Jesus said, “Prophets are honoured by everyone except the people of their home town, and their relatives and their own family.”
Observation
Jesus returns to Nazareth and is surprised to find that the people there have no faith in Him. Consequently He can do no miracles there except a few healings.
The phenomenon is not unexpected. People are often more open to teaching from big name strangers than to the same teaching from their regular “no name” pastor- the guru effect.
What strikes me as really odd about this passage is the reason for their rejection of Jesus, ”Where did He get this wisdom and the power to work these miracles?” They didn't doubt his power and wisdom, but they rejected it anyway because He was the little kid they had known and He just came from this average family in their town.
Application
It is very easy to reject God's work because it doesn't come in the package we expect.
We can't hear a preacher's message because of our preconceptions and prejudices.
Like Naaman, we might reject a healing because we expect a different methodology.
A miracle is ignored because it doesn't come with the fireworks we expect.
I need to approach every person and every experience with true discernment, looking past the surface and to the heart of what God is doing.
Prayer
Lord please help me to see things the way they really are- to see the hearts of people as you see them. Amen.
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