Rejection

Good Morning! 

It seems like I am consistently speaking about the weather here in the Northeast Georgia mountains.  I guess I am getting older and my days are impacted more by what is going on outside than in the past.  When gainfully employed, that which went on outside had little impact on my day.  I would go into the office and work whether it was raining or not. Snow did impact the job … but snow is a rare occurrence here in Georgia.  All this said, yesterday was a tremendous day for a February.  When I got into my car, the outside temperature was 67 degrees (my car has a built-in thermometer).  I played a round of golf in my shirt sleeves … and was comfortable. (I should admit that my fellow golfers were wearing some form of jacket … the wimps.) A great day given by the Lord.

The golfers in my group were two older men (older than me) who are dedicated believers in Christ Jesus. It is refreshing to play a game of golf and not hear expletives when a shot goes awry. The focus was not on what nothing could be done about and on what needed to be done to recover.  And, in my opinion, that is what we should be focused on … both in golf and in life. What is done is done. We should focus on the future … having learned the lessons of the past.

Well, on to the Scripture for today … or better yet, from yesterday.  If you are joining in reading the Gospels, yesterday’s reading was Luke 4.  One of the thoughts that comes is the varied reactions to Christ.  Let’s take a look at the people who lived in His village …

Luke 4:16-30 English Standard Version (ESV)

16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. 17 And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
    because he has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
    and recovering of sight to the blind,
    to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”

20 And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” 22 And all spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth. And they said, “Is not this Joseph's son?” 23 And he said to them, “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘“Physician, heal yourself.” What we have heard you did at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well.’” 24 And he said, “Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown. 25 But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens were shut up three years and six months, and a great famine came over all the land, 26 and Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. 27 And there were many lepers[a] in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” 28 When they heard these things, all in the synagogue were filled with wrath. 29 And they rose up and drove him out of the town and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could throw him down the cliff. 30 But passing through their midst, he went away.

Footnotes:

a.     Luke 4:27 Leprosy was a term for several skin diseases; see Leviticus 13

Contrast this with what happened at Capernaum …

Luke 4:31-37 English Standard Version (ESV)

31 And he went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. And he was teaching them on the Sabbath, 32 and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word possessed authority. 33 And in the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, 34 “Ha![a] What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” 35 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him down in their midst, he came out of him, having done him no harm. 36 And they were all amazed and said to one another, “What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!” 37 And reports about him went out into every place in the surrounding region.

Footnotes:

b.     Luke 4:34 Or Leave us alone

In Nazareth, the people at first were very happy with Jesus … until He pointed out their hypocrisy. They were proud of Him when they thought He was just reading Scripture … but didn’t like it when He made application of the Scripture.  Are we surprised at their reaction… or should we be?  At Capernaum, the people observed the miracles and were more accepting. What makes the difference?

If you have ever experienced your children confronting you with your failures, you might understand the reactions of the people of Nazareth. The people of Nazareth gauged Jesus by His being the son of Joseph. They heard what He said … but they were more focused on Him than what the Scripture said of Him.  When He pointed out that they would never recognize the importance of the miracles, they turned on Him.  In Capernaum, the miracles He did allowed the people to focus on who He truly was.

As a result of the animosity toward Him in Nazareth, Jesus’ home base became Capernaum.

WIIFM?  Criticism is hard to take … but we must be willing to focus on the message and not the messenger.  Jesus was pointing out the need of the people of Nazareth to understand who He really was … but they could not.  When I am criticized, I need to realize that what is being said is for MY good … not to tear me down.  It is hard to do … but a necessary step.

Well, rain is on its way for today. Still, it will be a good day for all.

Agape’

Mr. Jim

  

Prayer:  Father, teach me to listen to Your voice in the mouths of those around me. In Jesus’ Name … Amen.

Scripture for today:  Luke 4