Matthew 13:53-58 - HOW TO MISS THE POINT ENTIRELY ABOUT JESUS - Part 21
"Put it on the shelf for a while. You can always revisit it later with fresh eyes." At least that's what I tell myself when I get stuck with a writing project. Unfortunately it takes a while for me to revisit it. Well, not this time! Before Christmas I will be finished my first book and then I can move on to other things. The illustrations will be beautiful and the storyline will be compelling. At least I hope so. How will I know when I have finished? I'll cross that bridge later.
How did Jesus know when it was time to finish His story telling and miracles and move on? What compelled Him to revisit His home town, Nazareth? Perhaps it was an unfinished story that needed to be told.
Like the city where I grew up, Jesus' home town is close to a major highway. The only difference is that traffic moved a little slower in those times. Traders from all over the world passed by Nazareth. Did Jesus come into contact with them as a boy? Did He meet people of different nationalities and customs? He came into the world and it seems in those early years of His life the world came to Him, yet still they did not recognise Him, passing Him by, on route to other places to make money and a living. Not enough time to get to know Jesus for who He really was. We are all capable of missing the point concerning Jesus.
The world still passes by Jesus as wars, greed, poverty, terrorism and violence continue unabated. The Kingdom of God, the authority of Jesus, the answers for life are abandoned because of unbelief. UNBELIEF pushes Jesus away and refuses God's wisdom and power. Unbelief builds a levy bank that redirects the flood of God's blessings elsewhere and then complains of a drought.
He didn't go to university and or have His masters in theology, nevertheless Jesus is THE MASTER OF THEOLOGY, the only way to God. All Jewish boys were educated in the local synagogue and of course in the home. He "grew in wisdom and in stature and in favour with God and all the people" (Luke 2:52 NLT).
And so years later, He enters the same synagogue, only this time He comes as a Rabbi. Everyone is amazed, astonished and they say "Where does He get this wisdom and the power to do miracles?" (Matthew 13:54 NLT). He gives them the opportunity to have their lives turned around and come under the authority of the Kingdom of Heaven. They do not take it. They MISS THE POINT ENTIRELY concerning Jesus.
Matthew 13:55, 56 says they SCOFF and say, "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?" John 1:10-11 (NLT) says "He came into the very world He created, but the world didn't recognize Him. He came to His own people, and even they rejected Him."
Strange how differently you can view Jesus. They knew Him as just the carpenters son yet I have come to know Him as the master builder, creator of the world, with the wisdom and power to craft my very soul? As a carpenter, Jesus knew how to build a solid house on strong foundations, but He also knows how to build my life on the solid rock with a stability that only comes from knowing and trusting in Him. He worked with His hands, accurately and carefully according to a plan and places those same strong, skilled hands upon my heart to complete what He has begun according to the purposes of God.
Jesus knew how to place a corner stone and use it to align the components of a building but He is also my corner stone, the unchanging reference point for my life.
He probably fashioned a yoke for oxen but only He can say "Take My yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light" (Matthew 11:29-30 NLT).
Yet Nazareth sees Jesus only as "the carpenters son". Psalms 127:1 (NLT) says "Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted." That's speaking about my life. Psalms 118:22 (NLT) says "The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone."
Why did He go to Nazareth? Romans 2:4 (NLT) says "Don't you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can't you see that His kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?"
It seems Jesus always brings me to the place of choice concerning Him. I either reject Him or accept Him wholeheartedly. As I hear Him speak in Nazareth this morning, the course of my life depends upon my response to Jesus. Everyone of us must answer the question "Where does He get His wisdom and power?" And if it comes from God then what is my response to Jesus going to be? God bless you as you answer that question today and respond to Him in faith.
Pastor Ross
