March 20- Dealing With An Angry Mob

Numbers 30:1-31:54
Luke 4:1-30
Psalm 63:1-11
Proverbs 11:20-21

Luke 4 blew me away today. Think about this. The text opens with Jesus being challenged to throw himself down from a high place, as a means to demonstrate God's protection in his life. Jesus knows that the Old Testament text says such a thing, but chooses not to test God by jumping through Satan's hoops. The very next story, Jesus is in Nazareth and speaks about not performing a miracle there, because of disbelief. In the process, he upsets the crowds who take him to THROW HIM OFF A HIGH CLIFF! Jesus is not going to die here, God is protecting him. Likewise, Satan has already planted in Christ's mind that he could be thrown down and God would miraculously save him. However, Jesus chooses to just walk away.

I don't know about you, but I've been in positions where I felt justified in acting certain ways. Maybe I felt God had convinced me that it was ok to do something, just to later decide that I was wrong in that idea. Jesus here may have felt justified to let the crowd throw him from the high place. He was never in any danger, knowing how his death would come about. Likewise, he could have easily taken Satan's earlier advice, misinterpreting scripture and feeling justified in showing the people who he really was. Only problem with that idea was that he had already rebuked the people, saying that miracles aren't performed when faith is not present. So, Jesus saved his message, chose the selfless/sinless act, and once again didn't allow himself to fall from a very high place.

Jesus reminds us that Satan's schemes are very tricky. They look good on one level, but can be deceptive on the other. We must have eyes that can see through the tricks, and are humbly willing to follow God. By doing so, we fulfill our purpose and ministry in the world. Thus we honor God by doing what Jesus would do, and not just what may seem right at the time.