by David Scott Robertson
(Luke 4:28 NIV) “All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this.
(Luke 4:29 NIV) They got up, drove him [Jesus] out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him down the cliff.
(Luke 4:30 NIV) But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.”
Can you imagine the drama of this scene in the Bible?
Think about what was going on behind the scene between the angels and demons!
Were there any words spoken by Christ that persuaded the enraged crowd to change their mind?
Did He do something spectacular or miraculous that -
Suddenly, dramatically, amazingly -
Transformed a bloodthirsty mob into a passive crowd of spectators
Who cleared the way as Jesus walked (casually I’m sure) through the crowd?
Let’s quickly recreate the scene.
Jesus was in His hometown of Nazareth.
He was in church as usual (Luke 4:16) among His family and friends that He had grown up with.
Jesus was handed the scroll of Isaiah and He began to read:
(Isa 61:1 NIV) “The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,
(Isa 61:2 NIV) to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor….”
Jesus stopped in mid-sentence on the last verse and sat down.
Everybody was staring at Him when He said:
(Luke 4:21 NIV) “…’Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.’"
What was their reaction?
(Luke 4:22 NIV) “All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. ‘Isn't this Joseph's son?’ they asked.”
First, be careful when all speak well of you.
Mankind is so fickle.
They can bless you one minute and curse you the next.
It comes so, so natural to us.
Secondly, it seems that this last part of the people’s statement is what got Jesus explicit attention.
Their question absolutely demanded a response from the Messiah.
Whether He heard their whispers with His ears
Or He received the revelation by the Spirit as a word of knowledge,
The Lord discerned their question:
“Is this not Joseph’s son?”
(No as a matter of fact,
Jesus was not merely a man’s son with a little “s”
But God’s Son with a capital “S.”)
It was Jesus’ response to that question that tipped the scales against Him in their eyes.
When their wonder turned to
Religious fervor,
Righteous indignation,
And murderous rage.
Jesus spoke 100% truth when He replied:
(Luke 4:23 NIV) “Jesus said to them, "Surely you will quote this proverb to me: 'Physician, heal yourself! Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.'"
(Luke 4:24 NIV) "I tell you the truth," he continued, "no prophet is accepted in his hometown.”
Then He began to cite two examples,
One a Sidonian widow who Elijah ministered to
And next a Syrian leper whom Elisha healed
Of how Jehovah had mercy
On foreigners who accepted Him
Over His elect people who rejected Him.
Well, with that, the congregation of the local synagogue determined
That Jesus Christ of Nazareth was not fit to live.
(Luke 4:28 NIV) “All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this.
(Luke 4:29 NIV) They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him down the cliff.”
What?
They “drove him out of town?”
They “took him to the brow of the hill?”
They desired to “throw him down the cliff?”
Part of what amazes me is that Jesus allowed them to do this.
It reminds me of when He allowed Satan to led him to the pinnacle of the temple
To tempt Him to jump off (Luke 4:9).
Another thing that intrigues me is that if this was His home synagogue where He had grown up,
Where was His family?
If Jesus were speaking at church that Sabbath, surely they would be there.
So where were His earthly brothers, sisters, and mother?
Were they in the press of the crowd screaming in His defense?
Were they fighting for Him?
Were they struggling against the mob to try and pacify them to leave their loved One alone?
Now comes the climax of this incredible scene
Where they are actually at the brow of the cliff
Ready to physically and forcibly toss Jesus over the side.
Then the most awesome thing happens.
(Luke 4:30 NIV) “But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.”
Now I want to return to my original questions:
Were there any words spoken by Christ that persuaded the enraged crowd to change their mind?
Did He do something spectacular or miraculous that -
Suddenly, dramatically, amazingly -
Transformed a bloodthirsty mob into a passive crowd of spectators
Who cleared the way as Jesus walked (casually I’m sure) through the crowd?
My answer?
I don’t know!
Only God knows.
One thing I do know
Is that according to the scriptures,
The Lamb of God was born to die nailed to a cross to atone for the sins of the world.
He could die in no other way,
At no other time,
For no other reason.
The scriptures could not (and cannot and will not) be broken.
That is the answer for “why” Jesus did not get tossed over the cliff that day.
But as for the “how” He turned around and walked through the crowd…
I’ll guess we’ll just have to wait until we get to heaven
And watch the instant replay – in slow motion, I hope!
DSR
10/4/01