Just a short post today.

JESUS REJECTED AT NAZARETH (AGAIN)

The first time Jesus went back to teach in the synagogue at Nazareth after beginning His ministry was recorded in Luke 4:16-30. That’s when He read the passage from Isaiah about the Spirit of the LORD anointing Him to proclaim the Good News. And then He told them (accurately prophesying) that He would not be able to do many mighty works among them. And He compared them to apostate Israel. That’s what made them so angry they attempted to throw Him off a cliff.

It appears this is His first time back since then. The people of Nazareth have undoubtedly heard the reports of Jesus’ miracles. Maybe they reevaluated how they had treated the neighbor guy that the rest of the country is celebrating as the greatest prophet since Elisha and maybe He’s even THE Prophet, the Messiah, and about to become their next king. If so, it’s not a great idea to be known as the town that tried to kill the Messiah. Maybe they should smooth that over…

👨🏻‍🌾 Nazarene Ned: So… I heard that Jesus raised a kid from the dead at a funeral.

🧔🏻‍♂️ Zach (Ned’s Nazarene Neighbor): Yeah… I heard that too. That’s the second one. Don’t think that’s been done since Elisha. I was down to Capernaum the other day and there was a fella there from the other side of the lake. And all they can talk about is how Jesus cast a thousand demons outa some wild man who used to live in the cemetery. The demons made a whole herd of pigs go crazy and they went and ran off a cliff and drowned themselves.

👨🏻‍🌾 Ned: Hmm. Maybe we were a little too hard on him last time he was here. You reckon he’s a real prophet?

🧔🏻‍♂️ Zach: Well, if he isn’t, how is he doin’ all these miracles?

👨🏻‍🌾 Ned: S’pose we invite him to come back and teach on a Sabbath – to show him there’s no hard feelings? Just in case he’s a real prophet and all, we wouldn’t want to, ya know, be on the wrong side.

They didn’t try to throw Him off the cliff this time when Jesus taught in the synagogue, but neither was it an enthusiastic response. Perhaps the people of Nazareth were expecting Jesus to have a glowing face like Moses. He looked like the guy they had always known who made furniture and tools and stuff. They saw the rest of His family every week at the market. They shopped just like everyone else. Jesus hadn’t gone away to Rabbi school. Where did His wild ideas about the Kingdom of God come from?

Maybe they thought Jesus was trying to be better than His country neighbors. Nazareth was a backwater. Perhaps they resented His fame. Whatever it was, they just couldn’t believe that He was sent by God.

There were only 2 times that Jesus “marveled” at something. It’s a word that means to wonder in amazement.

Jesus “marveled” only twice; once at great faith and once at great unbelief.

• Jesus marveled at the faith of the centurion, Mt. 8:10; Lk. 7:9
• Jesus marveled at the unbelief of His own neighbors, Mk. 6:6

“And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭6‬:‭5‬ ‭ESV‬‬

I like to imagine that Jesus went to visit a few elderly neighbors. Maybe at the end of their visit He’d lay hands on them and heal them. I imagine children and young people may have been more open to believing in Him too. Maybe he healed a few sprained ankles, scraped knees, and earaches.

Jesus is just the coolest, most wonderful, most perfect person ever. I have to marvel along with Him at the disbelief of His neighbors. Imagine having Jesus – the Creator of the Universe in human flesh – in the house next door. I’d be camped on the door step. I’d want to ask Him about every complicated scripture and the mysteries of the universe. I’d be asking Him to lay hands on even a hangnail and just soaking up every word He said.

I wonder if Jesus ever marvels at the disbelief in the world now.

Because I sure do.