How easy do you find it to remain calm when others’ displeasure or hostility is aimed at you? For many of us, this requires energy and is difficult. (And finding it easy to face others’ animosity may not be a good thing!) Jesus has much to teach us in today’s story from the Gospel according to Luke.

The story can be found in Luke, Chapter 4 and is paraphrased below:

The Rejection of Jesus at Nazareth

When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled it and found the place where it says:

‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’

He rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down.

All eyes were fixed on him.

He said: “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

They all thought highly of him and were amazed at the way he spoke. They said, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?”

He responded, “I expect you are about to quote old proverbs to me, like ‘Doctor, cure yourself!’ You expect me to do miracles like those I performed at Capernaum. The truth is, no prophet is accepted in their hometown.

“Consider the many widows in Israel in Elijah’s day, when it did not rain for three-and-a-half years and there was severe famine over all the land. Elijah was sent to none of these … except a widow at Zarephath in Sidon.

There were also many lepers in Israel at that time - and none of them was cleansed … except Naaman the Syrian.”

When the congregation heard this, they were enraged. They got up, drove him out of town and led him to the brow of the hill to hurl him off the cliff.

But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way.

Spend some time sitting with the emotions brought up by this story.

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Do you know the phrase used in this passage, ‘Physician heal thyself’? Jesus refers to it as a proverb (verse 23). The reference is used as a provocation, one that that puts a finger on what is in the hearts and minds of Jesus’ listeners. He anticipates that those watching him want to make demands of him. Possibly they desire a diminishment of him, by holding him in place as the son of their town.

Jesus, in his wisdom, is ready for this. He is prepared for their responses. He has scriptural stories in his mind that he can use to challenge their thinking.

Do you think he already understood what the dynamics would be before he entered? Before he read the Isaiah passage? Had he planned what he needed to say with forethought? Or is his response spontaneous, as he sees what happens among the congregation?

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Wonder about Jesus’ thoughts and feelings as he entered his home synagogue; read and then spoke out in such a challenging way.

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Whatever Jesus anticipated, he does not seem surprised by the hostile reactions and actions of the congregation. He is telling people things they don’t want to hear or be reminded of. They did not want his wonderful self-assurance and confidence about the scriptures to be used in a way that favoured others over themselves! They did not want to consider the prophets Elijah and Elisha, or Jesus himself, as belonging to ‘strangers’ - as leaving them behind.

Nonetheless, Jesus says what he needs to say and, somewhat miraculously in the face of a very grave threat, moves on.

Where do you place yourself in this scene? Can you see yourself as Jesus? As one in the crowd? Are you in awe of the fulfilling of prophecy? Do you want to possess Jesus - that is, have him say only what you wish to hear? Are you angry enough to drive someone who upsets you to ‘the brow of the hill’?

Imagine the mysterious point at which Jesus turns and passes through the midst of the crowd.

Where are you now?

Watching as he leaves?

Silently pondering on what has happened?

Wanting to follow but unable, fearful of others nearby?

Free to follow?

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You can be realistic in accepting your place in this past congregation as well as having hope - choosing a new place in the scene as you move forward. How does this relate to the present moment in time and space, in your life, today?

You may like to watch Greta Thunberg’s message to the Davos Agenda 2021. Whirlow has a workshop later this month on the issue of Climate Change.