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Tyndale University presents a series of recorded chapel services from Tyndale's very own faculty and guest speakers.
A reading from Luke Chapter 4. Luke 4, beginning at verse 14. Jesus returned to Galilee. And the power of the spirit. And news about him spread throughout the whole countryside. He was teaching in their synagogues and everyone praised him. He went to Nazareth. Where he had been brought up. On the Sabbath day, he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read. The scroll of the Prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written. The spirit of the Lord is on me because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, and proclaim the year of the Lord's favor. He then rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing. This is the word of the Lord. Let's pray. Almighty God to you all hearts are open, all desires known, from you no secrets are hidden. Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you. And worthily magnify your holy name through Christ our Lord. Amen.
It was a hot day in Atlanta. Kamal Medlock was standing out in the sunshine. In his cap and gown. It was graduation day at Morehouse College, June 2019. And like most American universities, they held their ceremonies outside. Kamal was happy but uncomfortable in the sweltering heat. And he was proud but a little apprehensive about the future. I don't need to tell you that a university education is costly. And Kamal had piled up $80,000 in student debt. It's just over 111,000 Canadian if you're wondering. And he knew things were gonna be tight. He was gonna have to be very careful. About how he spent his money. If he was going to get that burden off his back. And the graduation speaker that day was a billionaire, named Robert F Smith and he talked for way too long. He went on for 35 minutes. Kamal's sweating in his black graduation robes and growing more impatient with every word. But then all of a sudden Robert Smith changed Kamal's life. He announced at the end of his speech that he was going to eliminate the student debt of every person in the graduating class that year. It's on YouTube if you want to look it up and see the shocked faces of the students when this happened. For Kamal and his classmates, that meant $34 million worth of debt was erased with a few words by someone who had the power to make it happen.
Now. If you or I had stood up and made that promise it wouldn't have meant much. Because we do not have those kind of resources. At least I don't think there's anyone here who's got 34 million to spare. If you do, please raise your hand because the president would love to speak to you after the service. But if a billionaire says it, you know. This is something he can actually do. The right word spoken by the right person can make all the difference. Now the Old Testament law prescribed a way for the Israelites to deal with debt the year of Jubilee, set out in Leviticus 25. And this great festival was to be inaugurated by the sounding of the trumpet on the day of Atonement in the 50th year. That is, after a Sabbath of Sabbath years, because every 7th year they were supposed to observe a Sabbath year and the land was supposed to rest, and then after seven of those Sabbath years, in other words, after 7 cycles of seven years, they were to have this year of Jubilee, and it was going to be a great time of freedom and release and a kind of reset of Israelite society when things would go back to the way it was when they first settled the land, the promised land at that time is read about in the book of Joshua. Each tribe was given its portion of the land and each family within each tribe was given their allotment. And each tribe had its territory. Each family had its place within that territory, and the land was their collective inheritance from the Lord. They were supposed to remember. It wasn't really their land to do with whatever they whatever they pleased, it was God's land. And so Leviticus 25 23 says the land must not be sold permanently because the land is mine. You are but aliens and my tenants. Of that being the case, why? Why would someone bother to sell their land at all? Well people sometimes make mistakes. Sometimes they get into financial trouble. And if you have debts and you're desperate and you run out of cash, what's left to do? Sell your land. Your family inheritance, that might be the only solution. Now, if that were you were in that situation, according to Leviticus 25, you were not supposed to sell permanently. You're supposed to sell temporarily, and you're supposed to set the price according to how many years are left before the year of the Jubilee. But the whole sort of bottom line of this system was that if someone was so desperate that they had to sell off their family inheritance, they knew it wasn't gone forever. They or their children were going to have it restored. They were going to get that inheritance back. But what have you already sold your property? What if you're still drowning in debt? Well, in those times, the next move of desperation would be to sell yourself. As a slave. But Leviticus 25 23 says or not 20 verse 23, but somewhere in Leviticus 25 it says if one of your countrymen becomes poor among you and sells himself to you. Do not make him work as a slave. He's to be treated as a hired worker or a temporary resident among you. He is to work until the year of the Jubilee and then he and his children are to be released and go back to his own clan, into the property of his forefathers, because the Israelites are my servants whom I brought out of Egypt, they must not be sold as slaves. Not only did God not want his people enslaving one another. But he wanted to put a limit on how far a person and how far a family could fall into intergenerational poverty. And in that Jubilee year, all debts were to be canceled. All property was to be returned. And everyone wants to go back home, back to their ancestral home. Back to that land that God had gifted them and everyone was supposed to remember then that everything they had was a gift from God to be received with gratitude. And treasured as a sacred trust.
Now I don't know if the Israelites ever observed the year of Jubilee, or if they did, how widely it was observed. According to second chronicles 36, they failed to observe the Sabbath years regularly, so it's not likely they observed the Jubilee regularly. It may have been an ideal they never lived up to, but nevertheless they knew this was God's law. They knew this was God's will for Israel, and when Isaiah prophesied in Isaiah 61 about this coming year of the Lord's favor, they would have heard an echo of something like a jubilee year, a prophecy about a return to something like that. Good news for the poor, freedom for the captives and the oppressed. Now the people. Who gathered in the synagogue at Nazareth when Jesus came to town that day. They knew all that. They knew about the Jubilee. They knew about the prophecy of Isaiah. They heard that passage, read many times, and they knew Jesus. Luke tells us it was his custom. To attend synagogue and this is his hometown synagogue. He's been there many Sabbaths before. He's been there hundreds of times actually. So you have a familiar passage and you have a familiar person reading it, but something was different that day. Jesus, the Jesus they knew had been attracting a lot of attention. He'd pass through the waters of baptism. He passed through the temptation in the desert, and he had started to inaugurate his ministry, and in the power of the Spirit, Luke tells us at the bginning of our passage. He was teaching in synagogues all throughout Galilee, and news is spreading about him. And everyone was praising him. So now he returned to his hometown as a teacher who's gained their reputation. And he stands up to read the scriptures, the spirit of the Lord is on me. Because he's anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor, he sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free and proclaimed the year of the Lord's favor. And of course, these words would characterize the ministry that Jesus was inaugurating right there in their midst. He was gonna proclaim the good, the gospel to the poor. He was gonna proclaim liberty to the oppressed. He was gonna give sight to the blind. But all of these things were signs of his authority. They pointed towards a greater fulfillment. When all things would be set right, he came announcing the Kingdom of God was at hand. The true the greater the final jubilee was coming. Truly good news and this proclamation in the synagogue and the day on that day. In Nazareth was like the sound of the trumpet announcing the year of Jubilee, the year of the Lord's favor.
Today, he says, this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing. I know you got yourself into a lot of trouble, Israel. I know you have debts you cannot pay. But today the debts are going to be canceled. The inheritance is prepared, though it's not maybe what you expected through me you can have what God has always wanted you to have. They knew the text, they knew about the Jubilee. They knew Jesus. But they weren't ready to receive his word. The passage goes on and they say, isn't this Joseph's son? We know this guy. Who does he think he is? The episode soon turns turns violent. They chase him to the edge of town. They try to throw him off a Cliff. His word was so shocking and so controversial because he was saying I I am actually bringing to pass what the Lord promised through Isaiah. I am the one on whom the spirit rests. I am the anointed one. I am the Messiah. He was saying he had the power. He had the authority to make it happen. His words carried weight. Usually we think talk is cheap. Sometimes it is. Anybody remember what the candidates promised in the last election? Doesn't matter which election federal, municipal, provincial it's it's the same every time, right? They they make promises to get elected. They tell us what we want to hear. We believe it because we want to believe it. But a campaign promise is not a law. They don't have to keep them, and often they don't keep them, and usually by the time the next election comes around, we don't even remember what they promised. And we're not that bothered by it. So we think talk is cheap and part of the reason, of course they don't keep those promises is because it's easy to make promises when you're not in power. It's easy to talk about what needs to be done when you don't have the responsibility for doing it and once you get into power, you realize things are complicated. The cold hard truths set in and you know you can't give everyone what they want. And once you hold a position of authority, you have to watch what you say, because now you have the burden of that office. Your words carry the weight of that office.
And when a judge pronounces her verdict in a courtroom, wearing her robes, and the accused and the crown and the defense attorney is there and the all the witnesses and the officials in the courtroom. Every eye is on her. Every ear is turned to hear what she's about to say, because once she pronounces that verdict, it has legal force and it's going to change the life of that accused one way or the other. Now, if that same judge walks out the door and tries to command the sun to shine. Nothing will happen. Her words have no power over the sun. But when Jesus proclaimed a new era of freedom and forgiveness and favor, it meant something. When God the Son says it, it happens. And the King of Kings releases prisoners. They are free when the Lord of Lords declares this is the year of the Lord's favor. It is the year of the Lord's favor. And maybe you already know all of this. Maybe you already know that the debts are paid. Maybe you already know and experience the freedom of the gospel. But we all need to hear it again. And again. Because we're all prone to doubt, we're all prone to wonder in the midst of trials temptations, sometimes, frankly, just in the midst of the monotony of day-to-day life, we forget the deep truths of the Gospel needs to be spoken. It needs to be heard. That's why week in and week out. We gather as the people of God to hear the word of God read and expounded. Because when we gather as God's people in his name. Drawing near with faith when we seek the voice of God and the word of God. By the spirit of God. God speaks and when God speaks things happen. Because the word of God is a word of power, it's a word of truth, word of life, a word of authority, a word that carries weight. And when we center our worship life on the public proclamation of God's word, we're showing by the very rhythms of our life together that we do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. And when that word is read publicly in the midst of God's people so that every ear can hear it. We show that we are all accountable to that one word. The preacher included. The gospel word has authority because it's God's word but it needs to be heard. There's a reason you can't get married by mail. You have to be present. The properly licensed officiant has to make the declaration out loud with witnesses there to hear it. And they have to attest that they've heard it. They've heard those vows and they've heard it said. With the power invested in me. I now pronounce you husband and wife. Without that public proclamation, it has not happened. But once those words are said, that's the moment when the marriage has been solemnized. The right word spoken by the right person. So when Jesus began his ministry and he made that dramatic proclamation in the synagogue in Nazareth and he said this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing, it wasn't just talk, it was the start of a new age, the age of the gospel. We are still living in that age. We are still living in the year of the Lord's favor. That's the description of gospel time. We all need to hear Jesus proclaim those words again. And again. His words carry weight. It's the same one who says this is the year of the Lord's favor is the very same one who is coming to judge the living and the dead. These are not idle words, they're not empty promises either. The words of our God of our king, of our savior, of our judge. You can trust his voice because his word is his act. So hear him today. Hear him. In the word proclaimed. In the word. Represented. At his table. Receive his word rests in the freedom. Of the gospel. He's saying to us today, now is the time. Now is the day of salvation. Now is the day of liberty. No matter what trouble you got yourself into. I know you have debts you can't pay. But I got good news. I’m taking care of that, you're free. I'm going to give you everything I've always wanted to give you. To come home. Your inheritance is restored. In the name of the father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
So we continue with the communion service. I'm going to invite you to follow along with the liturgy on the screen and you can read the yellow type. I will read the white. Christ our Lord, invites to his table all who love him, who earnestly repent of their sin, and seek to live in peace with one another. Therefore, let us confess our sins before God and one another. Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you. In thought, word and deed by what we have done by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us. That we may delight in your will and walk in your ways to the glory of your name. Amen.
Almighty God, have mercy upon us. Forgive all our sins for our Lord Jesus Christ. Strengthen us in all goodness by the power of the Holy Spirit. Keep us in eternal life. Amen. The peace of the Lord be always with you. I invite you to stand and say to your neighbor that peace of Christ be with you. If you're comfortable, you can share a sign of Christ's peace nod of the head, a handshake, a bow perhaps. Please remain standing as we pray the Lord be with you. Lift up your hearts. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right and a good and joyful thing always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth. You formed us in your image and breathed into us the breath of life. When we turned away and our love failed. Your love remains steadfast. You delivered us from captivity, made covenant to be our sovereign God, and spoke to us through the prophets. And so with your people on Earth and all the company of heaven, we praise your name and join in their unending hymn. Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of Power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest holy are you, and blessed is your son Jesus Christ. Your spirit anointed him to preach good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed and to announce that the time had come when you would save your people. He healed the sick, fed the hungry and ate with sinners by the baptism of his suffering, death and resurrection. You gave birth to your church, delivered us from slavery to sin and death, and made with us a new covenant by water and the spirit. When the Lord Jesus ascended, he promised to be with us always in the power of your word and Holy Spirit. The night in which he gave himself up for us, he took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples and said take eat. This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me. And the supper was over. He took the cup, gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples and said. Drink from this all of you. This is my blood of the new covenant poured out for you and for many, for the forgiveness of sins. Do this as often as you drink it in remembrance of me. And so in remembrance of these, your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, we offer ourselves in praise and Thanksgiving. As a holy and living sacrifice in union with Christ's offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of Faith, Christ has died, Christ is risen. Christ will come again. Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here and on these gifts of bread and wine. Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ, that we may be for the world. The body of Christ, redeemed by his blood. And now, with the confidence of children of God, let us pray. Our father, who art in heaven. Hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day Our Daily Bread. Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us and lead us not into temptation. Deliver us from evil. For thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory. The bread which we break is a sharing in the body of Christ. Though we are many, we are one body because we all share one bread. The cup over which we give thanks is a sharing in the blood of Christ. By his blood, he ransomed us from every tribe and language and nation. Jesus said I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. Taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed are those who take refuge in him, you may be seated and ask the servers to come forward.
You can come forward to receive from the center aisle and return from the other side, starting at the beginning.
Please stand as we pray. Heavenly Father, we thank you for nourishing us, welcoming us at your table, nourishing us with the riches of your grace, uniting us as living members of the body of Christ, and assuring us that we are heirs of your Kingdom. Empower us by your Holy Spirit to offer up our bodies daily as living sacrifices made holy and acceptable in your sight through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Glory to God, whose power working in us can do infinitely more than we ask or imagine. Glory to God from generation to generation in the church and in Christ Jesus, forever and ever, Amen. And now may the peace of God which passes all understanding. Keep our hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God and of his son Jesus Christ our Lord. And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the son and the Holy Spirit be among us and remain with us always. Amen. Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.