1458. Christ the Preacher, and His Sad Withdrawal
Christ the Preacher, and His Sad Withdrawal
"But He passing through the midst of them went His way" (Luk_4:30).
When the people sought to cast down from the brow of the hill upon which the city was built, "He passing through the midst of them went His way." What a sad scene is presented before us! Yet, what else could be done? He came, He preached the Word, and He was rejected.
Should He have stayed against their wish and will? It would have but angered them the more.
The Lord Jesus Christ not only came to Nazareth as a city, but He came to Israel as a nation. The whole nation turned Him down; they sought to crucify Him. All day long He held forth His hands to them; but they proved a disobedient and a gainsaying people. Finally, the last call was given, the last word spoken, and Christ went away.
What bearing has all this upon the ministers of to-day? When Christ sent out the Twelve, did He not say unto them, "Whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet" (Mat_10:14)?
When Paul was preaching in Thessalonica, and they turned against Him, He passed on to Berea.
What shall we do to-day?
If we give our testimony, and are repulsed, perhaps there is another town, another section, another country, which is waiting with open arms to receive it. There are many localities on the earth where Christ has never been preached. Shall we not find there an open ear and a ready heart? Let us go and see.
Each instance must carry its own decision in this matter. We must not go too hastily away. Our God is a God Who calls again and again; He prays and He pleads; He waits and He watches; He is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to the knowledge of the Truth.
There comes a time in the life of individuals and of nations, when God seems to say, "Let them alone."
All of this carries to the sinner a solemn message of warning–Has the time come when, through your blatant denials and your heartless rejection, the Lord has turned from you and passed away? Has He said unto you, "Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out My hand, and no man regarded; But ye have set at nought all My counsel, and would none of My reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh" (Pro_1:24-26). Has Christ said: "Cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground" (Luk_13:7)?
The time is coming when those who have refused Christ, and who would lead Him to the brow of the hill and cast Him down, will themselves cry out in the anguish of their souls. Then they will call, but He will not hear; they will stretch forth their hands, and He will not regard.
Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR