Galilee was a geographic region (like the Panhandle of Texas). Nazareth was a town (like Amarillo) located in south-central Galilee about halfway between the Sea of Galilee and the Mediterranean Sea. Nazareth was where Joseph had a carpenter’s shop, the community where Jesus lived for most of His childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood (Luke 2:4, 39-40).
None of the Jewish teachers of Jesus’ day could have imagined the Messiah coming from Nazareth of Galilee. The Prophet Micah foretold of the Messiah being born in Bethlehem, the City of David (Micah 5:2). Nathaniel asked Philip, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” (John 1:46).
When Jesus returned to His boyhood home, they rejected Him and His message. “He went to his hometown and began to teach them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers? Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother called Mary, and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? And his sisters, aren’t they all with us? So where does he get all these things?” And they were offended by him” (Matthew 13:54–57).
Even so, Jesus allowed Himself to be known as “Jesus of Nazareth” (Mark 1:24; 10:47; 16:6; Luke 4:34; 18:37; 24:19; John 18:5, 7; 19:9) and “Jesus of Galilee” (Matthew 26:69, NKJV). Jesus allowed Himself to be associated with those who rejected Him. Nazareth rejected Jesus, but Jesus never rejected Nazareth.
Even though we’ve turned our backs on Jesus’ plans and purposes, disbelieved His promises, failed to follow His direction, and scorned His grace and mercy, He will never – no never forsake His children.
“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).
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