Wilmot First Presbyterian Church

Scripture: Luke 2:2, Matthew 2:23

Nazareth

     Every country and region has charming, small towns.  Nazareth was not one of them.  Nazareth was small but apparently there was nothing about Nazareth reputed to be charming.  Somehow little Nazareth had developed a national reputation as being a small, backward spot people were sorry there was a road out of and even more sorry there was a road into.  There was even a saying, “nothing good can come from Nazareth.”  The disciple-to-be Nathanael (Bartholomew) quotes it when his brother Philip tells him of Jesus (see John 1:46). 

     “…of Nazareth” was not something you would want printed on your business card if you hoped to win friends and influence people.  In fact, some Bible scholars think Matthew is referring to Jesus being a Nazarene as the fulfillment of the prophecy that he will be despised (Ps 22:6, Isaiah 53:3).  Nazareth itself is never mentioned in the Old Testament.  It is one more example of the running joke God pulls off over and over and over again in scripture:  Our obstacles are not God’s obstacles.  Abraham and Sarah are almost 100 years old and without children when God promises them they’ll start a nation…  Moses has a speech impediment…  David is so puny even his own father doesn’t think to show him to Nathaniel when he stops by looking for a future king…  Salvation is through a cross…  What good can come from Nazareth? 

     Maybe even the people of Nazareth had begun to believe the reputation, or perhaps the reputation was earned by their attitude?  They certainly didn’t see one of their own as having any special gift or insights.  To his apparent sadness, they rejected Jesus and his preaching (Matthew 3, Mark 6, Luke 4).  Scriptures does not say why but perhaps they just recognized too many obstacles to really change their fortunes?  The name Nazareth literally means “branch” and it sat up there in Northern Judah some 70 miles from Jerusalem and Bethlehem.  It is a divine irony of sorts that the “shoot of Jesse” would come from a despised “branch” to save the world by dying on “a tree” (cross).  Only God can work things out like this. 

     One might argue that if God has a habit or a hobby, it is perhaps using the worst to create the best.  Nazareth in that sense is just par for God’s course, but so then likewise are the obstacles in our lives.  Those obstacles may mean something to us, but to God they are just incidentals that He will use to proclaim His glory even more. 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, we want to seek You out and be what You call us to be.  We also are so easily overcome by the little obstacles we see in our lives.  Thank You that You just love to use those things we see as problems to bring glory to Your Name.  Help us find You and proclaim the glory of Your Son, Jesus, in whose name we pray, AMEN. 

ACTIVITY:  Is there some work or task you feel called to do but are afraid you are lacking the necessary skill or talent?  What obstacles have you created for God to do this work through you?  Write down a list and see how God overcomes them or uses them for a purpose altogether different than you anticipate.