The Lord's preaching at Nazareth.
I. His visit.
1. It was his own country. He had lived there nearly thirty years, from infancy to manhood. It was but a small place; every one knew him; some had been his schoolfellows, some friends of the family, some had bought their ploughs and yokes at the carpenter's shop. He had been absent a long time. During that absence the unknown village carpenter had become the most conspicuous figure in the Holy Land. The Nazarenes had wondered as they heard of his mighty works and the strange influence of his teaching. They must have felt some natural pride in the eminence of their countryman. But their admiration was mingled with unworthy feelings—jealousy, envy. Holiness is not always popular. Ungodly men feel it as a rebuke to themselves; they hate it.
2. His teaching there. He went to the synagogue, as he was wont. The Lord always attended public worship. In this, as in all things, he is our Example. It was known that he would be there. The Nazarenes flocked to hear him. Their motives were different, but all were drawn by eager desire to listen to the great Preacher. We cannot tell for certain whether this visit, recorded also in St. Mark, is to be regarded as identical with that described in Luke 4:16-30. We only know that the congregation was filled with astonishment now, as they were on that occasion. The Lord's words were words of deep and holy wisdom. "Never man spake as this Man." They had been told of his wisdom; now they heard it themselves, and they wondered greatly.
II. THE FEELINGS OF THE NAZARENES.
1. Their talk. They whispered together about the Lord's humble origin.
2. Their rejection of the Lord. They were offended in him. Their previous knowledge of him, of his early life among them, of his occupation, of his family, was a stumbling block to them. They could not get over it. They stumbled and fell. Yet his life had been an example of unparalleled innocence and holiness. They had loved him in his holy childhood, when he increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man. But they could not receive "the carpenter's Son" as the Messiah. Let us learn not to despise the poor, the lowly; let no Christian dare to look down on honest trade. The Lord Christ was once a carpenter. The humble in earthly rank may be very high in holiness, first in the kingdom of heaven.
III. HIS DEPARTURE.
1. His view of their conduct. A prophet is not without honour. A prophet, a true man who speaks for God, who speaks in simplicity and earnestness, out of the abundance of his heart,—such a man is not without honor. He is honoured of God, and, sooner or later, he is honoured of men; not always in his lifetime, but at last, when death raises him above the petty jealousies of life, men will own that there hath been a prophet among them, and will render him that meed of honour which perhaps in his lifetime they kept from him. But he is not always, not commonly, honoured in his own country and in his own house. Men do not envy those very high above them in rank and wealth, or those far removed from them in any way. They envy most those who are nearest to them in place, in time, in circumstances. It is so now; it was so in our Saviour's case. His fellow countrymen held him not in honour. His brethren did not believe in him. If we suffer from the envy of others, let us think of him. He was despised and rejected. We may well be content if the disciple is as his Master. And oh, let us drive envy out of own hearts. It kept the Nazarenes from Christ; it keeps men from Christ now. The envious cannot know him who is love.
2. His presence was not blessed to them. "He did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief." He was there, the Saviour, the mighty Son of God, but his presence brought little blessing. It was not the mere bodily presence of the Christ that saved and blessed. "He could there do no mighty work," says St. Mark, "save that he laid. his hands on a few sick folk, and healed them." The Lord's miracles of healing were not mere displays of power; they had a spiritual meaning. Faith was required in the recipient. He does not exercise his power arbitrarily; it is directed by his wise and holy will. A few had faith, those few he healed. The unbelieving derived no benefit from his visit. How earnestly we should pray, "Lord, increase our faith"!
LESSONS.
1. Never despise men because of their humble origin; it is a sinful thing in the Christian, whose King was called "the carpenter's Son."
2. Honour God's saints; to honour them is to honour God, whose servants they are.
3. Flee from envy; it kills the soul.
4. Be very careful to use all the means of grace! do not drive Christ away by unbelief and hardness of heart.
HOMILIES BY W.F. ADENEY