Clearing a Path

Thursday, August 28, 2014 Posted by Debbie Legg

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Luke 4. Jesus defeats Satan in The Big Temptation. Then He heads home to Nazareth, announcing His purpose and the beginning of His ministry. The hometown crowd is less than impressed and ready to throw Him off a cliff. In fact, they DO try to throw Him off a cliff. But then:

He walked right through the crowd and went on his way. (V30)

WHAAAAT?

First of all, talk about being IN THE PRESENCE of enemies. We’re talking shoulder to shoulder. Hands pushing, pulling, gripping. Forcing Him to walk--to His DEATH. You can’t get much more In The Presence than that.

Secondly, these were not garden variety enemies. These were Frenemies. They were His neighbors. His childhood buddies. The kids He played Red Light Green Light with. The parents who gave Him messages to give to His mother. They watched Him grow up--for THIRTY YEARS.

NOW they want to KILL Him--NOT for what He DID to them, but simply for the words He spoke.

Have you ever had enemies that vile? Me neither.

Back to Luke 4. “His way” took Him to Capernaum. There they were amazed at his teaching, because his words had authority. (V32) He drove out many spirits and healed many diseases.

The people of Capernaum wanted Him to stay with them (and probably eat at their tables), recognized His holiness (being anointed with oil declared you set apart, holy) and told everyone in the area about Him (His cup overflowed for sure).

What His Frenemies (and The Enemy) intended for evil, God turned into good.

Have you ever seen a God that good? Me too.