They harass, taunt, belittle and berate.  It is not just a small group but a whole gang of people.  You were just surfacing for air.  You rose above your circumstances and boldly spoke the truth about your purpose and identity in Christ.  “Who do you think you are,” they respond.  They glare in anger.  It wasn’t enough to use words.  They got up and rushed at you.  They put obstacles in your way, tried to discredit you and push you back into the suffocating existence you escaped.  Jesus was there.  He went to his hometown and without an ounce of uncertainty declared his purpose.  His purpose proclaimed his identity as the Son of God.

The account reads this way:

23 Then he said, “You will undoubtedly quote me this proverb: ‘Physician, heal yourself’—meaning, ‘Do miracles here in your hometown like those you did in Capernaum.’ 24 But I tell you the truth, no prophet is accepted in his own hometown.

28 When they heard this, the people in the synagogue were furious. 29 Jumping up, they mobbed him and forced him to the edge of the hill on which the town was built. They intended to push him over the cliff, 30 but he passed right through the crowd and went on his way.

Luke 4: 23, 28 New Living Translation (NLT)

The people rejected and berated Jesus.  He responded with a simple truth.  He told them their unwillingness to accept him hindered them from receiving what he had to offer.  That meant they lost the opportunity to be healed, delivered, restored, and strengthened.  They lost everlasting life.  Jesus never denied them his service and never denied his identity.  He stayed true to himself despite their awful actions.  We too have to remain true to who we are.  There is no need to mirror the behavior of our attackers.  The choice to keep your character is what makes the difference between being pushed to the edge and being pushed over it.  Jesus was pushed to the edge by the mob.  They had him right at the cliff.  But he walked through the crowd and headed back to fulfilling his purpose.    So we can train ourselves to be unwavering in our commitment to our purpose.  When pushed to the edge we won’t be shoved over, we will have the strength to walk away.