Jesus teaches in Nazareth his hometown
(From the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 4, verses 21-32)
Jesus visited many places. Everywhere he went, he told people about God's love and about how they belonged in God's beloved community. He touched people and prayed with them and made them feel like they really mattered.
One day, Jesus went to Nazareth, the town where he had grown up. While he was there he worshiped with his life-long friends and read aloud the words of the great prophet Isaiah. Then he told them, "I am sure that God's Spirit is in me. God has chosen me to bring good news to everyone who feels lost, trapped, forgotten, and hopeless. I know that I am supposed to bring God's message of love to everyone."
Everyone in Nazareth was amazed to hear that Jesus believed he had a special connection with God. They began to talk with one another about him.
"I remember Jesus when he was just a boy, running and playing around town."
"He was such a good boy – so kind to everyone."
"I always thought he'd become a carpenter, like his father Joseph. Who would have ever thought he'd start talking about working for God?"
"I've heard rumors that he's been doing miracles. If he's so special, he should do some miracles right here in Nazareth!"
Jesus listened to them, and then he spoke. "You think you know all about me because I grew up here. You want to see for yourselves the things I have done elsewhere. But my work will be done as God wants, not as you want."
This made the people angry. "How dare you speak to us like that!" one man said. "Be quiet! You don't know what you're talking about, Jesus!" They grabbed Jesus and dragged him to the edge of town, right up to the edge of a tall cliff.
Jesus didn't try to fight back. He stayed quiet, looking at them.
Finally his friends began to take their hands off him. They stopped yelling at him. They stepped back and looked at each other, surprised as much by their own actions as his. Quietly, Jesus walked through the crowd and went on his way to a nearby town. And there he continued to teach everything that he knew about God.
Questions to think and pray about:
Who has known you for your entire life?
How does it feel to have someone know you for your entire life?
I wonder if someone has ever been really angry at you. I wonder how that made you feel.
I wonder if you can love someone and be angry with that person at the same time.
I wonder what God's love feels like.