Something Good Came Out Of Nazareth

SOMETHING GOOD CAME OUT OF NAZARETH

JOHN 1:35-46 (46)

I. THE BEGINNING

A. John Chapter 1 gives us the beginning of Jesus’ ministry and calling of the disciples

B. As He called various ones they followed Him without question

C. Nathanael’s response is different from the others

D. It is not one of joy and excitement but of disbelief and a sense of disgust

E. We must give Nathanael the credit due him

-he wasn’t just taking people’s word for something or just going by face value

-Jesus did not condemn or reprove him for his response but rather made a believer out of him (49)

II. THE REASON FOR NATHANAEL’S INITIAL RESPONSE

A. It all had to do with the word, “Nazareth”

B. Nazareth was a town of Galilee and Nathanael himself was a Galilean

C. Galilee was well known as a region that was behind the times, lacked culture, used crude language

D. Nazareth seemed to have had the worst reputation of any town in Galilee, evidenced by Nathanael

-the name “Nazareth” was not respectable, admirable, honorable. It was spoken with disgust

-it wasn’t the ideal vacation spot, a good prospect for starting a new business, a nice community to move the family into

E. Nazareth was an isolated city, did not take in many visitors, had the worst cultural habits in Galilee, had a bad name among neighboring towns perhaps due to lack of religious adherence and low morals.

-example - there may be a location within your community that has a bad reputation, not an ideal place to live

F. Nazareth was also an unimportant town, hidden away in the mountains of Galilee, surely the Messiah would not come from such an unlikely place

III. GOD BROUGHT SOMETHING GOOD OUT OF NAZARETH

A. God brought something good out of Nazareth - Jesus Christ, His own Son, the Savior, the Messiah

B. Jesus changed the reputation of Nazareth

1-demon spirits began to recognize “Jesus of Nazareth” - Mark 1:23-24 And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.

2-sick people began to call on “Jesus of Nazareth” - Mark 10:47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.

3-God’s anointing flowed through “Jesus of Nazareth” - Acts 10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

4-The Apostle’s ministered in the name of “Jesus of Nazareth” - Acts 3:6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

5-People were saved in the name of “Jesus of Nazareth” - Acts 22:8 And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.

IV. A FRESH PERSPECTIVE

A. In the O.T. God seemed to limit Himself to the Moses’, Daniel’s, Joseph’s, Noah’s, Enoch’s, etc

-all people of faith, upright character, etc

B. Jesus came out of the city of Nazareth because the town represented the kind of people that needed Him

-Mark 2:17 ...They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

C. In the N.T. Jesus’ ministry was focused on people with a “Nazareth” reputation

-the woman at the well in Samaria, the woman caught in adultery, Mary Magdalene, Matthew, etc

-lepers, blind, deaf, lame, etc (sickness was viewed as the result of terrible sin)

D. There are a lot of people around us who have a “Nazareth” reputation

-will anything good ever come from them, they are looked down on, held in ill repute, the mention of their name brings unpleasant thoughts to mind, you don’t want to be around them or even be associated with them

-they seem so unusable, but you never know when God is going to transform a "Nazareth" person into a pastor, evangelist, youth minister, missionary, sunday school teacher, church worker, etc

E. God hates sin but loves the sinner. Jesus gave His life for "Nazareth" people.

V. DON’T GIVE UP ON NAZARETH PEOPLE

A. Don’t give up on the "Nazareth" people of this world. God can bring something good out of their life

B. Keep praying for them, witnessing to them

C. Don’t forget where God brought you from

-1 Pet 2:10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.