The Rejection of Jesus at Nazareth

When I was in school there was this boy whom I always stayed away from. I thought that he had a lot of attitude and was full of himself. When I was in college I helped as an assistant teacher at Sunday School, his younger brother was my student. Its there that I met the first boy and we spoke for the first time. I was amazed with his desire for the word of God and learnt that I had made a big mistake in judging him. We are friends even today and we love sharing with one another about our walk in and with Christ as we journey to our eternal home.

I can give you many examples of being misjudged and judging others. When someone who looks like us, breathes like us, lives like us suddenly displays extraordinary talents we either call it fake or try to draw attention to other aspect of that persons life which are either ordinary or not worth sharing. Our reason for such a behaviour could genuinely be misunderstanding of jealousy.

Dear friends in todays gospel, Jesus’ friends and relatives with whom He had grown up with, showed little or no faith in Jesus. Some of them must have played with Jesus as kids, or knew him as the carpenter, the son of Joseph. Jesus who is true man and true God, lived like an ordinary individual, was doubted and His own did not have faith in Him.

Dear family in Christ, we have the bible, the good news that tells us about the many miracles and healings Jesus has done. Yet at times we lack faith and start putting the blame on Jesus for our failure and for the consequence of our own actions. We show very little or no faith just like Jesus’ hometown, when we are faced by difficult situations or persons. Let us not suffer like Jesus’ kin and native friends, who due to their lack of faith did not receive their healing and new life in Jesus. We can dispel the darkness of doubt by simply spending time with Jesus’ in prayer and asking Him to reveal Himself to us. Let us through His Word Know Him and give Him charge of our life by putting our faith in Him.

Lord help us to know you and remain in you, please help build our in faith in You. Amen

Another Reflection.

Jesus did great and mighty works, beginning from the Wedding at Cana to putting the ear of Malchus, who had come to arrest Him. And finally the Miracle of the Cross and Resurrection. But here is an incident that says that Jesus could not, not that he did not want to do miracle in his own hometown. And Mark notes the reason for this as unbelief. By this we understand that our relationship with God is a two-way street. Much importantly, we are the gatekeepers of our own lives, and nothing can come in and make changes in our life, without our authorisation and permission, even God and evil. If God so desires, He can overcome us and make changes in our lives, but he cannot, because that will not be love, and He is all Love. Lets pray then and invite Jesus in our lives, in a fresh and open way, ‘Lord we believe in You, come into my life and take charge of it. Help me see you in my life, and respond to you positively every moment. Help me to converse with You, and express myself to You, and Help me listen to You and understand You. You are our living God, come become alive in me today, fully.’