Tough crowd

"When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. They got up, drove him out of town and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff."

(Luke 4:28-29)

I think it's part of our human nature to have a personal bias. We have a hard time hearing challenging words directed towards groups to which we're a part; whether it be our nation, religion, political party, ethnicity, etc... to name just a few. We often can't receive "constructive criticism" or anything that challenges our current beliefs and assumptions.

Case in point: Jesus is speaking at his hometown synagogue in Nazareth. It's early in his ministry. Luke tells us, "He began to teach in their synagogue and was praised by everyone." THEN he goes home to Nazareth.

He reads a portion of Scripture from the prophet Isaiah - speaking about the coming "year of the Lord." He intimates that God's favor is upon him. Everyone is excited! Our hometown boy has made good! The year of the LORD is upon us! Blessings and God's favor will be given to us in abundance, they must have thought. Then Jesus gives the kicker. He mentions two episodes of Israel's past - both recalling times when God's favor was cast upon non-Israelites: the widow of Zarephath (Elijah's story) and Naaman the Syrian (Elisha's story). The implication was clear: God's favor isn't JUST for Israel... but for other peoples and nations as well.

The hometown folk in Nazareth FREAKED! They were so upset that Jesus didn't offer special blessings just for them... that the might dare to invoke God's favor upon their enemies... that they sought to throw him off a hill! HIS OWN FRIENDS & FAMILY!!!

We humans have an inherent bias. We have a hard time hearing words that speak against our own beliefs, thoughts, and sensibilities. Just look at talk news today - it's all about blasting anyone who DARES to think differently than we. As a nation, we Americans are quite possibly more divided now than we've ever been. Why?!? We can't hear criticism. We can't be challenged to think critically about tenants we've come to hold dear. We take it as a personal attack.

Heck, we'd rather throw the one who speaks truth to us off a cliff.

LORD, help us.