Cases of misheard song lyrics are often hilarious, and we likely all have a story or two to prove that point. I have too many stories to mention myself, but have you ever heard an old song from your younger years, only to be appalled by the lyrics you didn’t really know? All that time you had missed a double meaning when you listened to it regularly, or you thought for sure that line said something different. If you had known, it would not have been a song you claimed you loved. The realization puts a stain on it, and you begin to question your own judgement in other things, as well.  

‍

In today’s Scripture, Jesus offers a moment of clarity for his hometown crowd in his attempt to help them understand that it was he they had been waiting for and clarify why he had come. Let us set the scene a bit: People who had known Jesus, for at least a good portion of his life, are standing around him in the synagogue. He is the appointed teacher for that day, he reads the key Scriptures, and then he teaches their significance to the crowd gathered.  

‍

It is important to note that the only access to the written Word in that day would have been in the synagogue. So, while these words were well known or even memorized, the Scriptures would have been in the religious leaders’ possession. I can imagine them smirking when Jesus began reading and nodding along knowingly and even looking a bit smug as if to say, “Sweet little Jesus, I wonder what he thinks he’s going to teach us on this passage.” I picture some even mouthing the words along with him like it’s their favorite Scripture. Then, Jesus hands the scroll back to the attendant, and continues into his teaching. He says, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing” (insert record scratch sound effect here). Like that line in their favorite song, they’d never quite heard before. I imagine the religious leaders saying to themselves, “Excuse me. WHAT?!” Most continue to nod along, yet, as Jesus continues, they get increasingly frustrated and angry. It’s as if he got their favorite song all wrong, but, of course, on a much greater scale.  

‍

Jesus continues making it clear that his message is for all – the poor, captive, blind, oppressed – not just the Jew. The scene escalates quickly, and as we read on through Luke 4:30, they drive Jesus out and try to throw him off a cliff. Jesus, being true to his word that he is God, passes through their midst and goes away from them.  

‍

What was it about Jesus’ words that was so terrible to their ears? Clarity, correction, and exposed pride. Have you ever been listening to a sermon and been convicted of something in your own life so strongly that you were sure someone had been spying on you and was now passive-aggressively calling you out? You had almost convinced yourself there was not really a problem, but then there it is, glaring at you, begging to be dealt with in real time? Maybe it was a prejudice you held or a stance that was not Biblical. Whatever the case may be, one thing we know is that Jesus knows the hearts of his audience. He knew, culturally and individually, the prejudice each Jew held in their heart toward the Gentiles. So, for Jesus to proclaim that he is the Messiah and his message is for all people would have been offensive and caused quite the uproar. Jesus knew they would not be able to comprehend how they had gotten his coming wrong. They would be indignant in being corrected, yet Jesus’ word remained ever true and unchanging from the ancient text of Isaiah 61.  

‍

Have you ever asked yourself if you have put Jesus in a neat little box? If Jesus fits neatly into your idea of who God is and never causes you to question your stance or belief about anything, you may be guilty of this. Jesus did not fit the religious leaders’ idea of who the Messiah would be. He was far more gracious than they even wanted. Have you been there? God, give me all the grace, but that guy…smite him! To live the life we deeply desire, it will require letting go of some pre-conceived notions of who we think God is. To have a right and true understanding of God and His character, we must be able to identify where we’ve gotten “the lyrics” wrong.

As we kick off this new series, “The Life You Want,” ask yourself where you may be holding onto your “misheard song lyrics.” Jesus longs to be known and to make himself known in your life, yet we must allow him to correct us to get to the intimate relationship and life we desire in him. Take some time today to reflect on any area where you may have gotten God wrong. Ask him to correct your song lyrics so you can rightly sing and rejoice in who he is.