Facing the Messiah

While even His family did not recognize Him in the early stages, we know some brothers and mother did come to His saving knowledge later in life after Christ’s resurrection. We hope others from His hometown followed suit.

Overview

He grew up with them

They were in denial

He faced them with the truth

Why could they not see?

They missed out

Are we facing the Messiah?

Are we missing out?

Are we ready to face Him?

Are we ready to follow Him?

Bible Passage

Matthew 13:53 When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there. 54 Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. 55 “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas?

Bible Passage

Matthew 13:56 Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” 57 And they took offense at him.

But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.”

58 And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

Background

Dr. Ron Charles, tells us that the place Jesus chose to grow up was rough, uncultured, uneducated largely, and people of low morals.

Yet God chose to place Him there.

The prime occupation for decades was garbage collection. Around 30% were in the construction business – as was Joseph Jesus’ father. The place had a rich limestone deposits which the Romans used for their constructions. Centuries before, when the business dropped, many resorted to being the officically appointed garbage collectors of the area.

He grew up with them

One of the saddest passages in the Bible. The rejection is progressive as we see in Luke 4:16-30

They were amazed at his wisdom

They took offence at his power and claims to be the Messiah

They were furious as he mentioned of similar hardness to great prophets like Elijah and Elisha

They planned murder as he continued to explain how the former prophets got better response with the Gentiles.

They were in denial

They could not face the Messiah.

As conviction dug deeper into their hearts, they shut it out by trying to kill the most harmless, gentle loving person who lived with them for decades.

They were in denial

Some were unbelievers

Some were future believers

But their blindness and hardness at that point made them do the unthinkable

He faced them with the truth

Rejection didn’t bother Jesus

He spoke the truth anyway

He explained the situation however hard it was

He always tried to win the few He could irrespective of the consequences

He could face the entire crowd with the truth

They could not face Him

Why could they not see?

Was it overfamiliarity?

Was it Christ’s simplicity?

Was it wrong expectations?

None of these!!!

No matter how brilliant the logic, only the Father reveals Jesus to those He chooses.

He chooses those whom He know will obey and follow Him to the end.

Why could they not see?

“All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Matthew 11:27

They Missed out

They missed out on the miracles but that was the least of it

They missed out on the Messiah Himself in person, living among them.

Are we facing the messiah?

This is history repeating itself.

Right from the time Moses was seeking the face of God

The rest were building their own images of gold

They were the chosen people of God, delivered from Egypt

 

Are we missing out?

True most of us are believers

But are we shutting out God’s full glory out of our lives

And trading it for the temporary gains of this world?

We are faced with a choice

When we face the Messiah

We face the power of transformation

Deep inside everyone knows it.

When we face the Messiah

We know we have to change or turn away

We have to choose His way or our way.

Are we ready to face Him?

Throughout the centuries it is the Jews and Christians who have come under attack the most.

Just as Jesus faced the threat of death.. That day

as Jesus eventually died under the onslaught,

His enemies never know that in 3 days they would be

FACING THE MESSIAH… FOREVER

Are we ready to face Him?

To see Him eye to eye

And allow His reflection to shine through us?

Are we ready to let the conviction hit us again and again to break and mould us to be like Him?

Turn your eyes upon Jesus

“Turn your eyes upon Jesus

Look full on His wonderful face

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim

In the light of His glory and grace.” Helen Lemmel

Are we ready to follow Him?

Are we then ready to go out into the world

And speak the truth they need to hear

So that God could open the eyes of even a few

To see the glorious light of the Messiah.

Discussion

1.Given people’s unwillingness to face Jesus, how do we help them?

2.How can we try to win people over instead of throwing them off – with our approach?

3.In what aspects are we in denial? What can get us through?

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