Escape from the Hostile Mob in Nazareth
“He came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. He entered, as was his custom, into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. The book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. He opened the book, and found the place where it was written, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the broken hearted, to proclaim release to the captives, recovering of sight to the blind, to deliver those who are crushed, and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began to tell them, “Today, this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” All testified about him, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth, and they said, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” He said to them, “Doubtless you will tell me this parable, ‘Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we have heard done at Capernaum, do also here in your hometown.’” He said, “Most certainly I tell you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown. But truly I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the sky was shut up three years and six months, when a great famine came over all the land. Elijah was sent to none of them, except to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. There were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed, except Naaman, the Syrian.” They were all filled with wrath in the synagogue, as they heard these things. They rose up, threw him out of the city, and led him to the brow of the hill that their city was built on, that they might throw him off the cliff. But he, passing through the middle of them, went his way.” (Luke 4:16-30 WEB)
Jesus anticipated the Nazarenes’ demands for miracles but He also told them the reason most of them couldn’t receive any: they were stumbled by their memories of Him growing up and that unbelief caused them to be unable to receive from God.
Jesus then gave the examples of prophet Elijah only being sent to provide for a Gentile widow and Elisha only being sent to heal a Gentile man.
Even though the two prophets were from Israel and anointed for Israel’s sake, the nation of Israel couldn’t receive because of their unbelief.
At that time, Jews despised the Gentiles and viewed them as being unclean like dogs and pigs.
Being told that Israel was more faithless than the Gentiles was the final straw that caused the Nazarenes to lose all composure.
Being convicted of their sin of unbelief, they reacted in anger instead of repentance. The enraged mob decided to kill Jesus for supposed blasphemy.
I’ve been to that narrow brow of that hill in Nazareth. When you look down the cliff, you’ll see sharp jagged rocks below.
A fall from that height and with that landing area would lead to a bloody, fatal mess.
Just when the mob thought they had Him cornered with no way of escape, Jesus just majestically passed through the middle of them.
Jesus didn’t scream or tremble in fear. He just faced them head-on and triumphed.
“Therefore the Father loves me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again. No one takes it away from me, but I lay it down by myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. I received this commandment from my Father.”” (John 10:17-18 WEB)
No one could kill Jesus without His permission. At the cross, He willingly laid down His life for us.
Being without sin, Death had no right to fasten on Him.
The only way He could die is if He willingly gave up His spirit.
If you are a born-again believer who is in Christ, then you enjoy this same protection upon your life.
As a child of God who has been made righteous through Jesus’ blood, God can also deliver you safely out of fatal situations where escape seems impossible.
Do you feel cornered by enemies in your relationships, finances, health, work, ministry, family, etc.?
Jesus will make a way out for you just like how He (as Yahweh) divided the Red Sea for the children of Israel to pass through on dry land—you will live to declare His goodness!
Become a patron and receive our new series “37 Miracles of Jesus” leading up to Christmas Day, as well as other attractive rewards in return for your support: http://Patreon.com/miltongohblog
In this series, you’ll:
- Receive bold faith for miracles—stepping out from a powerless form of Christianity, into the kind that God intended!
- Understand the significance of the miracles of Jesus Christ—and why the Holy Spirit chose to feature them in the four gospels even though Jesus worked countless other miracles.
- Receive a powerful, uplifting message about Jesus and His power and goodness every day that refreshes your soul and prepares you to have a worshipful, meaningful Christmas.
#37MiraclesofJesus #BibleStudy
