“They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong. But he passed through the midst of them and went away” (Lk 4:29-30).
“They” were those from Jesus’ hometown of Nazareth. They could not accept that he was anything but a carpenter’s son. He did not help his case any as the crowd became a bit more restless. Not only did he say that the prophecy of Isaiah was fulfilled in their hearing – implying that he is the Messiah, but that the Year of Jubilee prophesied was not only for the Jews, the Chosen of God, but also the Gentiles as well.
Referring to Elijah working a miracle through Zarephath and her son, and Elisha, through Naaman the Syrian presented them as God reaching out to those that were on the outside and that they received the prophet’s message and believed in God. Jesus’ own did not take to kindly to Jesus poking the bear. What followed next is our humanity at its worst when it rises to a mob mentality. They moved as one to lead him out of town and hurl him headlong down the side of a hill.
In praying with this verse, I imagined myself with Jesus in his synagogue in Nazareth, listening to him teaching the people. I watched how the people were first listening to every letter of his message mesmerized and moved by them. But was then astonished as their disposition changed. Their eyes of wonder were clouded over like a once clear, blue sky, that was filled by approaching storm clouds.
The voices of rebuke reached a fever pitch after Jesus shared how God blessed the widow and Naaman, then their bodies rose as one, and they moved in on Jesus. My and Jesus’ eyes met and he mouthed for me to stay close to him. I attempted to do so as the crowd grasped at Jesus and pushed him toward the exit.
I squirmed through the swarming bodies to get outside quickly, and then slipped from the weight and movement of the crowd. Keeping pace, I kept my eyes on Jesus while keep at a safe distance so as not to be trampled. The energy of the crowd was electrified as if a lightning strike was about to unleash. Outside, the bodies did not spread further apart but instead closed into a tighter unit. It was harder for me to see Jesus, I quickened my pace and ran to the right of the converging crowd which now hummed and looked more like a swarm of angry bees as they drew closer to the brow of the hill.
A roar then erupted from the front as arms with clenched fists were raised. Then a sweeping force of pushed ahead like a wave. To my right I spied a man walking away at a clam, yet steady pace. I dashed to the hill side in time to see three or four bodies tumbling down the hill. People were jeering and shouting. I looked again to the back of the man who had now put a good distance between us.
I chose not to run down the hill but toward the man, who I recognized as Jesus walking away. As I closed the gap, I chanced a glance back over my shoulder and saw that the crowd was still fixated down the hill. More shouts echoed but no one looked toward or followed us. I turned back and realized I had fallen behind. I sprinted to catch Jesus.
Panting as I settled into Jesus’ pace, I glanced at Jesus as he walked. Then I saw his face. He radiated a smile of joy. Jesus kept his pace but turned to meet my look of wonder. His smile only increased when I imagined he saw my look of amazement.
“Jesus, the people of your own hometown just rose up to hurl you over the hill. How can you be smiling?”
Jesus breathed deeply, as he kept his steady pace. After a few more strides he said, “I am saddened that their hearts were so closed, their hearts so hardened, but I feel joy in knowing that I did my Father’s will. Even though my own rejected me, even though they had no faith in me, I was faithful to what my Father sent me to do.”
I stumbled then, tripped, and fell. I rolled to sit up. Jesus, stopped and turned to look at me. “The same will be so, when I am raised up on the Cross.”
Our eyes met and we held each other’s gaze. Jesus then smiled again and reached out his hand. I looked at it for a moment and held my breath. I looked up at him again. There was no judgment on his face, but there was a clear, unspoken invitation. I then took a deep breath and placed my hand in his. Without hesitation his strong, calloused, carpenter’s hand grasped mine and he lifted me up like a feather.
Jesus faced his suffering with joy. The people of his hometown not only did not understand him, they rejected him, betrayed, and sought to cast him out. He knew without a hesitation or doubt that he was doing his Father’s will and that his Father loved him. Jesus was like the eye of a storm in the hurricane of his experiences because he was anchored by the bond of love that was unbreakable between him and his Father. That love was iron clad because he always said, “Yes”, without hesitation to his Father’s will. Even to the Cross.
Jesus invites us today to take his hand and allow him to lift us up beyond any anxiety, fear, insecurities, sin, darkness, distraction, or diversion. He is inviting us to let go of anything that is not of his Father’s will. Are we worthy? No. Capable? No. Are we willing? If yes, Jesus will provide the rest! Let us place our hand in Jesus’, let him lift us up. As we take one breath, one step with Jesus today, just one, we begin an amazing journey of healing and wholeness with the Father through the love of the Holy Spirit !!!
Photo: Christ Carrying the Cross — El Greco
Spiritual Stepping Stones 