“And all were speaking well of Him, and wondering at the gracious words which were falling from His lips…”
“And all the people in the synagogue were filled with rage as they heard these things;”
Luke 4:22, 28
How sobering is the sovereign will of God. He turns hearts one way or the other according to His eternal purposes. Jesus did not ride the wave of human of applause as he preached the gospel. By His own words He provoked the stubbornness and disobedience that was thinly concealed in the hearts of His own people. Even while the people of Nazareth wondered at His gracious words He changed the theme. Through true, prophetic words He announced that the kingdom blessings they had been longing for would not be given to them but rather to foreigners. By these words their pre-existing sins of stubbornness and rebellion were cemented – their rejection was firmly set, their blindness complete, and their backs forever bent.
That the people of Nazareth rejected one of their own was merely a foreshadowing of what the entire nation of Israel would do. For as the son of Joseph was to Nazareth, so the son of God would be to all Israel.
And this was God’s design from the beginning. The full-orbed totality of God’s sovereign control made sure that His judgment corresponded with Israel’s genuine culpability for their sin – for they indeed stiffened their necks in unbelief. Natural branches were justly cut off so that wild olive shoots like me could be graciously grafted in. One nation was hardened so that mercy might be extended to all.
O my soul – be sober. Do not be conceited but fear. You stand upon unheard of mercy – and that at the cost of others. You inherited a kingdom you did not build. You stand because of blood brought mercy and sovereign grace. Jesus, you bore the rage of your own people and much worse – the wrath of your very own Father. You secured mercy and gave it to unnatural branches like me. Make me humble Lord – properly humble as one who was once disobedient but now has been shown mercy, which resulted from the disobedience of others. Let me not be, in any way, arrogant – especially toward those that have been cut off. Rather call me to earnest prayer that I would continue in faith, and that those who were cut off might be restored – for what shall such a revival mean but life from the dead!
Be exalted Lord Jesus. Come soon. Amen.
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