Thoughts for the Day

Jesus left that place and came to his home town, and his disciples followed him. On the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, ‘Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands! Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?’ And they took offence at him. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Prophets are not without honour, except in their home town, and among their own kin, and in their own house.’ And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them. And he was amazed at their unbelief.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

We see Jesus returning to Nazareth, the place where he had lived for probably twenty-five or more years after Mary and Joseph returned from their time in Egypt. We might wonder why Jesus waited until he was thirty to start his ministry, but there is a clue in the text. The people say, "Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?" Jesus would have been "Joseph's son" if he were alive, so it seems that Joseph has died and Jesus as the eldest son has supported his mother and brothers and sisters as a carpenter until they were old enough to look after themselves. Now, after working throughout Galilee he returns to Nazareth as a Rabbi, a teacher, with his disciples around him.

We know today what it can be like when a celebrity returns to their home-town. We are accustomed to seeing the crowds that greet those who have made their names in the world, who turn up seeking photo opportunities and autographs. Often the crowds are greater when the person has come from a humble background. So when this great teacher and healer returns to Nazareth we can imagine the amazement and the sadness that Jesus must have felt at their rejection of him. These were the people who played with him as a boy and who taught him the faith in his youth, yet their spiritual blindness has made them treat him with contempt.

Jesus could no deed of power (other than some healing), for there is no way that God will continue His work when we His people shut our hearts to Him. God works in partnership with us when we open our hearts to His Spirit.

Heavenly Father,
Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,
taught us that You listen to each cry
that we make to You,
and that You hear and respond to us
when we ask in His name.
Open our hearts and minds to You today
that we might become the people
You would have us be,
and so continue to help bring
Your kingdom to fruition.
Amen.