This one isn’t quite as clear as the others, but good to quickly point out.
In Luke 4, we have another example of an initial “witness” to truth … then a resulting violent rejection.
Jesus has just returned from His temptation in the wilderness. After overcoming “every temptation” the devil could throw at Him, Jesus “returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region. And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.”
Upon coming to His hometown, Nazareth, Jesus went to the synagogue, read a Messianic passage out of of Isaiah, then sat down and began to teach, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
Then “all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words, saying, ‘Is this not Joseph’s son?’”
Well sure. Isaiah talks about good news to the poor and the healing of the brokenhearted, deliverance to captives, sight to the blind and liberty to the oppressed. To a subjugated people, this is awesome. Easy to bear witness to that.
But Jesus doesn’t stop there. Why not? It was going so well …
There’s more to the story. God loves us enough to tell us the truth, especially when we don’t like it, to prune and discipline to grow us back stronger.
Jesus continues and says, “You will say to Me, ‘Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in Your country.’ No prophet is accepted in His own country.”
Then Jesus gives them two examples, one from Elijah and another from Elisha, where widows and lepers in Israel were ignored but God sent the prophets to the Gentiles.
Well, that’s just too much. How dare Jesus suggest that God would reject Israel because of their pride (heal yourself!) and take the Messianic message of the Kingdom to those unclean Gentiles!
Not only did they not “bear witness” or agree with the truth He was speaking, their reaction was to rise up, take Him out of the city and try to throw Him off a cliff.
Anyone can believe in a Jesus that just says nice things all the time. It is when He begins to deal with our junk, to take it away and show our bondage to the “lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life”, when He begins to cut, prune, destroy, tear down, and raise a different standard that we want to throw Him off a cliff.
A true disciple submits to the process in humility, willing to endure all things … not because the disciple likes it … but because of the ultimate reward set before him. Hence why the ultimate commitment distinguishes a true disciple from those who “just believe”. A disciple puts himself in a position where there is no other option but forward. He’s not perfect, but he’ll keep pressing on because there’s “no turning back.” At the first sign of trouble, those that “just believe” … run … or even worse, reveal a heart of violent rebellion towards God.
No one likes God’s chastisement – His “scourging” as the Bible calls it. But if you haven’t experienced His discipline, you aren’t His child. You’re a “bastard” – illegitimate.
Disciples learn how to submit and endure His correction because they begin to see that if they do, time and time again they grow more free, more victorious, and more full of grace and faith and hope and love.
So what is the commitment necessary to follow Christ?
We’re getting there … I promise.
Peace.