He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom.
Luke 4:16
Jesus went to church. It was his custom.
Sometimes I wonder why he bothered? It couldn’t have been all that entertaining. No live band. No high tech media systems. I’m sure the preacher went way too long, and didn’t have much use for clever metaphors and stories. After all, this wasn’t the big mega synagogue in Jerusalem, this was a dingy, old synagogue in Nazareth, a small town 64 miles to the North.
But a church isn’t all about the building and the “stuff”, it’s about the people, right? I’m sure Jesus made it a custom to worship at the synagogue for the sense of community. Let’s talk about the people for a moment. These were the people he grew up with. They helped raise him. They knew his parents Joseph and Mary. I’m sure it came as a surprise to Jesus when they tried to kill him (read on in Luke 4). I’ve preached a lot of bad sermons in my career, but no one has ever tried to kill me afterwards.
He didn’t go to church to meet girls. I’m pretty sure he was committed to single hood.
He didn’t go for the free childcare.
He didn’t go for the free coffee.
What was the reason? “It was his custom.” It appears Jesus was committed to attending church. I guess it makes sense. Jesus said he would build the church (Mt. 16:18). Paul said Jesus is the head of the church (Col. 1:18). The body of Christ is the church (1 Cor. 12:27).
How important is church in the life of a Christian? If we are to take our cues from Jesus, the answer to that question is rather obvious.