Jesus Reading Scripture and Children's Ministry

We’re in the late part of January and sometimes this can feel like no man’s land. It’s cold, dark and no holidays are happening until Valentine’s Day. No wonder people are so excited to stay inside, eat lots of greasy food and watch football and hockey. We can be in hibernation mode and yet when we do that we can miss so much.

Yesterday, plunked in the lectionary, was a story that seems like no big deal. It is Luke 4:14-21. Jesus has just returned to Nazareth where he was raised after finishing extensive teaching in the area. His reputation has traveled all around the countryside. Like any good Jewish man, he goes to synagogue on the Sabbath where he is handed the scroll of Isaiah to read to the people gathered there.

Bible scholar Joe Amaral points out on p. 33 of his book Understanding Jesus: Cultural Insights into the Words and Deeds of Christ that what was read in the synagogue for worship was chosen on rotation from the Torah or Pentateuch (Genesis through Deuteronomy), along with a reading from the prophets, similar to our lectionary of today. This was not a random passage Jesus was given but one selected well in advance for that day. The standardized list of passages was set and is still used in Jewish worship. I wonder - Did Jesus know this was what he would be reading? Did he plan ahead to make sure he was there that day?

Jesus reads this: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has chosen me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed and announce that the time has come when the Lord will save his people,” (Luke 4:18-19, Good News Bible). He then rolls up the scroll, gives it to the attendant and, instead of preaching about it as would normally happen, he just sits down. Joe Amaral believes that he sat in Moses’ seat, which was reserved for the Messiah. Everyone is staring at him, at which point he says for further punctuation, “This passage of scripture has come true today, as you heard it being read,” (Luke 4:21, Good News Bible). 

What does this have to do with children’s ministry? For me, God’s planning first and foremost. Jesus has returned home and tells his community who he is at the front of the synagogue. He is himself the sermon that day. To make it absolutely clear to anyone who didn’t get it yet, he tells them that he is the one the scripture talked about. I’m not surprised that some people didn’t take kindly to him saying he was the Messiah. But God paved the way and had planned far, far in advance for all of this to happen. Our ministries and those who come do not happen by accident. God has a plan and is moving through us and we need to be paying attention.

Jesus is the Word made flesh and he showed himself to be the living, breathing Word of God. How often when we are sharing God’s Word do we breathe life into it? Do we remember that it is alive, and that Christ embodied the words we read and share? that Jesus studied the Torah and knew it inside out and backwards so he could debate his critics? that he took his role of teacher seriously and taught in ways that got people’s attention and powerfully pointed to God?

And we are the body of Christ, so all of the words that Jesus said should really apply to us as well. Yesterday in worship our minister had all of us stand up and repeat these words back to him at the close of his sermon. It was powerful.

We are called to do all of these things, and in particular to share them with the often struggling and broken children and families that come to us week to week. Do we take announcing the good news to them seriously? Do we recognize the things that hold them captive (bullying, video games, unrealistic images of perfection, etc.) and gently show a better way and a God who loves them no matter what? Do we help them to see what the world would rather they not? Do we model and share freedom, and a God who saves them from whatever they are facing? Do we own these words for ourselves, knowing they are spoken over us as leaders as well? We walk in the same freedom.

Pray this week for the ability to allow the Spirit of God to come upon you, gently showing you what has been planned, giving you the words of comfort and security to share, breathing life into God’s Word and teaching in a way that they will be amazed by God. Pray for all those who are captive and oppressed, and likely a challenge because of it, and to have open eyes and a soft heart to show the Way.