Word@Work Luke165 - Luke 10:13-15
Published: Tue, 08/10/10
Word@Work from BeaconLight
REJECTING GOD'S EVIDENCE
Luke 10:13-15 "Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths. (NIV)
It might seem strange for Jesus to express grief over whole townships, in the same way that the Old Testament prophets pronounced doom to the rebellious nations surrounding Israel. But the issue was just the same. God had provided evidence of His power and glory through the miracles Jesus performed, and those towns rejected the evidence in front of their noses. Tyre and Sidon had only heard of God's mighty deeds, and refused to believe; but Bethsaida and Capernaum had seen Jesus' miracles and heard His teaching at first-hand. To refuse to accept the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ, despite overwhelming evidence that He was the Son of God, was to invite the most severe judgement from God.
No wonder that Jesus was heart-broken and expressed His distress, as He also did over Jerusalem (Luke 13:34). What more could He have done to show who He was? Instead, those towns were shown up for who they were - proudly rebellious against the God who had made them and had come to save them. Some may say, "That was just human nature", and they would be right! Our sinful hearts naturally want to disregard God, His Word and His mighty works. Yes, we are glad when God is kind to us, but naturally we have no intention of submitting to His authority. And God will be heart-broken because He will have to reject all those people from His Kingdom.
It is still the same today. The Christian's prophetic role is to show the evidence of who Jesus is and tell people why He came: we will do that by explaining God's Word and by allowing God to work through us so that His will is done. The Lord is longing that people will believe the evidence and repent. But those who refuse, grieve the Lord. He may send all kinds of evidence of His love and power: but to resist their meaning and turn away is to invite judgement. Announcing that is perhaps a more difficult part of the church's prophetic role; but without it our gospel is incomplete to the point of being false. That does not mean preaching a loveless doom for all, but rather to be clear that the powerful grace of Christ demands a positive response.
Prayer: Dear Lord. Thank You for Your patience with me in drawing me to the truth of the gospel so that I might repent and receive Your Holy Spirit. I am grieved that some of my friends and family are still resisting Your grace despite all the evidence they have seen. Please turn their hearts and enable me to be a daily witness to Your transforming power; and help me to explain the gospel to them. I know that it really matters, so please enable me to keep on praying and working so that Your kingdom will come to those around me, so that they will be spared Your judgement. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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It might seem strange for Jesus to express grief over whole townships, in the same way that the Old Testament prophets pronounced doom to the rebellious nations surrounding Israel. But the issue was just the same. God had provided evidence of His power and glory through the miracles Jesus performed, and those towns rejected the evidence in front of their noses. Tyre and Sidon had only heard of God's mighty deeds, and refused to believe; but Bethsaida and Capernaum had seen Jesus' miracles and heard His teaching at first-hand. To refuse to accept the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ, despite overwhelming evidence that He was the Son of God, was to invite the most severe judgement from God.
No wonder that Jesus was heart-broken and expressed His distress, as He also did over Jerusalem (Luke 13:34). What more could He have done to show who He was? Instead, those towns were shown up for who they were - proudly rebellious against the God who had made them and had come to save them. Some may say, "That was just human nature", and they would be right! Our sinful hearts naturally want to disregard God, His Word and His mighty works. Yes, we are glad when God is kind to us, but naturally we have no intention of submitting to His authority. And God will be heart-broken because He will have to reject all those people from His Kingdom.
It is still the same today. The Christian's prophetic role is to show the evidence of who Jesus is and tell people why He came: we will do that by explaining God's Word and by allowing God to work through us so that His will is done. The Lord is longing that people will believe the evidence and repent. But those who refuse, grieve the Lord. He may send all kinds of evidence of His love and power: but to resist their meaning and turn away is to invite judgement. Announcing that is perhaps a more difficult part of the church's prophetic role; but without it our gospel is incomplete to the point of being false. That does not mean preaching a loveless doom for all, but rather to be clear that the powerful grace of Christ demands a positive response.
Prayer: Dear Lord. Thank You for Your patience with me in drawing me to the truth of the gospel so that I might repent and receive Your Holy Spirit. I am grieved that some of my friends and family are still resisting Your grace despite all the evidence they have seen. Please turn their hearts and enable me to be a daily witness to Your transforming power; and help me to explain the gospel to them. I know that it really matters, so please enable me to keep on praying and working so that Your kingdom will come to those around me, so that they will be spared Your judgement. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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