#19: ANOTHER VISIT TO NAZARETH (continued)
(Matthew 13:54-58, Mark 6:1-6)
Now we will continue reading about Jesus’ second visit to Nazareth to minister there:
The Heavenly Father leads Jesus back to Nazareth and the Spirit of Grace is upon him mightily as he again teaches in the synagogue on the Sabbath. Last time he ministered here, some men tried to throw him over a cliff and they saw God deliver him miraculously.
But even now many of these people still remember him and his family the way they were years before while he was growing up. They have heard about the extraordinary nature of his ministry, but they wonder, “How is it that this man, who only months ago repaired wagons and furniture and built houses, could now be a mighty prophet of God?”
With jealous hearts, they reason, “What is this wisdom that is given to him? And how is it that mighty deeds come about through his hands?” For Jesus has a reputation of power going forth from his hands as he heals the sick, as written, “His splendor was like the sunrise; rays flashed from his hand, where his power was hidden” (Habakkuk 3:4, NIV).
Also, the people marvel at the grace-filled words that come out of his mouth:
Messianic Prophecy Fulfilled:
(Given 1050 B. C.)
“You are the most excellent of men
and your lips have been anointed with grace,
since God has blessed you forever”
(Psalm 45:2, NIV).
As he stands before them he understands his mission from God: to bless the people by turning them away from their sins and to give his life to suffer for their sins (Acts 3:26). Jesus also operates in the role of Personal Deliverer by setting free the sick, the diseased, and the demon possessed. But these people don’t understand the concept of a Personal Deliverer coming to save them from their sins and the consequences of sin.
When people in Israel heard prophecies about God sending the Messiah and delivering them out of the hand of their enemies, they interpreted them to mean that God would soon deliver them from the tyranny of the Romans (Luke 1:67-75). Jesus empathizes with his countrymen about the cruel treatment they receive from the Romans, but he sees beyond those enemies, to the true enemies of Israel and of mankind - Satan and his cohorts. Those were the enemies that Jesus came to overthrow. The leaders of Israel wanted someone to fix the symptoms seen on the surface, but God wanted to remove the basic cause of the peoples’ problems - their sinful hearts and oppression from evil spirits.
The residents of Christ’s hometown don't want to accept him as a prophet of God, much less as the foretold Messiah-Deliverer. One of them asks loud enough for all to hear,
“Isn't this the carpenter, the son of Mary?”
“And isn't he the brother of James, Joses, Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us also?” another asks (Mark 6:2-3).
How difficult it is for them to believe that a man they remembered as a master carpenter in his twenties could now be a major prophet of God or the sent Messiah! Therefore they are jealous of him and offended, and don't want to believe in him. But did they think the Messiah would suddenly appear as a full-grown man? The Scriptures teach that the Messiah would be born among God’s people and grow up:
Messianic Prophecies Fulfilled:
(Given 740 and 712 B. C.)
“He grew up before him like a tender shoot . . .”
“For a child is born to us, a son is given to us.
And the government will rest on his shoulders.
These will be his royal titles: Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace”
(Isaiah 53:2a, NIV, Isaiah 9:6, NLT).
Also, Jesus didn't walk about with a visible halo over his head or with some other sign with him all the time to prove he was the Messiah:
Messianic Prophecy Fulfilled:
(Given 712 B. C.)
“There was nothing beautiful or majestic
about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him.
He was despised and rejected . . .”
(Isaiah 53:2b-3a, NLT)
Seeing that the people are not receiving him, Jesus gives them a proverb, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his native place, and among the relatives, and in his own house” (Mark 6:4, LITV).
Jesus was honored as a prophet in city after city, but not here. It amazes him that these religious people, who came to hear God's Word every week, have such unbelief. Because they are so dominated by the spirit of unbelief, Jesus cannot work any mighty miracle among them (Mark 6:1-6). So the people of Nazareth reject him a second time, although this time in a milder way.
Messianic Prophecy Fulfilled:
(Given 1520 B. C.)
“. . . my acquaintances are completely estranged from me . . .
my friends have forgotten me . . . they look upon me as an alien”
(Job 19:13b, 14, 15b, NIV).
Comment: If those at Nazareth had received Jesus, they would have received his grace, spiritual blessings, favor and miracles (John 1:16, Mark 6:4-5). Mark 6:5-6a sums up the sad ending of this account: “Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. And He marveled because of their unbelief” (NKJV).
Are we allowing Jesus to do mighty works in our churches and our personal lives? Or are we stuck in some kind of unbelief that is hindering us from believing that Jesus wants to do mighty works among us? Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). And the eyes of the Lord search throughout the earth for those whose hearts are perfect towards Him, so that He can work miracles in their lives (II Chronicles 16:9). If you are ready to, pray this prayer with me, “Jesus, I open up to You and invite You to do mighty works in my life. Change in me whatever needs to be changed so that I can be open to your mighty works. Amen.”
Note: much of this devotional is from The Life of Jesus Foretold, pages 127-131.