Introduction: Jesus First Calls Men to Follow Him
Jesus began His public ministry as a Rabbi, calling specific men to follow Him. According to the Gospel of John, the first two men Jesus called were disciples of John the Baptist. The Baptist introduced them to Jesus, saying, “Look, the Lamb of God!” (John 1:36). At his invitation, they immediately left following him to follow Jesus. These two men, Andrew, and John (the disciple) later became members of Jesus’ twelve disciples. Can any good thing come out of Nazareth? Let’s discuss this question.
The Promised One
After describing how Jesus called Peter, the Gospel continues with the story:
“The next day Jesus … found Philip (also a future disciple), and said to him, “Follow Me…. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found (the One promised through Moses and the prophets), Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph” (John 1:43, 45).
Nazareth was an overlooked city in Israel during Jesus’ time. Although it is not mentioned in the Old Testament, it is where Jesus’ parents settled, and He grew up there.
The Question Can Anything Good Come Out of Nazareth?
“Nathanael said to him (Philip), “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” (John 1:46).
Nathanael, who would later become one of Jesus’ twelve disciples, asked this before meeting Jesus. Jesus grew up in Nazareth, so Nathanael anticipated Jesus’ character.
The Pattern
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, King Herod was in power. The knowledgeable Jews proclaimed Jesus as “the King of the Jews.” Herod viewed Jesus as a threat to his throne, so he ordered the killing of all male children under the age of two. To protect Jesus, God directed His family to flee to Egypt for safety until after Herod’s death. When they returned, they settled in Nazareth.
Jesus’ birth wasn’t in a magnificent mansion but in an animal shelter. Jesus’ birthplace wasn’t in a celebrated city but in the insignificant town of Bethlehem, as prophesied by Micah seven hundred years before His birth:
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, although you are small among the tribes of Judah,
from you will come forth for Me one who will be ruler over Israel.
His origins are from of old, from ancient days” (Micah 5:2).
God guided Jesus’ family to raise Him in Nazareth, according to the established pattern.
The Prophecy
The Gospel writer Matthew stated that the reputation of Jesus’ hometown fulfilled Old Testament prophecy.
“And he (Jesus’ stepfather Joseph) went and lived in a city called Nazareth, that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, “He shall be called a Nazarene (despised)” (Matthew 2:23).
Matthew isn’t quoting a specific reference from the prophets that states the Messiah would be a ‘Nazarene.’ Instead, he cites the prophets’ teachings about His humility and how people would fail to recognize His majesty, ultimately despising Him.
The Thought
We could provide numerous citations, but this one passage will serve to illustrate Matthew’s thought:
“Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
For he (Jesus) grew up before Him (God) as a tender plant and as a root out of a dry ground (insignificant).
He has no form or majesty that we should look upon him nor appearance that we should desire him.
He was despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.
And we hid, as it were, our faces from him; he was despised, and we did not esteem him….
We esteemed him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted” (Isaiah 53:1-4).
The Humility
Humility was deeply embedded in Jesus’ character. As a result, the people of Nazareth, who had watched Him grow up, struggled to comprehend His miraculous works, extraordinary wisdom, and Messianic claims despite the undeniable evidence. When He returned to Nazareth as a ministering adult, the community responded (according to pattern) with disbelief.
“He (Jesus) began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, “Where did this Man get this? What is this wisdom that is given Him, that even miracles are done by His hands? Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary…? Are not His (brothers and) sisters here with us?” And they took offense at Him” (Mark 6:2-3)
The Offer
Jesus followed this pattern by humbling Himself and dying on the cross to provide and then offer salvation to all who believe:
“He emptied Himself taking upon Himself the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men….
He humbled Himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:7-8).
Conclusion
Nazareth’s despised character captures Jesus’ humble birth, life, ministry, and death on a cross.
A man lame from birth asked Peter to heal him (Acts 3:1-5). “Then Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but I give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk” (Acts 3:6).
