Series: Biblical Cities- Nazareth [#1]
NAZARETH- JESUS’ HOMETOWN
Matthew 2:23
Introduction:
We are continuing in our Series about some of the most mentioned Cities in the Bible. We started with Bethlehem since it was Christmas Season; and we are going to continue with Nazareth. Bethlehem is 5th on the list of how many times it is mentioned in the Bible. Nazareth is 6th on that list. Nazareth is mentioned 29 times in the Bible. The name Nazareth is derived from the Hebrew word branch. This alludes to Isaiah 11:1, “A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.”
Matthew 2:23
Tonight, we are going to study this town of 400 people, the Hometown of Jesus- Nazareth. Nazareth was 65 miles north of Jerusalem and 70 miles north of Bethlehem.
Luke 1:26-27
Luke 2:4-5
Jesus’ family…
1. Was from Nazareth.
In these verses, we see that Joseph and Mary were from Nazareth in Galilee. They traveled 70 miles to Bethlehem where Jesus was born.
Luke 2:22-24
Jesus’ family…
2. Took Him to the Temple in Jerusalem.
This was required of the Jewish people. Jesus was the firstborn male, so He had to be consecrated to God. Joseph and Mary took Jesus to Jerusalem so that He would go through the purification rites.
Matthew 2:13-18
Jesus’ family…
3. Fled to Egypt.
Herod felt threatened by Jesus and wanted Him dead. Herod had all of the boys 2 years and younger killed in Bethlehem and the area. An Angel told Joseph in a dream to flee to Egypt and that is what they did. After Herod died, they returned to Nazareth.
Matthew 2:19-23
Luke 2:39-40
Jesus’ family…
4. Returned to Nazareth.
We know that after Herod died, Jesus’ family returned to Nazareth. There has been much discussion about the family’s travel. Did they go from Bethlehem to Egypt or Bethlehem to Nazareth to Egypt? If you read a few verses sooner in the Matthew passage, you will find that the Magi visited Jesus in a house, not a manger. Luke does not even mention the trip to Egypt. (Please remember that in the big scheme of things, this does not matter.)
No one knows how old Jesus was when they moved back. Some say that Jesus was 2 years old, while others say 4 years old. (Again, this does not matter.)
Luke 2:49-52
Jesus’ family…
5. Went to Jerusalem and returned to Nazareth.
Every year, Jesus’ family went to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast. When Jesus was 12, His parents left Jerusalem and did not realize that Jesus was still there. They found Him after 3 days. They returned to Nazareth.
Conclusion:
The Bible doesn’t say anything about Jesus from the time they returned to Nazareth from Egypt; and from then until He was 12. After this, we do not see Jesus in Scripture until He is 30 years old and His Earthly Ministry began.
