Author: Steve Amato
Description: Following in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ - Rejection at Nazareth
Keywords: following Jesus, rejection, Nazareth, prophet not welcomed, home

Following Jesus - Going Home
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# Going Home

> "Only in his hometown, among his relatives and in his own house is a prophet without honor." (Mark 6:4)

## Testifying to the Gospel

After coming out of the desert, Jesus went back to his hometown of Nazareth. This is where ministry starts - confronting your closest relationships. After healing people, Jesus often tells them to follow him. But often he also tells them to go home. This will give them an opportunity to give witness to their family and friends.

"Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." (Mark 5:19)

If we believe, therefore we should speak. Verbalizing one's faith through public testimony is inevitable for those who take the faith seriously.

It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken." With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence." (2Cor 4:13,14)

## The Contemptuous Reaction

Familiarity breeds contempt. Not only was Jesus generally rejected in his home town, but even his reception in Israel itself among his own people was contemptuous compared to his reception among the Gentiles. "He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him." (John 1:11) Therefore Christians should not be overly optimistic of the receptiveness of those who have been close to them.

Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. (Joh 15:20)

## The Priority of Ministry

It is somewhat inevitable that "a man's enemies will be the members of his own household." (Mt 10:36) The priority should not be

God - Family - Ministry - Secular Work, but
God (including Ministry) - Family - Secular Work

Putting God first means putting God's work first, else "putting God first" means nothing.

"Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me" (Mat 10:37)

## Authority and Responsibility

In starting his preaching ministry, one of his first words were a quote from the prophet Isaiah saying, "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news." (Luke 4:18) In following Jesus, the Christians have been given the authority to preach, the responsibility to preach and the ability to preach. Nonetheless, just as Jesus, those close to you will discourage you from having this perspective and accomplishing this task.

Verses quoted from the NIV version

The Berean Christian Bible Study Resources