Offensive

By the time he visits Nazareth, Jesus has already made enemies of the Jewish religious leaders. Later, he will so concern the secular powers of the Roman Empire that they will put him to death. At various times, some of Jesus’ own disciples and other followers will argue with him or find his perspective problematic. That the crowd in Nazareth is also offended by Jesus highlights the inherent offensiveness of his message. If even the people who are most like Jesus, who are most able to sympathize with him and understand where he is coming from-if even they are offended by Jesus, then no one is safe from being offended. And if we are truly interested in continuing to hear and learn from Jesus-no matter who we are-we, then, must increase our capacity for being offended. Jesus eventually will offend us all.
- From "Offensive", the sermon preached by the Reverend Peter D. Thompson, Vicar, on The Seventh Sunday After Pentecost, Sunday, July 7, 2024. Watch the entire sermon here.