Homecoming; Learning Under Jesus

Note: This series is written as a first-person narrative in order to present Jesus in the context he walked with the unknown disciple that narrates presenting my thoughts and sparking more thoughts with his questions. Enjoy.

We headed towards Nazareth, Jesus’ hometown. As we walked he told us a bit about his childhood. I knew he was a carpenter’s son and learned the trade from Joseph. When he was young, a town called Sepphoris a few miles away burned to the ground. King Herod Antipas began rebuilding it, so there was a high demand for those like Joseph and his sons.

We stayed with his mom until the Sabbath, when Jesus went into the synagogue to teach. I was worried, remembering the last time we were here. People were amazed at his teaching, some having heard stories about Jesus’ ministry.

“Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked.
“Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?”

“Not again,” I muttered. Familiarity breeds contempt. And they took offense at him.

But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.”

Was he referencing Jeremiah the prophet?

And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith. We didn’t stay long. As we left, Nathaniel asked why the poor response.

“It’s hard to see someone for what they have become if you only remember them as they were,” I said.

Matthew 13:53-58
Mark 6:1-6
Jeremiah 1:1; 11:21