Day 8 – Nazareth: Growing Up a Carpenter’s Son

“He went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets: ‘He will be called a Nazarene’” (Matthew 2:23)

Nazareth appears for the second time in this Lenten series. There are handful of places that are mentioned on more than one occasion that have impact with Jesus’ life and ministry: Nazareth (where He grew up), Capernaum (the core of His Galilean ministry), Jericho (which on multiple occasions healed), Bethany (where He stayed with His friends Mary, Martha, and Lazarus), Jerusalem (the epic center of Jewish life), and the temple itself (the center of Jewish worship).

The boyhood dwelling places of Jesus was this little out of the way place called Nazareth. Recently, archeologist have discovered the remains of a home in Nazareth from the time of when Jesus was there. About 50 houses made up this little village lived in by a population of poor Jewish families. There was one poor Jewish boy by the name of Joseph who made up one of its residents. He made an honest living by using his hands. Most likely he was poor all his life. Jesus was raised by a blue-collar laborer. Joseph no doubt taught Him how to spot a good piece of wood. I don’t know if He said this, but a good carpenter loves to say, “measure twice and cut once” (lol). By the side of His earthen father, He spent hours learning how a hard day’s work paid off. He knew what it was like to be raised poor; it prepared Him for later years when His message would spread like wildfire among the common people of Israel. They loved Him because He was one of them.

His neighbors however had no use for Him. They kept Him in that “Nazareth box” – a box that He would not remain.

The greatest tragedy is to know Jesus so well, that you don’t know Him at all. Please Lord, let us not make that mistake or we will be as guilty as the people of Nazareth who did not know they lived next door to the Savior of the world.

Rich beyond all that we could imagination. You became poor so that You could dwell among us.  Forgive me when I have taken You for granted. Open my eyes, Lord to see you as you are, my Savior and my God. Amen.