Long-Expected?

Re:Verse passage – Luke 7:18-35 (day two)

For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon!’ 34 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ v. 33-34

At the beginning of our passage this week, John’s disciples ask the question of Jesus that continues to follow him today. “Are you the long-expected one?” Jesus’ declaration of his Lordship also came with a warning: The Messiah will never be what you expect him to be. With John he was too ascetic; Jesus was too worldly. People will say they are looking for something, but their criteria is often too narrow. How can you conceive of a savior? A King who welcomes all to redemption. Is there a man holy enough, or one who will connect with every sinner? We will get it wrong every time when we try to construct God in our image. It can’t work; and if we are honest with ourselves, we wouldn’t want it to work that way. Jesus continued to meet people, to love them, to call them to righteousness through himself. Jesus is the only one who never disappoints. The long wait is over. Jesus has come.

Monday Re:Vlog – 1/5/26

Re:Verse passage – Luke 7:18-35 (day one)

Join us as Senior Pastor Chris Johnson, Associate Pastor Aaron Hufty, and Associate Pastor Bryan Richardson walk us through Luke 7:18-35  in our Advent Re:Verse Series: “Luke: Long-Expected.”

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Spirit Power

Re:Verse passage – Luke 4:14-30 (day seven)

And Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit. Luke 4:14

What happens before this moment is as paramount to the text as what happens in the passage itself. Just before this, Jesus defeats Satan and temptation after being pushed to his physical limits. He returns from this in the Power of the Spirit. God did not need the Spirit to bring the Son into glory, but Jesus needed the Spirit to defeat temptation without relying on His deity. Jesus was tempted as we are, and He overcame that temptation without sinning, not because He is God, but because He relied on the Holy Spirit. He laid out the battle plan for us.

Do you desire to do big things for Jesus? The battle plan is simple. Fight sin. Fight with Scripture. Fight with prayer. When you win, you will feel a Spirit power unlike any other. A feeling of accomplishment that could lead you to run through a wall for God. Ride the momentum and keep on defeating sin again and again until it runs from you. This is what it feels like to walk in the power of the Spirit. This was the long-expected power that would come to change the tide of the war. If Jesus needed this power of the Spirit, how much more do you?

Division

Re:Verse passage – Luke 4:14-30 (day six)

Luke’s purpose in this scene is unmistakable. As Bryan has already noted, Simeon prophesied that Jesus would be a sign that would be opposed; a dividing line running straight through the human heart. Luke wants us to see that division take shape in real time in Jesus’ hometown, the place you would least expect.

At first, the people of Nazareth are impressed. They marvel at his words. But admiration quickly turns to offense. Why? Because Jesus refuses to be reduced to a hometown hero or a comforting religious voice. He declares that God’s salvation is not controlled by familiarity, ethnicity, or entitlement. By pointing to Elijah and Elisha, Jesus makes it clear: God’s mercy has always reached beyond expected boundaries, often bypassing those who assume it belongs to them.

This is where the tension erupts. Jesus is not a novelty to admire; he is the promised Messiah who demands a response. Luke presses the question on every reader: Will you receive him on his terms, or reject him because he refuses to conform to yours?

There is no neutral ground.

Rhythms and Habits

Re:Verse passage – Luke 4:14-30 (day five)

“And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read.”

I am again struck by the habits and rhythms of Jesus (and his family) to worship and grow spiritually. It’s no accident that they were instituted for these very purposes. As we begin 2026, what rhythms and habits will you resolve to routinely and repeatedly practice (for yourself and family) to grow and deepen your/their faith?

Let me suggest six:
• I will read weekly. (Re:Verse Scriptures)
• I will gather regularly. (Bible Study & Worship)
• I will give generously.
• I will pray faithfully.
• I will serve enthusiastically.
• I will live missionally.

Expected

Re:Verse passage – Luke 4:14-30 (day four)

This is such an interesting text for Jesus to site at the beginning of his ministry. It is no soft introduction to who the Son of Man truly is. He deliberately states, in front of the community he grew up in, that he is the fulfillment of the prophets. He’s not only a great and respected man, but he is the One whom they have waited for. As we move towards Epiphany, this is the reality that we celebrate – Jesus is more than anyone thought he was; he is the Son of God.

Not only is he boldly stating his identity as the fulfillment of the prophets, he’s reminding them exactly who the prophets said would come – one who declares deliverance to the destitute. This claim responds to what his mother stated in her song during her pregnancy,

He has brought down rulers from their thrones, And has exalted those who were humble. He has filled the hungry with good things; And sent away the rich empty-handed. Luke 1:52-53

This is a message of profound hope for some, and a bitter, countercultural pill to swallow for others. This Messiah is long-expected, yet nothing like what many expected. Who are you expecting?

Expectant

Re:Verse passage – Luke 4:14-30 (day three)

And he closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him.

The Christ was long-expected, and now all eyes turned to him expectantly. Not all knew or believed him to be the Christ, but the expectancy remained. Curiosity was high, and so was skepticism. Ears were listening, but ears were also filtering. Silence invited Jesus to speak, and silence also gave space for the formulation of opposing arguments. This is exactly the dichotomy which Simeon had prophesied: this child is destined to cause the rising of many in Israel, and this child is destined to cause the falling of many in Israel. Loved and hated, welcomed and scorned, praised and cursed, embraced and pierced. Here is Jesus. Who is it you see?

As Was His Custom

Re:Verse passage – Luke 4:14-30 (day two)

And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read. v. 16

I referenced this verse in the Re:Vlog yesterday, and I want to re-visit it today. As we stand on the dawn of the new year, this passage serves as an excellent reminder to recommit to gathering together as the body of Christ each and every week. So much of what we do as a fellowship is outwardly focused, and rightly so. We are called to make disciples, to go and tell, to spread the good news. Jesus reminds us that we are also called to a local body of believers. We gather together (REGULARLY) to glorify God and to equip one another for the work we are called to do outside the walls of the church. Jesus demonstrated that this practice of worship was not abrogated by his work in the streets, towns, and countrysides. Rather, it was an opportunity to honor God the Father. In all things, let us strive to be more like Jesus.

Monday Re:Vlog – 12/29/25

Re:Verse passage – Luke 4:14-30 (day one)

Join us as Senior Pastor Chris Johnson, Associate Pastor Aaron Hufty, and Associate Pastor Bryan Richardson walk us through Luke 4:14-30  in our Advent Re:Verse Series: “Luke: Long-Expected.”

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As Was Supposed

Re:Verse passage – Luke 2:4-7; 3:23, 31-34, 38 (day seven)

[…] as was supposed, the son of Joseph […] Luke 3:2

We know that the “supposed” signifies that Joseph was not the biological father of Jesus. Though not biological, Joseph still passed the test of historical lineage that would be necessary for the earthly father of the Christ. Joseph and Mary both could trace their lineage through the accounts of the Old Testament, all the way to Adam. Joseph gave Jesus the legal lineage that would connect the Messiah through the entirety of the Old Testament, and namely, an heir to the throne of Israel.

Yet, this “supposed” also shows us something else beautiful and poetic in the life of this family. Joseph adopted Jesus, and everyone around them supposed that Joseph was Jesus’ father. Joseph became the father that Jesus needed to guide Him through the beginning of His earthly life. He took Jesus in, mentored Him, discipled Him in both carpentry and the Law, and showed Him what a Godly human life looks like. Joseph adopted the Son who would make it possible for you to be adopted by the Father.

The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. Romans 8:16-17