Jesus, Rejected at Nazareth

PRAYER PRACTICE

Lectio – Read today’s passage through once. Then spend some time praying and asking God to show you what you need to pay attention to in the text. Read it again. Now ask God to help you see what this text, and the part that has stood out, may mean for you. Don’t expect to get a clear word every time but always be ready to really hear from God through His Word.

Daily Reading  

Luke 4:14-30

REFLECTION

Hometown Hero

by Tom Richards

In today’s reading we learn that Jesus has returned to his hometown of Nazareth. Nazareth was a small town (population thought to be 200 – 400 people) in the northern region of Galilee. It was primarily an agricultural community and seems to have been held in some contempt in first century Palestine as noted in John 1:46 when Nathaniel asks, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” This feeling may have stemmed from local rivalries or more likely the humble nature of this rural community. 

Jesus was apparently living in or near Capernaum at this time. Matthew 4:12-14 states: “When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he withdrew to Galilee. Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali — to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah.” And, in Mark 2:1 the writer says: “A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home.” This provides some perspective on Luke 4:23 in today’s reading where we learn that Jesus had performed miracles as part of his ministry in Capernaum, and the people of Nazareth had heard the “rumors”. Jesus said to them, “Surely you will quote this proverb to me: ‘Physician, heal yourself!’ And you will tell me, ‘Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.’” 

Even though Jesus was raised in Nazareth, it does not appear that the people knew who he really was. When he tried to explain it to them things did not end well as we see at the end of today’s reading. With this background, can you in some small way relate to the skepticism Jesus encountered from the people he grew up with? Have you ever felt uncomfortable about your faith walk among people from your “hometown”? Have you ever been skeptical regarding someone you knew at a different time in their life (and yours) who now openly confesses their faith? Unlike Jesus, no one has lived a sinless life and most of us have “baggage” in our past (and the present), especially our youth. So… those who knew us then may remember and point out these faults as we try to live our faith today. And we may find ourselves doing the same. 

But Jesus overcame all of this for us. He has forgiven our sins and the mistakes in our past and encourages us to live free of those burdens. He asks to show the same grace to others that he has shown to us. We can return to our “home towns” and confront mistakes we have made with the good news of the gospel. The news that “proclaims freedom for the prisoners, recovery of sight for the blind, and sets the oppressed free.” Thanks be to God!

Precious Savior, as we begin another day, we ask that you be a presence in our lives and a guiding light as we embrace the truth of your Word.