Nazareth: Part 3

Luke 4:22-24

“22 All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth.  They said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?”  23 He said to them, “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, “Doctor, cure yourself!” And you will say, “Do here also in your hometown the things that we have heard you did at Capernaum.  24 And he said, “Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet’s hometown.”

Although his words are impressive, the people of Nazareth refused to believe that Jesus was who he said he was. To many Jews, the Christ would mysteriously appear and would be a man of power, education and credentials; not the boy who grew up down the street; not the son of a carpenter.

The people of Nazareth had a vision of who and what Christ would be and Jesus did not fit that vision.  Jesus read their doubts and knew they would ask him to perform miracles like he did in Capernaum, in order to prove that he was the Messiah.

The people of Nazareth were, in effect, asking the same thing of Jesus that Satan asked in order to tempt Jesus in the wilderness: “If you are the Son of God …” (Luke 4:3).

In our relationship with Christ, the conditional “if” is a sign of our unbelief.  

Let us approach Him in faith, without conditions… praying, “Your will be done.”

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)