The people of Jesus’ home town AKA Nazarenes
The people of Jesus’ home town AKA Nazarenes
Nazareth seems like a small town where everyone knows each other's business and family.
“Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And aren’t His sisters here with us? ” So they were offended by Him.”
Jesus was not identified by his job, but rather by his dad’s business. No doubt that Jesus had spent time with Joseph doing the “carpentry” work with him. They knew His mom, brothers, and sisters. There may even been a few in-laws in the room.
“So He was not able to do any miracles there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. And He was amazed at their unbelief.”
But they did not believe in Jesus. They were amazed that such a man from Nazareth could possess such good wisdom and do a few good miracles, but they did not believe in Jesus. He was not able to let his power shine because of their unbelief. Ultimately Jesus’ hands were tied. He could do very little there among the people of Nazareth.
To further discredit Him the religious leaders adapted the title of Nazarene to Him and His followers.
“Then He asked them again, “Who is it you’re looking for? ”
“Jesus the Nazarene,” they said.”
“Pilate also had a sign lettered and put on the cross. The inscription was: JESUS THE NAZARENE THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
We all have a past. Sooner or later it will show up and begin to try to limit our effectiveness in our daily living but we must do what Jesus did. First, he ministered to as many people as he could there in Nazareth. Second, he moved on to people who would listen to Him and receive Him. We should not hang out with those who doubt our transformation in Christ, but we should be able to tell them of Jesus who has made the change and be a different person in their eyes. But we should be able to find people, even in our small towns, who will believe in us moving us forward in Christ.
“When he (Paul) arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to associate with the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, since they did not believe he was a disciple. Barnabas, however, took him and brought him to the apostles and explained to them how Saul had seen the Lord on the road and that He had talked to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken boldly in the name of Jesus.”
Paul experienced rejection among the disciples in Jerusalem, but he found a listening ear in Barnabas who might have known his deeds in Damascus.
Rejection should not be taken as a bad thing for us, but it should give us some hope. There may be people who reject us because of Jesus but there will be people who accept us because of Jesus.
“If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own. However, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of it, the world hates you. Remember the word I spoke to you: ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will also keep yours.”
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