Jesus Escapes!

Have you ever wondered how Jesus escaped several times from being stoned or killed when the Jews were offended at Him and wanted to kill Him? It was not just because as He said, “A prophet cannot be killed except in Jerusalem.” or that it was not His time. I have! Take the events in John 10:31-39, twice in a short period the Jews wanted to kill Him but it says He escaped out of their hands. It wasn’t because His disciples caused a distraction or attacked the crowd so that Jesus could escape; if that had happened the historians like Josephus would have recorded it.

As I was praying this morning I felt the LORD showed me; I am sure that this is only a new revelation to me and that many have already understood this.

In the prophesy of Isaiah he says that Jesus would look common and would not have any outstanding features to attract people to him; that He would be humble (unlike the way He is portrayed in movies and on TV). His family and His disciples were the only people who really knew what He looked like. The only time people recognized Him in the scriptures before His crucifixion was when He was with a large group of His disciples or was teaching or ministering.

Study the Gospel of John and see how many times He entered into a place and the people did not know it was Him until He started speaking or ministering to people’s needs. When He was in the Synagogue or the Temple and He spoke or ministered He would put on His shawl as was the custom; then people would recognize Him. When He wanted to leave and not be recognized He would take off His shawl and His appearance was so common that suddenly people would not recognize Him and He could pass through the crowd.

This happened in reverse after His resurrection; after He had defeated death and hell taking the keys of their dominions; on the third day when He presented Himself to His disciples they did not recognize Him, in fact they were afraid of Him. He was now in His glorified body that was appealing in appearance and they did not recognize Him except by His voice and behavior.

This is what Jesus calls His disciples (us) to be like humble, plain and not standing out in a crowd. We are not to be like the religious leaders of His day (or ours) seeking glory and fame, glad to be recognized where ever they went. It is a challenge in our media driven day where we can preach and minister to millions without even being there. But, we must seek GOD in humility and seek to be humble in all our life activities.