Jesus wasn’t the kind to rest on His laurels. Here He is in His hometown, preaching with eloquence and power. He’s letting the Jews know that good things are in store for them. At this they marvel, speaking well of Him. They delight in this carpenter’s son made good: handy with a mallet, and (they must have thought) absolutely expert in the Hebrew Scriptures.
They delight, that is, until Jesus stopped preaching and started teaching. He declared God’s love as a blessing for all people. He nails this in place with examples of a Canaanite woman and a Syrian leper (two double-bads according to the Jews). At this unsightly news, the Jews became unhinged. And it appears that scarcely had He finished His little homily that the now unruly mob sent Him packing for a one-way trip off the nearest cliff.
How easy it is to keep God’s love to ourselves! We know Jesus lived and died and rose for all (see 2 Corinthians 5:14-15). We know we’ve been entrusted with the Gospel to share (1 Thessalonians 2:3-8). But we can be exclusive, too. Yet, this isn’t the way of Jesus. It’s not the way of the Heavenly Father who sent His Son for all people, in all places, that all may know Him and that none may perish (see 2 Peter 3:9).
THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, open our hearts in love to those around us who need to hear the Good News of Jesus. In His Name we pray. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Paul Schreiber.
Reflection Questions:
1. Have you ever been tempted to exclude someone for less-than-honorable reasons?
2. Why do you think Jesus called the Jews out for their behavior rather trying to win them over with patience and finesse?
3. How in the world did Jesus pass through the midst of the mob and not get tossed off the cliff?