It’s common for the gospels to tell the same story but with differences. Often, the differences are slight. But when it comes to Jesus’ homecoming(s?) to Nazareth, the accounts are quite different. It’s possible the gospels are referring to different visits, yet there is enough overlap in similarity that it seems they are the same. There’s nothing ground-breaking here, just interesting to consider it all.
In Matthew, Jesus’ homecoming to Nazareth is a bit later in his ministry than in both Mark and Luke (in which it is very early). At this point, he’s given many miracles and taught extensively. Matthew specifically tells us he had just finished sharing all the kingdom of heaven parables. And, as it is in all the other gospels, there is surprise that such good teaching could come from Jesus of Nazareth.1
Why do you think this is so? Doesn’t it seem that a hometown would be proud of the little boy who grew up to do such amazing things?
Could it be that Nazareth serves as a microcosm for the whole of Israel, who rejected Jesus?
Regardless, Jesus is rejected by those familiar to him. Such rejection is familiar to many of us. It’s yet another word to us that what God seeks isn’t familial alignment, but the fruit of the kingdom of heaven as exemplified by how one lives.
Matthew 13:53-58
When Jesus finished these parables, he departed. When he came to his hometown, he taught the people in their synagogue. They were surprised and said, “Where did he get this wisdom? Where did he get the power to work miracles? Isn’t he the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother named Mary? Aren’t James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas his brothers? And his sisters, aren’t they here with us? Where did this man get all this?” They were repulsed by him and fell into sin.
But Jesus said to them, “Prophets are honored everywhere except in their own hometowns and in their own households.” He was unable to do many miracles there because of their disbelief.
Prayer
God,
No one wants to be rejected. Sure, it may seem that a small minority of people seem to enjoy isolation or pessimism or have some kind of penchant for contrarianism. But no one really wants to be rejected. Right?
So how amazing yet again, we find you identifying with us in Jesus’ rejection in Nazareth. I wonder how he dealt with it. Was he so settled and comfortable in the knowledge that he was your son that it just ran right off his back? Was his heart that impenetrable? I imagine it wasn’t.
Regardless, thank you for sending Jesus. Thank you for identifying with us and standing with us even in rejection by those familiar to us. Help us all to come out, as Jesus did, still desiring the things of hope.
By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.
Even in John, though he does not share a specific homecoming in Nazareth, the notion that anything good could come from from the town is most explicitly stated in John 1:45-46.