Furious or Amazed?

​Furious or Amazed?
 
Luke 4:28-32 All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. 29 They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him down the cliff. 30 But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way. 31 Then he went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath began to teach the people. 32 They were amazed at his teaching, because his message had authority.
 
DO you see him? The devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8) How do we know?
    Remember at the conclusion of Jesus’ temptation, Luke says  the devil left him until an opportune time. (Luke 4:13) Such an opportune time came in Nazareth and its synagogue.
    Only evil would cause the Jews to be furious when they heard Jesus judging their disobedient hearts. To be furious is to be all-out, energetic and passionate against something. Furious can even be out of control. In effect, a riot broke out against Jesus! Satan causes the world still to furiously oppose Jesus and all law and order.
    But the Sprit protected Jesus, and he moved his ministry to Capernaum. In contrast to Nazareth’s passionate fury, the people of Capernaum were amazed at his teaching, because his message had authority. To be amazed is to be struck with astonishment. A wonder and joy will fill you as the good news miracle infuses your heart. Luke used amazed 10 times in his gospel and five times in Acts to describe people’s Spirit-anointed response to Jesus’ gospel.
    Furious with evil intent the people of Jesus’ hometown moved to throw him over a cliff to his death. In contrast, with astonished wonder the people of Capernaum received the Lord’s good news of God’s favor upon  them.
    This threat against Jesus’ life was one of many. God’s will is done to protect him here. Jesus walks from Nazareth’s fury into Capernaum’s wonder to continue his ministry.
    Yes, evil is furious against God. In response we must be amazed God teaches us to know the way to eternal life! Astonished with God’s grace, we can joyfully be on mission to be the Lord’s witnesses, even when people are furious to stop us.
   
Prayer: Heavenly Father, teach me to be furious against sin and to live amazed for you. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.