Changing
our mindset about a subject takes some work on our part. We hear that Jesus was
from Nazareth, but rarely do we recognize where that is and the implication of
that. Jesus was not from Jerusalem; he
was born in Bethlehem, but resided in Nazareth while growing up after moving
back to Israel from Egypt. If we take a look at Nazareth, which is in the Galilee
area north of Samaria, we will find some interesting things that might change
our old mindset. Nazareth is about 94 miles from Jerusalem. That is about a three to four day journey by
foot. One would have to travel through Samaria
or over the mountains to the east or by sea on the west to get to the
south. We looked at Samaria previously and learned
that the Jews hated Samarians. The Jews from
Judea didn’t like the people from the Galilee region either. To picture Israel, think of the Southern
third of the nation as the region of Judah, the middle third of the nation as
Samaria, and the Northern third of the nation as the Galilee region.
Nazareth
is the place that Joseph and Mary come from.
The Angel announced to Mary that she would birth the Messiah. Yet Nazareth was not a holy place with an
abundance of Godly Jews. Mary and Joseph
and their families were among the minority in Nazareth. This is interesting as we seem to think that
Jesus was surrounded by a Torah observant community. Mary and Joseph were living among a
predominantly Gentile community. Something
else we do not understand is that there were synagogues in lots of communities,
and just one temple, in Jerusalem. So there were observant Jews in many
communities but living among a majority of Gentiles. When Assyria conquered the Northern kingdom the
area became mixed with people from Assyria.
Typically, when the Assyrians conquered a nation they would integrate
the people into their own society, not keep them separate. When those individuals wanted to move
throughout the Assyrian kingdom they could.
If we remember, after Judah was conquered by the Babylonians, and then
Assyria conquered Babylon, the Assyrian king let Ezra and Nehemiah rebuild the
temple in Jerusalem because Assyria owned the land. Eventually the Greeks and
then the Romans came in as the political leaders.
The
fact that Jesus came out of Nazareth was an attestation of His ministry to call
all redeemed, not simply Jews. While
Jesus was sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, he came out of the
Gentile regions and many there believed in Him.
Jesus ministered in the synagogues, healed, and set captives free. Jesus
never told the Galileans’ or the Samarians to change what they were doing. He never said they should do something
different. Instead he ministered and
they believed. This tells us that the
religious traditions that were different among the northern two thirds of the
nation of Israel, compared to the southern third, were not at issue with Jesus.
He wasn’t concerned about religious tradition.
The synagogues were places of assemblies, and were also used as judgment
halls, and schools. There, people prayed, and listened to scripture
reading. There wasn’t a Holy of Holies,
or animal sacrifices in the synagogues. Synagogues were the meeting place of
the Jews of the region, the place of assembly.
Zacharias
and Elisabeth were living in Judea when Elisabeth was six months pregnant. Mary lived in Nazareth. Mary conceived and went to visit Elisabeth. That
was around a 100 mile journey.
Luke
1:24-27 And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five
months, saying,25 Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he
looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.26 And in the sixth month the
angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,27 To a
virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the
virgin's name was Mary.KJV
Luke
1:39-45And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste,
into a city of Juda;40 And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted
Elisabeth.41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of
Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy
Ghost:42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among
women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.43 And whence is this to me, that
the mother of my Lord should come to me?44 For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy
salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.45 And
blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things
which were told her from the Lord.KJV
When
Mary came to the door and said “Hello”, Elisabeth was filled with the Holy
Spirit, and then Elisabeth prophesied. Doesn’t that seem strange? Elisabeth knew that Mary believed and
conceived. Mary went back to Nazareth
then, and just before she was to give birth she and Joseph traveled to
Bethlehem. Three to four days on a
donkey.
Luke
2:1-6 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from
Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.2 (And this taxing was
first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)3 And all went to be taxed,
every one into his own city.4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the
city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called
Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)5 To be taxed
with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.6 And so it was, that,
while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be
delivered.KJV
Another
interesting thing happened to Mary of Nazareth, two people prophesied about
Jesus after his birth.
Luke
2:25-40 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and
the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and
the Holy Ghost was upon him.26 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost,
that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.27 And he
came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child
Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,28 Then took he him up in his
arms, and blessed God, and said,29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in
peace, according to thy word:30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,31 Which
thou hast prepared before the face of all people;32 A light to lighten the
Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.33 And Joseph and his mother
marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.34 And Simeon blessed them,
and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and
rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;35
(Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of
many hearts may be revealed.36 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the
daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had
lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;37 And she was a widow of
about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served
God with fastings and prayers night and day.38 And she coming in that instant
gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked
for redemption in Jerusalem.39 And when they had performed all things according
to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city
Nazareth.40 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom:
and the grace of God was upon him.KJV
Simeon
said Jesus was a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people.
Anna talked about Jesus to people looking for redemption. Something we have to realize is that Luke was
not an eyewitness to these events. Luke
was a Gentile from Syria who was a physician, and had a good knowledge of the
Greek language. He recorded these events in detail, but left out the coming of
the Magi. The order of some of the gospel’s events is questionable as we shall
see, yet he gives a very detailed account of historical events. Mary and Joseph
lived in Bethlehem until the Magi came and left. They took Jesus into Egypt for a while and
then returned to Nazareth.
Matt
2:13-23 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to
Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and
flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek
the young child to destroy him.14 When he arose, he took the young child and
his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:15 And was there until the death
of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the
prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.16 Then Herod, when he saw
that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew
all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from
two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired
of the wise men.17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the
prophet, saying,18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping,
and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be
comforted, because they are not.19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of
the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,20 Saying, Arise, and take the
young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead
which sought the young child's life.21 And he arose, and took the young child
and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.22 But when he heard that
Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to
go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside
into the parts of Galilee:23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth:
that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called
a Nazarene.KJV
The
family moves back to Nazareth from Egypt.
They had friends and relatives there. I would guess that moving back
there was an easy choice. Let’s keep
this in mind. While they lived in Egypt,
and lived in Nazareth, they were living among more Gentiles than if they had
been in Judah. This is the cause of discrimination from the people of Judah
towards the people of Samaria and Galilee.
Even though the entire region of Israel was run by Rome, there seemed to
be a higher concentration of observant Jews in Judah.
Luke
2:42-52 And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the
custom of the feast.43 And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned,
the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not
of it.44 But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's
journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.45 And when
they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.46 And it
came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in
the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.47 And
all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.48 And when
they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast
thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.49
And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be
about my Father's business?50 And they understood not the saying which he spake
unto them.51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject
unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.52 And Jesus
increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.KJV
It
is interesting that Jesus, at 12 yrs old, living in a predominantly Gentile
area, could eloquently converse with the religious leaders of Jerusalem. Jesus went back to Nazareth with his parents,
but when it was time to start his ministry he gathered his disciples from the
Galilee region, not Jerusalem. This is
where the story gets interesting. He did
not go south to Jerusalem to the knowledgeable leaders; he went to his region,
to those who had a heart for God. This is a point we have to focus on for a
bit. Anyone can have a heart for God
without an “office” in the synagogue or church. One might think that Jesus
would build a team from among people living in Judah, yet that is not what
Jesus did. People living in the north
believed Jesus was the Messiah, while leaders in the south parts of Israel did
not.
John
1:35-51 Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;36 And
looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!37 And the
two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.38 Then Jesus turned,
and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him,
Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?39 He
saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with
him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.40 One of the two which heard
John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.41 He first
findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias,
which is, being interpreted, the Christ.42 And he brought him to Jesus. And
when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be
called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.43 The day following Jesus
would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.44
Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.45 Philip findeth
Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and
the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.46 And Nathanael
said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto
him, Come and see.47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him,
Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!48 Nathanael saith unto him,
Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip
called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.49 Nathanael
answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King
of Israel.50 Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw
thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than
these.51 And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye
shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the
Son of man.KJV
John
the Baptist had just announced that Jesus is the Son of God; therefore there
were people who heard what John said. Jesus gathered disciples from the Galilee
region, and those who would minister with him seemed to have known a little
about him. After calling his disciples,
they were all attending a wedding in Cana, about six miles from Nazareth. Jesus turned water into wine, and while this
seems to be his first public miracle, Mary his mother acts as if miracles are
normal for Jesus. When Jesus came out of
the wilderness being tempted by the devil he went into Galilee. Luke says there went out a fame of him
throughout the region. Jesus started
teaching in the regions synagogues (more than one synagogue).
Luke
4:13-21 And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him
for a season.14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and
there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.15 And he
taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.16 And he came to Nazareth,
where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the
synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.17 And there was
delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the
book, he found the place where it was written,18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon
me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent
me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and
recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,19 To
preach the acceptable year of the Lord.20 And he closed the book, and he gave
it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in
the synagogue were fastened on him.21 And he began to say unto them, This day
is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.KJV
I
once heard someone teaching that Jesus went into the temple in Jerusalem to
declare his ministry, reading from Isaiah.
That is not true. Jesus was in
Nazareth in a synagogue, not in Jerusalem in the temple. This is a huge blunder. I think it is what most Jews would want one
to believe, but the fact is that Jesus declared his ministry in Nazareth. This was his hometown.
Luke
4:22-30 And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which
proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's son? 23 And he
said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal
thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy
country.
What
Happened in Capernaum? We have to remember that Luke was not an eyewitness, not
a disciple while Jesus was on earth. Therefore, Luke records what happened at
Capernaum after this account, but it probably occurred before. If not these
specific events, then similar events took place. Let’s explore. Mark tells us:
Mark 1:21-39 And they went into Capernaum;
and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught.22
And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had
authority, and not as the scribes.23 And there was in their synagogue a man
with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,24 Saying, Let us alone; what have we
to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know
thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold
thy peace, and come out of him.26 And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and
cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.27 And they were all amazed,
insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this?
what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean
spirits, and they do obey him.28 And immediately his fame spread abroad
throughout all the region round about Galilee.29 And forthwith, when they were
come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew,
with James and John.30 But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever, and anon
they tell him of her.31 And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her
up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.32 And at
even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and
them that were possessed with devils.33 And all the city was gathered together
at the door.34 And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast
out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him.35
And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and
departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.36 And Simon and they that
were with him followed after him.37 And when they had found him, they said unto
him, All men seek for thee.38 And he said unto them, Let us go into the next
towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth.39 And he
preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils.KJV
Jesus
had been causing a stir in the Galilee region.
This is why Jesus said to the people in the synagogue of Nazareth that
they would say to him “Physician heal thyself”. In other words “Jesus you have
a demon, cast it out of yourself” which seems like a harsh thing to say. Yet this is because he grew up in the region,
among the people. Sometimes when we live
in an area most of our lives, our friends and family don’t think much of
us. They see us as the kid next door,
not the next super hadron collider inventor.
Jesus’ reply was to the point. He
says even though lots of widows had needs, Elijah stayed with only one and
their meal and oil lasted through the famine. Also, lots of lepers had needs,
but Elisha healed only one.
Luke
4:24 And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own
country.25 But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of
Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great
famine was throughout all the land;26 But unto none of them was Elias sent,
save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.27 And many
lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was
cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.28 And all they in the synagogue, when they
heard these things, were filled with wrath,29 And rose up, and thrust him out
of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was
built, that they might cast him down headlong.30 But he passing through the midst
of them went his way,KJV
Matthew
13 tells us of Jesus’ rejection in Nazareth.
Recognize that Matthew was an eyewitness, therefore all the teachings
Jesus did from Matthew 4, after the temptations, up to chapter 13, were all
done in the Galilee region.
Matt
13:53-58 And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he
departed thence.54 And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in
their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this
man this wisdom, and these mighty works?55 Is not this the carpenter's son? is
not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and
Judas?56 And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man
all these things?57 And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A
prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.58
And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.KJV
Mark
says this:
Mark
6:4-6 But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own
country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.5 And he could there do no
mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed
them.6 And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the
villages, teaching.KJV
It
must have been strange for those people of Nazareth to hear that the people of
Capernaum were getting healed and having demons cast out, but that Jesus could
not help them because they thought of him as the kid next door. Yet Jesus chose his hometown to read his ordination
prophecy. Now there are some interesting
treasures in his reading from Isaiah.
To
get a running start, Isaiah tells us that Gentiles are in the house of
God. Remember the people from Judah, at
the time of Isaiah, thought they were better than the northern regions of
Israel. The Northern Kingdom had been captured at this time and the Southern
Kingdom was on shaky ground. Isaiah “saw” the messiah and preached about
Him. Isaiah saw the Gentiles being
taught, worshipping and being redeemed by the Messiah. From this time period, people of the Southern
Kingdom should have realized the bigger picture, which was that the Gentiles
would be fellow heirs and of the same body.
Yet 730 years later the religious leaders still didn’t believe the words
of Isaiah.
Isa
2:1-4 The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.2
And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's
house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted
above the hills; and all nations [1471 Gentiles] shall flow unto it.3 And many
people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will
walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the
Lord from Jerusalem.4 And he shall judge among the nations [1471 Gentiles], and
shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and
their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war any more.KJV
During
the millennial kingdom, foreign nations, Gentiles, will fill the house of the
Lord and learn from him. Next the Gentiles come to pay tribute to the
Lord.
Isa
60:1-5 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen
upon thee.2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness
the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen
upon thee.3 And the Gentiles [1471] shall come to thy light, and kings to the
brightness of thy rising.4 Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they
gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far,
and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side.5 Then thou shalt see, and flow
together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of
the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles [1471] shall
come unto thee.KJV
And
here we see again attesting to the Millennial Kingdom.
Isa
60:11-13 Therefore thy gates shall be open continually; they shall not be shut
day nor night; that men may bring unto thee the forces of the Gentiles [1471],
and that their kings may be brought.12 For the nation [1471] and kingdom that
will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations [1471] shall be utterly
wasted.13 The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir tree, the pine
tree, and the box together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will
make the place of my feet glorious.KJV
What
we see Isaiah saying for the millennial kingdom is that salvation is for the
Gentile as well as the Jew; anyone who believes Jesus is the Messiah. Then Chapter 61 of Isaiah is what Jesus
recited in Nazareth.
Isa
61:1-2 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me
to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the
brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the
prison to them that are bound;2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord KJV
Jesus
stopped here and told the people in the synagogue at Nazareth that that
scripture was fulfilled in their ears.
As the kid next door, it seems like a stretch for people to
conceive. The bigger picture is that
Jesus came to a predominately Gentile region, gathered others, did miracles,
and then declared his ministry. The rest
of the verse goes on to describe the coming millennial reign.
Isa
61:2-11 , and the day of vengeance of
our God; to comfort all that mourn;3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion,
to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of
praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of
righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.4 And they
shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and
they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.5 And
strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be
your plowmen and your vinedressers.6 But ye shall be named the Priests of the
Lord: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of
the Gentiles [1471], and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.7 For your
shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their
portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy
shall be unto them.8 For I the Lord love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt
offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting
covenant with them.9 And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles [1471],
and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them,
that they are the seed which the Lord hath blessed.10 I will greatly rejoice in
the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the
garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a
bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with
her jewels.11 For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden
causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord God will
cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations [1471].KJV
The
stigma of the title “of Nazareth” carried the picture of a people less
religious than their neighbors to the south.
These people were not as “spiritual” as those in Jerusalem. But Jesus announced his ministry in Nazareth,
collected his disciples from Galilee, spent time being tempted by the devil in
the region, did his first public miracle in Cana, was announced by John the Baptist,
cast out demons and healed the sick in Capernaum; all in the northern region of
Israel. Was God trying to tell us
something?
Assuming
that people knew the previous chapters of Isaiah, they would have been reminded
of the Gentiles being in the Millennial Kingdom. This was not completely
understood until the veil of the temple was torn from top to bottom, an
unlikely way to tear material. If I were
to tear my curtains I would start at the bottom and tear upwards, rather than
get on a ladder and tear from top down.
The way this veil was torn probably left a bit of the curtain un-torn at
the bottom of the veil, while the top was torn in two. Later, the Apostle Paul
clarified this idea and explained it to everyone. The mission of Israel was to
bring the Gentiles to Yahweh, but instead Israel succumbed to the ways of the
Gentiles. Once the religious leaders rejected Jesus as the Messiah, they had no
other option but to kill him, because he was speaking against their pious
ways. While Jesus was born in Bethlehem
as prophesied, he was from Nazareth, and killed in Jerusalem. When he was crucified, Pilate announced him
as Jesus of Nazareth, The King of the Jews, in three languages.
John
19:18-20 Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one,
and Jesus in the midst.19 And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross.
And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.20 This title then
read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the
city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin.KJV
This
is what the religious leaders of Jerusalem didn’t want. They didn’t want history to record that the
Messiah came from the northern region of Israel. They argued with Pilate, but he refused to
change his sign. Every time the phrase Jesus Christ of Nazareth is used it was
understood by the Israelites as Jesus the
Anointed One from the land of the Gentiles, or Jesus the Anointed One who is out of land of the Gentiles. Jesus coming from “out of” the land of the
Gentiles or mixed peoples, is another attestation that he was erasing the
separation between Jew and Gentile. Again
this is why after Pentecost when healings were done in Jesus’ name, the
religious leaders did not want the disciples to use his name.
Acts
2:21-24 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the
Lord shall be saved.22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a
man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did
by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:23 Him, being delivered
by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by
wicked hands have crucified and slain:24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed
the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.KJV
Peter
says whosoever here. It is not just the Jews that get the special
relationship with God any longer; whosoever calls on Jesus shall be saved. Then Peter says Jesus, the one who came out
of the Gentiles, was raised up from the dead. Another bold message spoken by
Peter about Jesus of the Gentiles is in the healing of the lame man at the
temple gate.
Acts
3:6-8 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I
thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.7 And he took
him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle
bones received strength.8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with
them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.KJV
Using
the phrase “Jesus Christ of Nazareth”, the lame man, who was lame from birth,
was healed. That is incredible. The
power in the name of the Anointed one
from Nazareth is miraculous. Isaiah told everyone about the Gentiles coming
to God but at that time the Judeans had not yet rejected God. They thought they were still the world
leaders to bring salvation to the nations.
But when they rejected God, their country collapsed, and later the
religious leaders rejected the Messiah.
Isaiah was clear that the wall of separation would be gone and everyone
could be redeemed and enter into the Millennial Kingdom. The context in Isaiah is interesting as God
takes the time to also correct the errors that crept in regarding fasting. The people were fasting, making it a show and
a ritual to twist the arm of God.
However, God refused to listen and reminded them the way they were
supposed to fast. By the time Jesus was
teaching in Jerusalem, the religious leaders forgot what Isaiah said regarding
fasting and were still making a big show of it.
These same people then forbid the disciples to use the name Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
Acts
4:9-12 If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by
what means he is made whole;10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people
of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified,
whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you
whole.11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is
become the head of the corner.12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for
there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be
saved.KJV
Peter
reiterates that salvation only comes by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Stephen
was martyred attesting to Jesus of Nazareth.
Acts
6:8-15 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles
among the people.9 Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called
the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them
of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen…..10 And they were not able to
resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.11 Then they suborned men,
which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and
against God.12 And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes,
and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,13 And set up
false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words
against this holy place, and the law:14 For we have heard him say, that this
Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which
Moses delivered us.15 And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on
him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.KJV
Again
the religious leaders tried to stop the movement of salvation through Jesus
Christ by accusing Stephen, and bribing people to speak against Stephen. These
people were being bribed to commit a crime, to bear false witness against Stephen;
yet those religious leaders didn’t seem worried about breaking the commandments
when it suited them. Jesus the Anointed One from among the Gentile Land did
actually change the customs of Moses and did rise again on the third
day. Peter speaks at the house of
Cornelius.
Acts
10:34-43 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God
is no respecter of persons:35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and
worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.36 The word which God sent unto the
children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)37
That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began
from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;38 How God anointed Jesus
of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and
healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.39 And we
are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in
Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:40 Him God raised up the third
day, and shewed him openly;41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen
before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from
the dead.42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that
it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.43 To him
give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him
shall receive remission of sins.KJV
Peter
says Jesus’ words were published throughout all of Judaea and started in
Galilee. Now at this time, after Pentecost, the Gentiles received the Holy
Spirit, just like those on the day of Pentecost did. Paul recounts his trip on the road to
Damascus. Damascus is in Syria, and at
that time the disciples had gone out all over the region preaching the good
news of Jesus Christ. Paul was on his
way to imprison those people when Jesus stopped him. In Acts 9, Luke records
Jesus’ words, then in Acts 22 Luke records Paul’s words to the mob when he was
arrested in the temple. Paul’s words clearly
recount Jesus of Nazareth the phrase
Jesus used to identify himself.
Acts
22:5-11 As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the
elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to
Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be
punished.6 And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh
unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round
about me.7 And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul,
Saul, why persecutest thou me?8 And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said
unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.9 And they that were
with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of
him that spake to me.10 And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said
unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all
things which are appointed for thee to do.11 And when I could not see for the
glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came
into Damascus.KJV
In
this account to King Agrippa, Paul is recorded as using the phrase from Acts 9,
but prior to that he himself testifies that he thought to do many things
against the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
Acts
26:1-19 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself.
Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself:2 I think myself
happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee
touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews:3 Especially because I
know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews:
wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.4 My manner of life from my
youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the
Jews;5 Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the
most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.6 And now I stand and am
judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers:7 Unto which
promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come.
For which hope's sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews.8 Why should it
be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?9 I
verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name
of Jesus of Nazareth.10 Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the
saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief
priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.11 And I
punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and
being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.12
Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief
priests,13 At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the
brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me.14
And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and
saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard
for thee to kick against the pricks.15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he
said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet:
for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a
witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the
which I will appear unto thee;17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the
Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,18 To open their eyes, and to turn them
from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may
receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by
faith that is in me.19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto
the heavenly vision:KJV
Jesus
came to bring a uniting of Jew and Gentile, not to separate them. He came to a predominately Assyrian mixed
people, called his disciples, and did miracles.
Once he was known in Judea, people believed there as well, yet
contentions came from the religious leaders.
His name has power to heal but was an insult to the pride of the
religious leaders every time it was used and testified to in public. The religious leaders believed they were
“right” in stopping Jesus’ name, in as much as they bribed people to lie and
stone Stephen. It is interesting that
God chose Nazareth for Jesus to grow up and start his ministry on earth, a
place looked down upon and poorly thought of.
But Jesus was a friend to sinners and Samarians and a resident of
Galilee, the very places the pious religious people hated. Jesus spent a lot of time in synagogues. Why? We will explore that next week.
End Notes:
Nazareth’s
post Messiah history
Islamic era
In 1099, the Crusader Tancred captured Galilee and established his
capital in Nazareth. The ancient diocese of Scythopolis was
also relocated under theArchbishop of Nazareth, one of the four archdioceses in the Kingdom of Jerusalem. The town returned to Muslim control in 1187 following the
victory ofSaladin in the Battle
of Hattin. The remaining
Crusaders and European clergy were forced to leave town.[62] Frederick II managed to negotiate safe passage for
pilgrims from Acre in 1229, and in 1251, Louis
IX, the king of France,
attended mass in the grotto, accompanied by his wife.[62]
In 1263, Baybars, the Mamluk Sultan, destroyed the Christian
buildings in Nazareth and declared the site off-limits to Latin clergy, as part
of his bid to drive out the remaining Crusaders from Palestine.[62] While Arab Christian families continued to
live in Nazareth, its status was reduced to that of a poor village. Pilgrims
who visited the site in 1294 reported only a small church protecting the
grotto.[62]
In the 14th century, Franciscan monks were permitted to return and
live within the ruins of the Basilica, but they were evicted again in 1584.[62] In 1620,Fakhr-al-Din II,
a Druze emir who controlled this part of Ottoman
Syria rule, permitted
them to build a small church at the Grotto of the Annunciation. Pilgrimage
tours to surrounding sacred sites were organized by the Franciscans, but the
monks suffered harassment from surrounding Bedouin tribes who often kidnapped them for
ransom.[62] Stability returned with the rule of Daher el-Omar,
a powerful Bedouin sheikh who
ruled over much of the Galilee and who authorized the Franciscans to build a
church in 1730. That structure stood until 1955, when it was demolished to make
way for a larger building completed in 1967.[62]
Nazareth was captured by the troops of Napoleon Bonaparte in 1799, during his Syrian campaign. Napoleon visited the holy sites and considered
appointing his general Junot as the duke of Nazareth.[62]During the rule of Ibrahim Pasha (1830–1840), the Egyptian general, over much of Ottoman
Syria, Nazareth was open to
European missionaries and traders. After the Ottomans regained control,
European money continued to flow into Nazareth and new institutions were
established. The Christians of Nazareth were protected during the pogroms of
1860s by Aghil Agha, the Bedouin leader who exercised control over the Galilee
between 1845 and 1870.[62]
Kaloost
Vartan, an Armenian from Istanbul, arrived in 1864 and established the first
medical missionary in Nazareth, the Scottish "hospital on the hill",
or the Nazareth Hospital as it is known today, with sponsorship from the Edinburgh Medical
Missionary Society. The Ottoman Sultan,
who favored the French, allowed them to establish an orphanage, the Society of
Saint Francis de Sale. By the late 19th century, Nazareth was a town with a
strong Arab Christian presence and a growing European community, where a number
of communal projects were undertaken and new religious buildings were erected.[62] In 1871 Christ
Church, the city's only
Anglican church, was completed under the leadership of the Rev John Zeller and
consecrated by Bp Samuel
Gobat.[63]
British Mandate
In 1918, Nazareth had a population of 8,000, two-thirds Christian.
Over the next thirty years, the population rose to 18,000.[64]
State of Israel
Nazareth was in the territory allotted to the Arab state under
the 1947 UN Partition Plan. The town was not a field of battle during 1948 Arab-Israeli Warbefore the first truce on 11 June, although some of the villagers
had joined the loosely organized peasant military and paramilitary forces, and
troops from the Arab Liberation Army had entered Nazareth. During the ten days of fighting which
occurred between the first and second truce, Nazareth capitulated to Israeli
troops during Operation Dekel on 16 July, after little more than token resistance. The
surrender was formalized in a written agreement, where the town leaders agreed
to cease hostilities in return for promises from the Israeli officers,
including brigade commander Ben
Dunkelman (the leader of the
operation), that no harm would come to the civilians of the town.
The Israeli government has designated a Nazareth metropolitan area that includes the local councils of Yafa
an-Naseriyye to the south, Reineh,Mashhad and Kafr Kanna to
the north, Iksal and Nazareth
Illit to the east
and Migdal HaEmek to the west.
Preparations for the Pope's visit to Nazareth in 2000 triggered highly
publicized tensions related to the Basilica of the Annunciation. In 1997, permission was granted to construct a
paved plaza to handle the thousands of Christian pilgrims expected to arrive.
The Muslims protested and occupied the site, where a nephew of Saladin is
believed to be buried. A school, al-Harbyeh, had been built on the site by the
Ottomans, and the Shihab-Eddin shrine, along with several shops owned by
the waqf,
were located there. Government approval of plans for a large mosque on the
property triggered protests from Christian leaders around the world. In 2002, a
special government commission permanently halted construction of the mosque.[65]
In March 2006, public protests followed the disruption of a prayer
service by an Israeli Jew and his Christian wife and daughter, who detonated
firecrackers inside the church. The family said it wanted to draw attention to
their problems with the welfare authorities.[66]
In July 2006 a rocket fired by Hezbollah as part of the 2006
Israel-Lebanon conflict killed
two children in Nazareth.[67]
In March 2010, the Israeli government approved a $3 million dollar
plan to develop Nazareth's tourism industry. New businesses receive start-up
grants of up to 30 percent of their initial investment from the Ministry of Tourism.[68]
Demography
Nazareth is the largest Arab city in Israel.[71] Until the beginning of the British Mandate in Palestine (1922–1948), the population was predominantly Arab
Christian (majority Orthodox Christians), with an Arab Muslim minority.
Nazareth today still has a significant Christianpopulation, made up of Maronites, Orthodox Christians, Roman
Catholic, Melkite
Catholics, Anglicans, Baptists, Evangelicals and Copts, among
others. The Muslim population has grown, for a number of historical factors,
that include the city having served as administrative center under British
rule, and the influx of internally displaced
Palestinians absorbed
into the city from neighbouring towns during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war.[4]
In 2009, the Israel Central Bureau of
Statistics reported
that Nazareth's population was 69% Muslim and 30.9% Christian.[72] The current mayor is a Christian.[4] The greater Nazareth metropolis area had a
population of 210,000, including 125,000 (59%) Israeli Arabs and 85,000 Jews
(41%). It is the only urban area with over 50,000 residents in Israel where the
majority of the population is Arab.[73]
