Holy Boldness

wrongs and the evil that persisted. Consider the implications of such a decision. The rejection of the message of the kingdom meant that people would rather be left alone in bondage than be led into freedom. They would rather govern themselves in ignorance and darkness than engage God’s invitation in the light. The shaking off of the dust said, “We have brought you help from heaven but you have chosen to reject it. You are left to yourselves.” It was meant to convey that the apostles could not bear the responsibility for what would follow. It was a cutting off of the city or town from any association with the apostolic message and abandoning the city to its own conventions. Like the prophets of old, Jesus came first with a message for the nation of Israel. Israel was at a crucial time in her history. Jesus called it “…the time of her visitation.” (Luke 19:44) Jesus was not just offering opinions about current events but came as the messenger of the covenant. (Malachi 3:1) He came to Israel with a message about its destiny. He did not come touting a philosophy that people could take or leave. He came announcing a kingdom that would redefine reality and was in itself the fulfillment of the divine purpose for both Israel and the entire world. It was God’s answer to the ancient and current dilemma. Furthermore, Jesus brought a demonstration of the reality of that kingdom which He then reproduced in His followers. Jesus was often confronted with a demand for “signs” but signs were there in abundance for those who were looking for reasons to believe. Therefore, acceptance or rejection of the message would have very real consequences. The rejection of the Gospel was a rejection of the calling of God for the nation as well as a denial of God himself. Therefore, there were inherent consequences to the rejection of the message just as there are today. “…it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.” (v. 14) To whom much is given, much is expected. Jesus warned that the judgment of refusing to acknowledge the message was based on the strength of the evidence that had been shown to collaborate the testimony given. Sodom and Gomorrah were two towns destroyed by fire through the judgment of God based on a relatively small amount of revelation. So when abundant evidence for faith had been supplied, there was and remains an expectation for receptivity of the message. Israel’s privilege was also her culpability. Because the nation had been shown so much due

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