In the Midst of My Enemies

 “Jesus, passing through the midst of them, went His way.” Luke 4:30

Enemies are on my mind today. You know, things that threaten to derail us from the joy of the Lord. The distractions of things undone. The myriad voices that call us to come and taste a different life that does not honor God. The habits we’ve established that seem so hard to overcome. People who get us down, irritate and annoy us, or cause us pain.

Jesus knew all about this. He often encountered the oppositions and unbelief of the very people He loved so completely. Satan called out to Him many times, whether in person or through those whose bodies and voices and minds he had taken over. He threatened. He attempted to intimidate and manipulate. He tried to deceive by twisting truth. Did he really think he would be successful?

In Luke 4, when Jesus was reading and teaching in the synagogue, verse 22 tells us that the people marveled at the gracious words that proceeded out of His mouth. Just a few verses later, these same people “were filled with wrath, rose up, and thrust Him out of the city; they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff.”

The response of Jesus was to pass through the midst of them and go His way.

Another time, recorded in John 8:59, Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple when the people were going to stone Him, and “going through the midst of them, He passed by.”

In John 10:39, Jesus “escaped out of their hand” when they sought again to seize Him.

It reminds me of God parting the Red Sea for Moses and the Israelites to cross over and get out of danger. They literally passed through the midst of the sea and went their way.

Many things may threaten to harm us in our lives, but it is God’s intent that we will pass through these times and go our way with Him. He is able to keep us from falling (Jude 24). Jesus will not lose any of us that have been given to Him by His Father (John 6:39). We, too, can face down our enemies and walk right on by. We do not have to sit there and listen to it. We do not have to respond, unless the Spirit prompts us to say or do something.

By the grace of God, we can quietly pass through the things that would “throw us down” and go our way in His embrace. “My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest” (Exodus 33:14).

Jesus, You are our example. By Your grace, may we pass through the midst of our troubles, unscarred and peaceful, for we know that You are with us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.