Today's devotional is written by Pastor Roy Summers
Nazareth!
Can anything good come from there?
So said Nathaniel when Philip tried to introduce Jesus to him in John 1:46. And that is a great introduction to the letter N in this A-Z of salvation. Our Saviour came from a town which had no repute, no fame, nothing great going for it. He came from a Huddersfield or a Bradford or a Wakefield (recently listed among the worst places in the UK).
Jesus is often referred to as 'Jesus of Nazareth' in the Gospels, because his parents came from this town and because he grew up there.
Already we are being taught two great truths about Jesus. First, that he was associated with one particular place, one particular town. In this he is just like us, for most of us would say that we hail from city A,B or C, and those places played a role in our constitution and make up. I grew up in both hot dusty Karachi and in Wolverhampton and both those places shaped the person I now am. The same will be true of you.
Jesus was like us. He grew up in a place just like you and I. So much so that Pilate had written above the cross: "Jesus of Nazareth: King of the Jews."
But secondly, the less-than-ordinariness of the town enables Jesus to especially connect to people who are outsiders, invisible and poor. Had Jesus been born in Oxford or Harrogate, the poor of this world would have said "He's not our kind of bloke. We can't relate to him. He does not understand us."
Already, we see the divine wisdom of God in sending his Son to be brought up in Nazareth. For the Gospel is for everyone in the world, including the outsider.
Despised and Rejected
But there's one more step to take. In Matthew 2:23 we read that Jesus lived in Nazareth in order to fulfill what was said through the prophets, "He will be called a Nazarene." However, we can't find an Old Testament prophecy that predicts Nazareth as the home town of the Messiah.
This must take us back to John 1:46. Yes, Nazareth was an ordinary place, but more, it was also a despised place. And as such, it pointed back to those Old Testament prophecies which revealed this aspect of Jesus' ministry: that he would be "despised and rejected by men."
The despised home town of Jesus pointed prophetically to the despised reputation of his pure ministry. Jesus' own countryfolk rejected him. The religious leaders despised him - they looked down at him, dismissed him, thought themselves way way above him!
SUMMING IT ALL UP
This despising business - let it never be found in the church of Jesus Christ. Apparently it can live there, so Paul had to say, "Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited." (Romans 12:16) Since Jesus accepts and loves all of his children, so should we.
And, this Nazareth connection reminds us that it would be very strange if we made it through our Christians lives without facing what Jesus faced, for as the Master, so the disciple.
We will invariably find ourselves at some time in some context despised and rejected and this should not surprise us. It could be among our own family networks, it might be at work, it may be in our neighbourhoods or cities.
It would be very strange if in some way, little or great, we did not experience what our Master did.
And when we do, we should rejoice that we are suffering for his sake. And we can look forward to the day when we will be honoured by the only One who matters, when Jesus says to us "Well done you good and faithful servant."
A SONG FOR THE DAY
One of the very few hymns which gives Jesus his homely title.
I stand amazed in the presence
Of Jesus the Nazarene,
And wonder how he could love me,
A sinner, condemned, unclean.
How marvelous! How wonderful!
And my song shall ever be;
How marvelous! How wonderful!
Is my Savior's love for me!
2 For me it was in the garden
He prayed, "Not my will, but thine;"
He had no tears for his own griefs,
But sweat drops of blood for mine.
3 He took my sins and my sorrows,
He made them his very own;
He bore the burden to Calv'ry,
And suffered and died alone.
His face I at last shall see,
'Twill be my joy through the ages
To sing of his love for me.
Chas H Gabriel
You can sing along right HERE.
A PRAYER FOR THE DAY
Our Father in heaven,
We thank you for your world-wide church. We thank you that it is made up of people from every nation, every tongue, every class and every ability.
We thank you that Jesus, in coming from an ordinary and even despised background is able to be reach into every life and home and heart.
Keep us from despising anyone on account of their origin, looks or education. And when we are despised fro your sake teach us that sweet humility which remembers not only that we are sharing in the sufferings of Jesus, but looks to the day when we will reign with Him too.
We ask these things in Jesus' Name
Amen.
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