Listen to the Prophet

An interesting thing happens at the end of Matthew chapter 13. Jesus went to His hometown and taught in their synagogue. Amazing homecoming right? Wrong. They were astonished but not in a good way. They questioned His true identity. They wondered about His authenticity. They took offense at Him. They stumbled on the stone of stumbling and rock of offense. They were not blessed. Jesus' reply? He likened Himself to a prophet who speaks forth the very words of God, revealing things long hidden and undisclosed. One who speaks boldly and pays the consequences. It is not surprising that they rejected Him. He came for the cross.

We live in a time, not unlike the days of the prophets of old and not unlike the dusty streets of first century Palestine that Jesus walked, where people speak bold-faced against God and think nothing of it. They are ignorant, deceived, lost and blinded by Satan (2 Cor. 4:4). We do not hate them as enemies, we pity them, pray for them and seek their rescue. We who believe were not long ago just like that. As Micah 4:12 says, they do not know the thoughts of the Lord, nor do they understand His plan. Jesus graciously reveals both to the believing. So listen to the Prophet. He is speaking today through His Word. Pick up your copy and read.