“Whoever comes to Me and hears My Words, and does them. . . .”
(Luke 6:47 MKJV)
Some came to hear Y’shuaJesus speak, just because they yearned for something they couldn’t define. Some came to ridicule, to test this Teacher from the hills. Some came to the Master for what they needed—healing, cleansing. Men carried a friend on a stretcher, dropping him through the roof when they couldn’t get through the door. A man climbed a tree just to see Y’shuaJesus. A woman encountered the Lord at a well. They were rich. They were poor. They were members of the religious elite. They were uneducated farmers, fishermen, housewives, and widows. All were sinners, though some didn’t think so.
The Man from Galilee could not be ignored.
I’m fascinated with the contrast between the following encounters:
“And the man out of whom the demons had gone out begged Him, desiring to be with Him. But Jesus sent him away, saying, ‘Return to your own house and declare what God has done to you’. And he went his way and proclaimed throughout all the city what great things Jesus had done to him.” (Luke 8:38-39 MKJV)
“And after these things He went out and saw a tax-collector named Levi, sitting at the tax-office. And He said to him, ‘Follow Me.’ And leaving all, he rose up and followed Him.” (Luke 5:27-28 MKJV)
The man cleansed of demons wanted to follow Y’shuaJesus, but was sent away. We don’t know what was in the tax collector’s heart, but he was called right out of his office. I think with the cleansed man, Y’shuaJesus has work from him right away, that the miracle was enough to provide him with a testimony. And courageously, the man responded by going throughout the city proclaiming Y’shuaJesus. Perhaps that was his calling, and it was enough. In the tax-collector, Y’shuaJesus saw great potential, and a heart that was ready to be shaped through very close contact with the Master.
Now take a look at these two:
“Therefore neither did I think myself worthy to come to You; but say a word, and my servant will be healed.” (Luke 7:7 MKJV)
“Peter said to Him, ‘Lord, why cannot I follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake.’ ” (John 13:37 MKJV)
The first man wasn’t Jewish. He says he thinks he’s not even worthy to come to Y’shuaJesus. But he did so for the sake of his servant. And he is rewarded for it. And then there’s Peter. It seems to me these two represent the two extremes of our own thinking of Y’shua. On one end, we think we are too sinful to go to the Lord, and on the other, we think we’re fully ready to do all that we are called to do. The Centurion overcame his own unworthiness, and boldly came forward. Peter learned more work was needed before he’d be able to walk in the Master’s shoes, or sandals, if you prefer.
Take a look at the following:
“Still, however, even out of the rulers, many did believe on Him. But because of the Pharisees they did not confess, lest they should be put out of the synagogue.” (John 12:42 MKJV)
These believers, I believe, represent the most common of all; they believe but aren’t willing or able to proclaim. They’re straddling the fence. They believe but aren’t acting on that belief.
The Y’shuaJesus of the scriptures was not ignored. There are times when I wonder how I would encounter Y’shuaJesus, had I lived two-thousand years ago. Would I have been one of the religious elite that was envious of this prophet? Would I have been called that I might be trained directly by the Master? If Y’shuaJesus healed me and sent me away to give my testimony, would I have done so? Would I have been afraid to obey Y’shuaJesus? Am I afraid today?
I pray, Lord, give us wisdom to hear Your voice, a mind to know Your will, and the courage to obey. AMEN.
Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .
JonahzSong 