Jesus is Rejected at Nazareth : Luke 4:14-21
Was Jesus rejected because he too good to be true?
Have you ever received an email telling you that someone recently died (someone you did not know) and had left you a significant legacy?
Or a letter to say that you had won the Lottery, which you did not even buy a ticket for that week?
Too good to be true, our instincts tell us.
In Luke 4:14-21 Jesus’ friends and neighbors thought he was too good to be true.
But I believe that He was the real deal; he was God incarnate who came to earth to save us from our sins and offer us hope of life eternal.
Let us rejoice and give thanks for all that Jesus did for humankind.
However, although God does not expect us to be perfect, he does expect us to keep trying to be. And he rejoices in our ongoing acts of kindness and compassion and the gradual reduction of flaws in our persona.
So forgive yourself for your weaknesses and imperfections because God has, and turn your face towards Him and see how you can help those around you who are struggling.
Then, little by little, as we work with God to iron out our various shortcomings and continue with acts of kindness, we will eventually realise that our life is filling up with more compassion, peace, and joy – and the hope of more of this to come in eternity.
You might enjoy reading other parables:
The vine and branches
The lost sheep
The prodigal son
The parable of the talents
Jesus turns water into wine
The sower
Reflection on Why Jesus was Rejected at Nazareth
God stepped out of eternity and into time as Jesus revealed that he was the anointed one as foretold in Isaiah 61:1.
The people listening to him in Nazareth had known him all his life and were utterly amazed. Jesus was brought up as the carpenter’s son, they thought.
He went away for a while, and now he is back here proclaiming to be the anointed one.
They became furious as they could not accept this and wanted to hurt him, to just shut him up with this perceived blasphemy.
Mark’s gospel tells us that Jesus then said;
Then Jesus passed through their midst, for his time had not yet arrived.
Jesus was too good to be true for his friends and neighbours. Today, millions of Christians worldwide believe he was all he claimed to be.
Do you know what, though? We are too good to be true too! Yes, you and I, everyone even, are too good to be true in the eyes of someone, somewhere, sometimes.
But never in the eyes of God almighty, the creator of the sea and sky.
Because He loves us more than we can ever imagine and realises the amazing latent potential in us all.
We are told in the Old Testament that he knows every one of us individually; he knew us before we were formed in our mother’s womb, he knows the number of hairs on our heads, and our name is written on the palm of his hand.
There is a saying that actions speak louder than words, and Jesus’ actions here demonstrate a pattern of behaviour we might adopt as we strive to become all that God has intended for us;
Let Us Pray
As Jesus understood God’s plan for his life; so too may the Holy Spirit reveal God’s plan for our lives.
As Jesus told his truth; so too may we be willing to tell ours.
As Jesus was rejected; so too may we expect rejection at times.
As Jesus stood firm in his faith and conviction; so too may we stand strong.
As Jesus persevered until the end; so too may we persevere.
As Jesus ultimately rose in glory; so too, God willing, will we.In the name of Jesus, Amen.
