THE GOSPELS: LESSON 18:
JESUS IS REJECTED AT NAZARETH
TEXT: MATT. 4: 12 - 16; MARK 1: 14; LUKE 4: 14 - 32
Jesus tarried for a while in Cana, but went eventually to his old home town of Nazareth. It was at Nazareth that Jesus lived until he had gone out into the wilderness to be tempted of Satan. Then, apparently, he had moved with his mother and some of his family to Capernaum, which is now and henceforth “his own city.” (Matt. 9: 1) The stories of the discussion with Nicodemus, and the woman at the well – as recorded in John 2 - 4 – are before Jesus returns to live once more in Galilee. Now he makes his “pilgrimage” back to his home town where he finds the proverb true: “A prophet is without honor in his own country.”
MATT. 4: 12 - 16 AND MARK 1: 14: JOHN IS ARRESTED BY HEROD.
One of the reasons Jesus returns to Galilee is never stated directly. There is already a growing threat from the jealous Pharisees and power-mad Sadducees, because Jesus’ popular appeal is threatening their power over the common people. In addition, John has been arrested and thrown into Herod’s prison at Macherus, awaiting final adjudication by Herod. We will read all about Herod and the reasons for John’s arrest later.
Jesus’ return to Galilee fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah 9: 1, 2:
“1. But there will be no gloom for her that was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. 2. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined.”
LUKE 4: 14 - 31 JESUS IS REJECTED AT NAZARETH.
Verses 14, 15: Jesus returns to Galilee
This is after Jesus had gone up to Jerusalem for the Passover feast. We have already mentioned that his activities there (cleansing the temple and working miracles) and doubtless word of his work among the Samaritans had preceded him and caused quite a stir in the towns of Galilee. The people could see that a prophet had arisen. Except for John, it had been over 400 years since there had been a prophet in the land. The last great prophet who could work such powerful miracles as Jesus was Elisha, about 880 BC.
Verse 16: He went to Nazareth, the city of his upbringing; the city where he grew to manhood; the city where he first worked at a trade. This was “his country.”
He goes to the synagogue on the Sabbath day (Saturday), “as his custom was.”
Verses 17 - 20: The chazzan handed the scroll to Jesus and he read Isaiah 61: 1, 2. He inserted an explaining passage from Isaiah 58: 6, “to set at liberty those who are oppressed.” It was perfectly acceptable for a reader to skip around the scriptures in this way, as long as it added to the understanding of his initial passage. Jesus did something unexpected, however: he read a very short passage. Normally the reader would read 21 verses, but they were required to read at least three.
Jesus rolled up the scroll and handed it back to the chazzan who was required to receive it in his RIGHT hand. (Rules, rules, rules.) He then took it back to the “ark” and the people awaited Jesus’ explanations of the text. Notice one of the curious customs of the day: he stood while reading, but sat (on the bench that was on the dais) to give the derash.
Verse 21: Jesus began his speech by saying, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." He, of course, would have gone on to say many other things.
Verse 22: All the words out of Jesus’ mouth were “gracious.” The people were amazed because this was “the carpenter’s son” speaking to them, not a “doctor of the law.” How often we judge people by what we think they should be instead of what they really are!
Verses 23, 24: Jesus reads their minds and anticipates their question, “Where are OUR miracles? Capernaum saw the miracle of the nobleman’s son, why haven’t you done any miracles here?”
Such would be “casting pearls before swine,” for they did not honor him as who he was, God’s prophet.
For additional insight into what the Nazarenes thought of Jesus, see Matthew 13: 54 - 58.
Verses 25 - 27: Jesus gives two examples from Jewish history to show how miracles are wasted on people who have no intention of believing.
1. Elijah and the widow of Zarephath. I Kings 17. Elijah was sent to a Canaanite woman, who sustained him through the famine. NOT a Jewish woman.
2. Elisha the prophet was called to heal Naaman, a Syrian, of his leprosy, NOT a Jewish man.
What is the lesson Jesus is trying to teach these stubborn Nazarenes? Probably the same one the rich man did not understand in Luke 16: 27 - 31. Miracles are of no use to those who won’t even consider the testimony of scripture.
VERSES 28 - 31: THE FIRST ATTEMPT TO KILL JESUS.
Verses 28, 29: The people in the synagogue were filled with wrath and dragged Jesus out to the precipice at the edge of the city, so they might cast him headlong over the edge and see him smashed and dead on the rocks below!
Verses 30 - 32: “But he, passing through the midst of them, went his way.” There are many stories about how Jesus slipped unseen into one of the holes in the rocks at the cliffs of Nazareth, but that isn’t consistent with the scriptures. His only defense here seems to be his own tremendous personality: a presence so holy and righteous that, at the last, the people could not raise a hand against him. And, as he told his mother at Cana “My time has not yet come.” God’s will for his Son would not be thwarted by a mob of angry Nazarenes.
So Jesus went over to Capernaum and taught them in their synagogue. They appreciated his wisdom and insight, they were not angry that he had come from humble beginnings. They saw his words were full of power.;
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