then Jesus told them that Isaiah prophesied about Him. "This day, while you are listening to Me, this prophesy is fulfilled." (v.21) More, they had heard Jesus' preaching and were surprised at His beautiful preaching and wisdom. (v.22) And they had heard about the many miracles He had done in the neighboring towns. But in spite of all this proof, they were offended with Jesus. (v. 22) Their reason could not understand how Jesus could be both God and Man. They refused to hear God's Word, which Jesus preached unto them. Therefore they rejected Jesus. They did not believe the mystery of His incarnation.

B. We also reject Jesus if we fail to hear and believe God's Word in the Bible. That the Word was made flesh. (John 1:14) We must study the prophesies in the Old Testament and then see in the New Testament how they all were fulfilled in Jesus of Nazareth. Pray that God gives us His Holy Spirit through His Word!

III. Those who reject Jesus will finally be rejected by Him.

A. When Jesus saw that the people of Nazareth rejected Him and God's Word He warned them that God would reject them.

1. Jesus reminded the people of Nazareth about how God long ago had rejected their ancestors during the time of Elijah and Elisha. During that time the Jewish people had rejected God and worshipped the false god, Baal. So during Elijah's time God withheld the rain. There was no rain for 3 1/2 years and a great famine came. During that drought God sent Elijah to feed and help a widow in another country, but God helped none of the Jewish widows. He let them starve. And during Elisha's ministry there were many lepers in Israel, and God healed none of them, but God let Elisha heal the leper, Naaman, from another country, Syria. (vv.25-27) Jesus warns the people of Nazareth that God will reject them also if they do not repent.

2. The people of Nazareth refused to listen to Jesus' warning. They refused to repent. Instead, they became angry and tried to kill Jesus. (vv.28-29) But Jesus escaped. (v.30) It was not yet His time to die. "He left that place." (v.30) And Jesus never came back to preach to those people anymore. The people of Nazareth who rejected Jesus are now in hell and will remain there forever.

God wanted to save them. (Luke 12:34) He sent His own dear Son from heaven to go and preach His Word of salvation to them, and to suffer and die on the cross for their sins, too. But they didn't want God's love and forgiveness. They rejected Jesus. Therefore Jesus at last, had to reject them. And He has much sorrow and tears when He must do this.

B. The same is true for us today. If we reject Jesus, then on Judgement Day He will reject us. There is no salvation for those people who reject God's Son, the Savior Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself says to all, "He that believes on the Son has eternal life: and he that believes not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him." (John 3:36)

Now we have heard about the people who reject Jesus. It is a warning of love to all of us.

Conclusion: Let us not become angry like the people of Nazareth. Instead, let us, with honest heart confess our sinful nature and our tendency to offended. Then, when the pastor forgives our sins in Jesus' name, let us not doubt, but believe and rejoice! Let us love God's Word even though natural reason cannot receive it. May God give us His Holy Spirit!

Amen.