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Are You Living In Nazareth? January 1, 2008

Posted by Han in : Relationship with God , trackback

And he (Jesus) did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith. Matthew 13:58

Have you ever imagine yourself living during the time of Jesus and you are living in Nazareth? Ok, I know it’s hard to believe but I need you to let loose your imagination. Let’s say you are living next door to Jesus. You have been staying there for long, maybe 30 years.

You are familiar with his background and family pretty well, his dad, Joseph, his mum, Mary and also his siblings. Jesus, a carpenter’s son, you know he was good at building and repairing wooden structures, as houses, scaffolds, or shelving.

Then suddenly one day, everything changes, news about him spread all over the regions, that Jesus whom you know is Christ the Messiah, the Savior of the world. He is now preaching the good news, casting out demon and healing the sick.

What? How can that be? We grew up together! We played marbles along the street, outside our house! He was a carpenter! How can he be the Savior of the world? It is hard to reconcile, previously a carpenter’s son now the Savior of the world!!!

Well, this took place in Matthew 13:53-58, Jesus went back to his hometown, Nazareth. He was considered a prophet without honor. Why? Because those people back at his hometown knew exactly who he was, the carpenter’s son. His mother was Mary and his brothers, James, Joseph, Simon and Judas. Furthermore his sisters were still at Nazareth. How can he be the savior of the world? Where did he get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?

Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” And they took offense at him. Matthew 13:54-57

And the sad thing was found in Matthew 15:58, Jesus did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith not because Jesus can’t. What’s the problem? They knew Jesus’ background and family too well. This problem did not occur in other areas like Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem and Judea where Jesus freely performed miracles, signs and wonders but back in Nazareth, they had a mental blockage.

They are unable to see Jesus as the Redeemer, Provider, Healer, Savior, and Son of the living God. They were merely influenced by what they see in the external, the superficial.

Are you living in Nazareth? The title of article is very interesting. As I was doing my quiet time and reading my bible, God impressed this question in my heart, am I living in Nazareth?

What do I mean? Friends, many a time in a given situation or challenges, we dwell too much on the superficial, the problem! We failed to see who Jesus was! We analyses the nitty-gritty details, we access all the possibilities, we try to find the solutions but we failed to see who Jesus was! Don’t get me wrong, doing all these is not entirely wrong but do not allow it to maximize your problem and reduce your faith to zero!

Say you are having financial crisis or you are having a huge debt or your marriage is on the verge of breaking out or your name is listed among those to be retrenched. Do not stay on the superficial, looking at the details of your problem, trying to solve, accessing all the possibilities or finding an answer. This is the place of ‘Nazareth’! It will take your attention off Christ and reduce your faith to nothing!

And he (Jesus) did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith. Matthew 15:58

You must first see Jesus as who he is, temporary put away all other things, then faith will arise from within. Next, allow Jesus to show you what to do. And now you are in a better position to face the challenges.

Do not remain in Nazareth any longer! Moves out! Relocate, come out of Nazareth, go to another place and you will see Jesus as who he is, Christ, the Messiah, Son of the living God, Healer, Provider and Redeemer.

I believe you can experience breakthrough, miracles, signs and wonders once you are out of Nazareth!