Have you ever felt humiliated when the understanding of Gods truth comes to your heart and mind? Have you ever realized that you and Jesus are not on the same side of the fence on some issue that has been part of your thinking? What is the response that God desires? What are the choices here?
Luke 13: 10-17
16 And as He said this, all His opponents were being humiliated; and the entire multitude was rejoicing over all the glorious things being done by Him.
While He said this…… Let me review here what He was saying.
15 But the Lord answered him and said, “You hypocrites, does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the stall, and lead him away to water him?
16 “And this woman, a daughter of Abraham as she is, whom Satan has bound for eighteen long years, should she not have been released from this bond on the Sabbath day?”
Remember, Jesus was saying this to the synagogue official and all those who sat with him in the places of honor. These men were the ones who organized and led the worship of God in the place designed to exult the Lord of glory. Here these very same men are identified as the opponents (rival, adversary, competitor) of the one whom God sent from heaven to live among them. They had already aligned themselves in their hearts and minds against this Jesus as has did many other religious leaders in that day. Are there religious leaders today who actually speak against Jesus?
Jesus responded to this leader from His heart of love and understanding. He knew what this man and his colleagues needed and with His direct words, brought the issue to the forefront. When Jesus responds to their erroneous thinking with the truth about Gods intentions for the Sabbath day, they are humiliated. (ashamed, embarrassed, humbled) I have to believe they were also silenced.
Have you ever felt humiliated when the understanding of Gods truth comes to your heart and mind? Have you ever realized that you and Jesus are not on the same side of the fence on some issue that has been part of your thinking? What is the response that God desires? What are the choices here?
This is a crossroad, an important moment in the life of this leader. He is a man whose choice in life is to lead people to God, and yet he finds himself opposed to Jesus. The Word of God is clear on this point.
Matthew 12:30 “He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters.
This leader did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah. (God with us, the anointed one)
This leader is rejecting the authority of Jesus and His right to give meaning to the Law of God regarding the Sabbath and all other matters.
This leader is departing from the work of the very God he believes he is serving.
Who is this Jesus? It is the question that you must answer in your own heart, mind and life. It is critical for the future road that you will walk. Will you be on Gods side? Will you embrace His leadership in your life? Will you be with Him or will you be identified as His opponent?
Follow the leader! People, do you know? We all follow someone. Whose side are they on? Whose side are you on?
Lord, I affirm Your Lordship over all things. I know that Jesus Christ came to this earth as Your anointed one. I know that He was the Messiah, that He was ‘God with us’. In Christ, with Him as the leader of my heart, mind and life…..
that is where I want to be,
that is where I am,
that is where I am going to stay. Amen