Articles
Principles From the Precipice
Principles From the Precipice
Wayne Burger
Jesus was baptized by John the baptizer, had gone into the wilderness to fast for 40 days and be tempted by Satan (Luke 3:21). He then returned to His hometown, Nazareth (Luke 4:15-16). He was now about thirty years of age and had lived in that town since returning from Egypt as a young child (Matthew 2:13-23; Luke 3:23). He went to the synagogue as was His custom (Luke 4:16), where He had worshipped all His life. But this visit was different. He read from Isaiah 61:1-3 and said that this passage was fulfilled that day (Luke 4:21). “And all were speaking well of Him, and wondering at the gracious words which were falling from His lips” (Luke 4:22). When He went on to mention two Gentile people, “all the people in the synagogue were filled with rage as they heard these things; and they got up and drove Him out of the city, and led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city had been built, in order to throw Him down the cliff” (Luke 4:28-29). We can learn many lessons from what Jesus experienced that day.
First, Jesus understands our situation when we try to deal with fickle people. “Fickle” means to change one’s mind quickly. That is what happened to Him. They were praising Him one minute and the next, they were trying to kill Him. We should not be shocked when those we are trying to teach go from loving what we say to hating us for what we say.
Second, Jesus understands our situation when people accept what we say until we say something that goes against what they believe. They were all for Him when His teaching agreed with their belief. But, they were angered when He supported what they were against. That is the nature of those who do not love truth. Prejudice can keep people from seeing truth. Preconceived ideas can be stronger than truth one has not heard before. That which is old is sometimes believed, even when shown to be incorrect. Many don’t like information that challenges their core values or the core values of their parents, or their denominational teachings. Truth seekers need to evaluate everything they hear against what the Bible says (Acts 17:11). Truth seekers must be willing to give up error, no matter how long they have held it nor who else holds it.
Third, Jesus understands our situation when we are rejected because He was rejected. No one likes to be rejected. Rejection is one of the most damaging emotional feelings one can experience. That is the reason many will not talk to others about important truth; they are afraid of being rejected. Jesus was hurt by rejection just like we are hurt by rejection. Remember, this was the “church” he had attended ever since He was a young boy. They did not just reject His ideas, but they were willing to reject Him to the point of killing Him.
Fourth, Jesus understands our situation when we are rejected by family because He was rejected by His family. No doubt His brothers were part of that synagogue. Remember, Jesus’ own brothers did not believe that He was the Messiah (John 7:5; Matthew 13:55). The Old Testament taught that anyone who blasphemed was to be killed. All the people in the synagogue turned against Him that day and tried to throw Him over the cliff. This would have included his brothers. Many Christians have experienced rejection from their own family because they have become Christians and rejected what the family had believed for a long time. Jesus knew what it was like to have family reject Him. Later Jesus taught on this subject. He said, “Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household. He who loves father or mother, more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me” (Matthew 10:34-37). Jesus did not mean that He wants the “sword” more than peace, but He is not willing to have peace at the sacrifice of truth.
Fifth, Jesus understands when we have to escape for our own safety. When they were about to throw Him over the cliff He escaped (Luke 4:30). He needed to teach others before He died. Sometimes, it is necessary for Christians to escape from those who would kill them so that they can teach others who will listen.
