Jesus of Nazareth….

 Jesus of Nazareth….

Three years ago, when we went to Israel, one of the  first places we visited was Nazareth…now, mind you, it isn’t a little village anymore, but a bustling town…the site where it is purported that was Jesus’ home is hidden under a huge church which covers considerable ground…so the ambiance of a carpenter’s shop, and a home is totally lost in the hustle and bustle of a city…with venders all around selling their wares…

There is, close by, a recreation of the Biblical Nazareth which can be toured to take you back into Jesus’ time…we didn’t visit it, but, I have toured via video..plus the Bible Museum in Washington DC has a recreated a village as well or Biblelands in Orlando, Florida …you get a sense of walking about in Jesus time…his hometown…

We may have those “hometowns” in our lives, those places we hold dear or maybe not…places we may return to, which hold memories or family, both good and bad, smells, sites that take us back in time…places where we played as children, grew up, family gatherings…where we were known…familiar…they may bring back trauma for some or thoughts of safety and grounding for our lives…

Jesus  left Nazareth to be baptized in the Jordon…

He went to speak in the local synagogue…where he was rejected…he didn’t do many mighty works there because of their unbelief…his own home town…

But he was known as “Jesus of Nazareth” until his death…

His mission… “18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. 

He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”

Luke 4:18-19, Isaiah 61

Thank YOU….for fulfilling Your promises….

And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene.

Matthew 2:23

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

Mark 1:9

And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali,

Matthew 4:13

And when Jesus had finished these parables, he went away from there, and coming to his hometown he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.” And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.

Matthew 13:53-58

He went away from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works 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 offense at him. And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.” And 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. And he went about among the villages teaching.

Mark 6:1-6

And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.” And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” And all spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth. And they said, “Is not this Joseph's son?” And he said to them, “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘“Physician, heal yourself.” What we have heard you did at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well.’” And he said, “Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown. 25 But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens were shut up three years and six months, and a great famine came over all the land, 26 and Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. 27 And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” When they heard these things, all in the synagogue were filled with wrath. And they rose up and drove him out of the town and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could throw him down the cliff. But passing through their midst, he went away.

Luke 4:16-30 

Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.”

John 19:19 

how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

Acts 10:38

https://www.seetheholyland.net/nazareth-village/#:~:text=Small-town%20life%20in%20the%20time%20of%20Jesus%20has,his%20tools%20and%20a%20weaver%20demonstrating%20her%20craft.