What Jesus Did! 'Rejection at Home' — Matthew 13:53-56

Wednesday, July 7, 2021

When Jesus had finished telling these stories and illustrations [about the Kingdom], he left [Capernaum]. He returned to Nazareth, his hometown. When he taught there in the synagogue, everyone was amazed and said, "Where does he get this wisdom and the power to do miracles?" Then they scoffed, "He's just the carpenter's son, and we know Mary, his mother, and his brothers — James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas. All his sisters live right here among us. Where did he learn all these things?"
— Matthew 13:53-56 NLT

Key Thought

It's so easy to put people in boxes, to neatly categorize them based on opinions we've had of them in the past. We don't want to let people change. Even more damnable, we don't want our opinions of them to change, even if our opinions were wrong or misguided. For Jesus, the hometown folk had already put him in a box — Mary's boy, the carpenter's son, brother of some folks, no big deal. After all, it was Nazareth and "Can anything good could come out of Nazareth?" (John 1:46) No big deal. Not from our town. Not from one of our boys. "Don't get too big for your britches, boy!" is what he'd be told today. "We know who you are, boy, and you ain't that great." Familiarity bred contempt just like wrong expectations sank their dreams. But they were wrong! Not just a little wrong, VERY wrong. And today, when a person is in Christ, s/he can also be different from our expectations. There can be no putting of people in boxes in Jesus' family because there are no boxes big enough or strong enough to contain one in whom the King of glory lives!

Today's Prayer

Father, please correct me and forgive me when I put people in boxes and do not allow room for Christ to change my view of them. Thank you for changing and transforming me and please give me the grace to encourage others, not discourage or criticize them, when they are trying to let Christ change them. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

  • 2 Corinthians 3:17-18
  • John 1:43-46
  • 2 Corinthians 5:16-17

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Illustration

Illustration of Matthew 13:53-56 NLT — "Where does he get this wisdom and the power to do miracles?"

About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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