his lesson appears in the book: The Holy Land Companion Guide Biblical Sermons & Lessons to guide you through the Holy Land and Egypt. By: Pastor and Christian Author Jessica Linhart available @ Amazon.com: Jessica Linhart: books, biography, latest update
The modern city of Nazareth is located in the North of Israel. Nazareth is 15 miles west of the Sea of Galilee. There were only around 300 Jews living in the town during the time of Jesus. Today, Nazareth is a busy place and populated about 60,000. I did not find this town recorded in the Old Testament at all! However, the first time I found the mention of Nazareth was in Matthew chapter 2 verse 23.
Today, Nazareth has a great reputation because of Jesus, but before it had a celebratory no one desired to make that their home. We read this in the book of Matthew.
Matthew 2:23 KJV
“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.”
In John chapter 1:43-46 (New International Version) 43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.” 44 Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. 45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”46 “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip.”
Nazareth was the hometown of Jesus! Jesus lived there until after His fled King Herod and lived in Egypt. Jesus was 30 years old before starting His ministry in Capernaum.
Nazareth was also Mary and Joseph’s home. Luke chapter 1 verses 26 to 28 was where the angel Gabriel visited Mary and announced to her that she would miraculously with child. Today, a Roman Catholic church has an exhibit of Mary’s old home place. Also, nearby there is a Greek Orthodox Church believed by to be the proper site of the event Nazareth according to Matthew Chapter 2 verses 19-23. They declare that this place is where Jesus grew up in after he and his parents returned from Egypt after their flight from Herod the Great!
What else is important to note here is that Jesus announced He was the messiah in the church at Nazareth, but it did not go so well! Let’s commence our study in Luke Chapter 4 verses 16 to 27.
And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.
“16And 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.
17And 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,
18The 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,
19To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
20And 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.
21And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.
22And 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?
23And 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.
24And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country.”
So, what happened next is the unthinkable! The people attempted to throw him to his death off a nearby Hill! This was a common practice for the city and as a result many people did not want to relocate there and that is also partly the reason for its bad reputation. Today, this hill is called Mount Precipice! This is found in Luke 4:29 (New King James Version) “and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff.”
Discussion Questions:
1. Nazareth had a bad reputation. God oftentimes places light in the dark so the light can illuminate the darkness. Are we being lights where we live?
2. Do we reject Christ by refusing His offer of salvation, by refusing to be obedient Him, or by not sharing our faith with those around us?
