To Throw Him Down the Cliff
To Throw Him Down the Cliff
Why do we do the things we do? Why do we think the way we think? Our reasoning is often flawed for lack of information — for a hateful prejudice — or for our arrogant, selfish desires. Luke 4 records Jesus preaching in Nazareth, where He had been brought up. Jesus read an Old Testament prophecy about His coming and plainly stated that this prophecy was fulfilled in Him. Luke 4:21-30 says what happened then,
And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
And all were speaking well of Him, and wondering at the gracious words which were falling from His lips; and they were saying, “Is this not Joseph’s son?”
And He said to them, “No doubt you will quote this proverb to Me, ‘Physician, heal yourself; whatever we heard was done at Capernaum, do here in your home town as well.’
And He said, “Truly I say to you, no prophet is welcome in his home town. But I say to you in truth, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the sky was shut up for three years and six months, when a great famine came over all the land; and yet Elijah was sent to none of them, but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.”
And all in the synagogue were filled with rage as they heard these things; and they rose up and cast 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.
But passing through their midst, He went His way.
These people in Nazareth refused to believe that Jesus was the promised Messiah. Sure, He was a good speaker — but, they thought He was only the son of Joseph, the carpenter. It was true that Jesus was known for doing miracles, but they hadn’t seen any for themselves. So, they politely sneered, “Is this not Joseph’s son?”
They wanted to see miracles, but had hateful, unbelieving hearts. Their hearts contemptuously challenged Jesus’ truthfulness. So, Jesus reminded them of some Old Testament history, in which God blessed heathen people, with believing hearts, instead of the unbelieving Israelites. Suddenly, they hated Jesus because these scriptural truths pointed out their own evil hearts. In a rage, they wanted “to throw Him down the cliff”, but Jesus slipped through their hands. It was not His time to die.
Question: We have the beautiful words of the Bible that prove Jesus really is the long-promised Savior from sin. They are gracious words that tell of God’s love and faithfulness. But, they also show us our sins and how we can only be saved by faith in Christ Jesus. All unbelievers will be eternally condemned. Does that make us “filled with rage”? Does hearing God’s word make us want “to throw Him down the cliff”? How do we think? What’s our reasoning?
How do we react to being told that we are helpless sinners, desperately in need of the salvation that is available only through faith in Christ Jesus?
With believing hearts and minds, we say, “Hallelujah! Lord Jesus, thank You for condescending to save us sinners. Create in us clean hearts and right spirits that we may know You rightly.”
Love,
Margaret
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Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus by the Yupiq Eskimo village of Quinhagak, Alaska
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… Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus …
A Christian devotional to glorify the LORD of lords and GOD of gods
Pray for our country
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The LORD made this day, let us rejoice and be glad in Him.
Psalm 118:24
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The word of the LORD is tried;
He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
Psalm 18:30
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Sing for joy in the LORD, O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming to the upright.
Psalm 33:1
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How blessed are those who dwell in Thy house!
They are ever praising Thee.
Psalm 84:4
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Just as a father has compassion on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
Psalm 103:13
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O give thanks to the LORD, for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalm 107:1
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Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.
Psalm 105:3
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Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12
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