They were very, very mad
September 14th, 2008 Posted in General
Luke 4:16-30 Yeah, you’re supposed to read it.
Boy, were they angry! You’ve heard of circle-sentencing and restorative justice? This was circle sentencing… to death! Jesus’ peers, fellow villagers, elders - those he had grown up with and said “Hello” to every morning - they “rose up and thrust him out of the city and they led him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw him down over the cliff.”
What made them so mad?
These people lived in poverty. They were like nobodies under the thumb of a foreign, oppressive government. From their hill, they could look across the valley and see how the rich were building a white limestone and marble city. No doubt, there were sick and dying men, women and perhaps children within their village.
Verse 23-27 (read it)
Jesus basically said: God knows that there are hungry, poor, sick and oppressed people here, but you are not going to be healed. He will not do any miracles here, for you. It would be as if I stood before you and said: God knows how many of you are sick, but the only person he’s healed is an Islamic fighter in Afghanistan; and God knows many of you are poor, but only one person will be miraculously provided for - and that is a Muslim woman in Toronto.
No wonder they were angry!
After all their hoping and waiting for God to send His Messiah, they are told that freedom, health and prosperity are going to be withheld.
Why? Jesus could have gained instant acceptance if he had given his people what they wanted. His claims to kingship would not have been disputed and beginning with Capernaum and Nazareth, he could go from city to city, winning everyone over to His Kingdom.
He could do that here, in Canada, and now, in 2008 too. But have you noticed he doesn’t do that? And isnt’ that what makes so many people so angry with what they call “God” ? That God doesn’t quash all the evil in the world, and that he doesn’t feed all the hungry children in India? That He puts up with evil-doers and withholds his power and miracles which could so easily convince everyone he really exists.
Immediately before these events in Nazareth, Jesus had the very same proposal put to him - “Why not use your powers to make free food, and wow people with your miracles, and rule over them with supreme authority?” These proposals were put to him by the devil himself.
Luke 4:1-16 - you should read it.
Jesus said no. He would not use his power to satisfy our greed, he would not attempt to over-awe use with miracles and he would not reign over the kingdoms of the world and prove everywhere, Beijing, Moscow, Londinium, Rome, the Easter Islands, Arabia, Ethiopia etc etc, that He was ‘in charge’. (You want a king without knowing God…. if you know God, you will have a king)(side point)
Jesus will not use his Glory, authority, power and might to manipulate you - to get your allegiance. (unlike some high flying preachers that dazzle with “miracles”) He simply wants your love, and faith.
God’s mission in this world concerning us is not to save us from all our inconveniences, or display undeniable proof and power so we will believe Him.
He whispers to our hearts….. “Jesus is alive, and offers forgiveness and hope of a clean forever. Will you believe?”
God looks at all of us, and when every sign of him seems to have disappeared from our view, yet we kneel down and pray, He says: Behold, he prays! And the devil can’t say we are only worshipping God because he has over-awed us, or is providing us with treats.
Jesus watches and listens and notes when, regardless of our circumstances, we confess our faith in Him.
John 1:9-13 yup, read it.
