Going Home

¹ Jesus left that part of the country and returned with his disciples to Nazareth, his hometown. ² The next Sabbath he began teaching in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. They asked, “Where did he get all this wisdom and the power to perform such miracles?” ³ Then they scoffed, “He’s just a carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon. And his sisters live right here among us.” They were deeply offended and refused to believe in him.

⁴ Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family.” ⁵ And because of their unbelief, he couldn’t do any miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them. ⁶ And he was amazed at their unbelief. (Mark 6:1-6 NLT)

Going home is not always easy. Our past lives there. Home is the place where our identity was born and raised. For some, home is the past we wish we did not have. For others, home is the place where they wish they could return. Why did Jesus go home to Nazareth? We do not know. Mark does not tell us. He does tell us in verse six that it may not have turned out like Jesus had planned.

Unless you have moved away from home, it is difficult to understand the importance of going home. I imagine that Jesus was welcomed home and that news of his arrival spread quickly. The synagogue was probably packed that Sabbath. People wanted to hear their homeboy teach. Jesus was excited to have the opportunity to teach in his home church. However, it did not go as well as anyone had hoped it would. Jesus expected them to believe in him. The people expected to hear a nice sermon that would not challenge their thinking very much. Afterall, Jesus was the son of a carpenter with minimal education. Everyone, including Jesus was in for a surprise.

The hometown folks could not get beyond Jesus’ past. Not that he had a bad reputation. They could not get beyond their knowledge of him as the carpenter’s son. And everyone lost out. The people missed the opportunity to receive his wisdom and his authority over sickness and demons. Jesus missed the acceptance he wanted from his family and friends. Going home is not always easy.

Before we are too quick to pass judgment on the people of Nazareth, we need to ask ourselves, “How well do I welcome home those who moved away to follow God’s calling? Do I allow my knowledge of their past to color the way I receive them now?” Granted, many people do not change. However, many people do change, especially those who give their lives to the Lord.  After all, if God can change you, he can change anyone.

Pastor Jeff