Nov 21

It is more than a little interesting what happened to Jesus immediately after he spoke to the worshippers of God in the temple. Luke 4:22 says that the crowd spoke well of him and were amazed at his gracious words.

Jesus had read a section of Isaiah to them, and that passage is full of good news to God's people, mentioning freedom and healing and the receiving of God's favor. Who wouldn't feel good and speak well of someone who brought such good tidings to them? And so the crowd spoke well of Jesus. They were even more prone to praise him because they recognized that he was one of their own, a hometown boy who was "making good". He was "Joseph's son." They were proud to be associated with him.

But then Jesus went and ruined it all by pointing out to them that just because someone chosen by God to minister to the people comes from their own part of the country does not imply any favor from God. In fact, he said, just the opposite happens, and a prophet is honored everywhere except his hometown.

At this, the good mood of the crowd immediately vanished, and whereas a moment before they were praising Jesus, now they were so angry with him that they drove him out of town in an ugly mood, even to the top of a hill, in order to throw him down over a cliff and kill him.

Imagine, a group of Jesus' own neighborhood changing in an instant from being his best friends to people that wanted to kill him. How fickle and insincere and shoddy and shallow is the favor of the world! The praise of men is as unstable and unworthy of currying as the empty words they heap upon those who praise them in return. How much better to seek to be praised by God.

Whose praise do you seek?

Scripture for today: Luke 4:14-30
Thought for today: Do not trust the praise of the world.
Prayer for today: Lord, grant me a heart that seeks to please you and not to please the world.

NOV 21