Matthew 13:53-58 English Standard Version

Jesus Rejected at Nazareth

⁵³ And when Jesus had finished these parables, he went away from there, ⁵⁴ 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? ⁵⁵ 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? ⁵⁶ And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” ⁵⁷ 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.” ⁵⁸ And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.

What attracts the lost to Jesus? What in us reveals Jesus? The perception of others during our witnessing to the lost is vital. They see us as men, common, nothing special and if they are looking at us, they will find us. We cannot control the perceptions of others. If salvation is going to come to the lost, it will be that they seek God and not us.

It is not that Jesus could not do mighty works among them, it was an example of the need for faith to initiate belief. These people of Nazareth believed they knew this Jesus before His ministry began. They would not allow their perceptions to be changed.

They had all the elements required to believe for they saw that this Jesus was no longer a child and that something was unbelievably different about Him. The same should be said about each of us. We are not as before, we are new creations in Christ and as such should be seen as different.

What makes us different?

1 Corinthians 10:13 English Standard Version (ESV) No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Yesterday’s devotion was a warning against wasting time over seeking knowledge that draws us away from God’s will for us. The reason I gave that warning is because it happened to me. The temptation to know things that are hidden from our sight may happen to others. I am no different and if it could happen to me, it might happen to others.

The important thing to understand here is that God is faithful. When we get distracted from our relationship with Him, He knows how to draw us back into relationship. How He does that will begin with a gentle nudge. If we persist He will step up the pressure to return to Him. If we allow it to get out of hand, then we may find ourselves in the realm of chastening.

As a child of ten I went to play with a friend. My grandmother was visiting and watching over me while my mother was out shopping and I lied to my grandmother about where I was going. When my mother got home she check on me and found I was not where I said I would be. Mom sent out a search party and they found me doing something extremely dangerous.

My punishment was not for doing something dangerous, it was for lying to my grandmother. It was the worst beating I ever got and the last. She put the fear of mother in me.

I tell that tale as a warning that we should not place God in a position of sending out a search party to haul us back into relationship. Do not tempt God to put the fear of God in us. Appreciate the loving relationship.