Articles
Rejecting The Evidence
Rejecting The Evidence
Our reading yesterday took us through Mark 4 and 5. We read about Jesus calming the storm by simply commanding the wind and the sea. Even nature obeyed His word. He cast out the 'strong demons' of the man of the country of the Gerasenes. At His word they simply obeyed. He accompanied Jairus to his daughter's presence and commanded: "Little girl, I say to you, arise". At that word, she immediately got up and began walking, leaving the people overcome with amazement. While going with Jairus, a woman touches his garment and is healed by His power even without a word. As he leaves, he touches the eyes of two who were blind and their eyes 'were opened'. As they were going he cast out a demon.
"No man can do these things except God is with him," so said Nicodemus in John 3:1-2. "These things are written that you might believe the He is the Son of God (John 20:30-31). Yet, not all those who beheld or knew of such miracles became believers. All evidence, no matter how strong, is filtered through the prejudices of people's minds.
First, some of the Pharisees said concerning His power over demons: "he casts out demons by the prince of demons" (Matt. 9:34). Such IS an admission that He cast out the demon. Attributing such a work to the power of the Devil is blasphemy of the Spirit by which He cast them out. They were just too hard hearted to admit that such was done by the very power of God.
So it was at Nazareth. Jesus of course grew up here as it was the home town of Mary and Joseph. Being a small village, the whole town would have known him and his family. The synagogue would have been attended by Jesus and the family many times during those years. He NOW returns not at just another village person but as the Son of God.
They began to say: "Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” Instead of weighing the evidence and concluding that He was the Son of God, "they took offense at him."
The evidence for the claims of Jesus is still with us. People still evaluate it and filter it through their own minds and prejudices. It convinces many even against their prejudices and they become disciples of Jesus. Others still take offense. In the end, each will give an account unto God for how they have responded unto His word. What do you think about Jesus? Hugh DeLong
