Sunday Services:
Sunday School: 9:45 am
Worship: 10:55 am
Directions to Cedar Cliff UMC: Map
From I-85/40 (Graham). Travel south 8 miles on NC-87 towards Pittsboro. Turn left onto Cedar Cliff Rd. Church is 1/2 mile on right
Please come visit us and our church family!
Greetings from Cedar Cliff UMC to our friends on Facebook! Good News!
Today’s scripture readings come from Isaiah 61:1-3, Psalm 10, and Luke 4:14-21. Jimmy preached on the latter, a continuation of the events that began in last week’s reading. When Jesus was baptized, he was identified as the Son of God and filled with the Holy Spirit; he embraced and owned his mission: who he was and what he was to do. He was tempted in the desert and did not turn from the Lord. Last Sunday, we learned that our baptism was all about OUR identity as well, about who WE are: the sons and daughters of God, the Lord Almighty who made us and gave us free will to choose this new life.
And in today’s scripture, which takes place after he comes out of the desert, Jesus is still filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. He returns to his hometown of Nazareth, where everyone knew him from the time he was a boy, knew his family, seen him in the synagogue every Sabbath for worship and prayer. The people had heard these words before, hundreds of times. Could they have even anticipated what was about to take place before their very eyes, to hear him speak with the power and authority with which he spoke that day? I think, not.
I invite you to read the entire passage from Luke 4:14-21 for yourself. Open up your Bible and read it! Then imagine the scene: the room becomes silent. The scroll is given to Jesus. He unrolls it until he finds the place he will read (Isaiah 61:1-2). And after he reads it, he says “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” He rolls the scroll back up, gives it to the attendant, and sits down. “The eyes of everyone… were fastened on him”. … (big pause … take a breath!)
Read the rest of the chapter because it is difficult to stop right there. Jesus has just proclaimed to everyone in that synagogue that the Spirit of the Lord was upon him, that he was anointed (baptized) to preach the good news to the poor (not just financially poor), to proclaim freedom for prisoners (not just those behind bars), to heal the blind (not just physically blind), to release the oppressed (not just those treated cruelly by their governments). This is not the Jesus they knew… this man is speaking with power. He is the mature Son of God now, telling the public who he is. He has just given power a new definition.
This is what power really looks like, Jimmy told us today. It’s not the kind of power that focuses on our own accomplishments, our own wealth, our own influences… rather it’s what that power accomplishes for others. Jesus’ first sermon is about what he will do for others, for those who are pushed aside in their society. God sees us all, loves us all, and promises to redeem us all. And because we are the Body of Christ, we are the ones with the heart of Jesus. Because of our baptism, we have begun a new life through Jesus Christ. Guess what he wants US to do? It’s uncomfortable to hear this, I know. (It is for me, I’ll admit this up front.)
That fulfillment of scripture continues through us. Today! Cedar Cliff UMC church has not forgotten her part in this mission. Thanks to our church, over $39,000 went out into the community and into the world to help others. There are people in our community who are not hungry, their gas is paid for this winter, and they have medicine they need because of this Body of Christ. People go to SAFE for food, children at BEJ take home food for the weekends. Mothers can go to A Heart’s Cry in Graham for their babies’ needs because of the UMW ministry. Allied Churches provides meals to the hungry. There are other ministries in which we are active … the heart of Jesus touches many people who thought nobody cared. We are to BE this way, reaching out to others with the Power of Jesus Christ! Embrace the mission. Own it. That’s what power looks like and sounds like. Jesus was… and is … as you and I are meant to be. Thanks be to God. Amen and Amen!!
Thank you for your faithfulness, Lord and thank YOU Cedar Cliff family and friends for your faithfulness in our ministries.