Where Did He Learn This
When Amazement Turns to Scoffing
SCRIPTURE:
Matthew 13:54-57 NLT - (54) 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?" (55) Then they scoffed, "He's just the carpenter's son, and we know Mary, his mother, and his brothers--James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas. (56) All his sisters live right here among us. Where did he learn all these things?" (57) And they were deeply offended and refused to believe in him. Then Jesus told them, "A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his own family."
OBSERVATION:
I once heard someone say, regarding their family, that “when they are together, there is an empty jail somewhere.” Maybe you can relate? Some of us come from families with a “less than savory past.” They were (and perhaps still are) considered unpleasant, morally questionable, or disreputable. This term describes a past that leaves a "bad taste in your mouth," similar to how the word "unsavory" originally referred to things that were distasteful to eat or smell.
Maybe at some point, things changed—life-altering events. Something that caused someone in this less-than-savory family to change. This change led to others, and often the rest of the family went from unsavory to pleasant. Yet, those who knew them from their past can’t believe it.
Why are we constantly judged based on who our family is and what they are known for, whether good or bad?
Nothing has changed. Jesus was viewed the same way. The people in His hometown couldn’t reconcile the drastic difference between Jesus and His family. They still saw Him as “Is this not…”.
Remember the very beginning: Jesus was born under "questionable” circumstances, of a virgin. This is the only recorded instance in history, and only God could make it happen. It’s physically impossible without His involvement. Although prophets predicted it, people couldn't believe it when the time came. Many question, “We know his mother, but what about the father?”
In His hometown, people said, “We know him as the carpenter's son, and his brothers and sisters. Don’t get us started!” Clearly, their reputation preceded them. Whether that’s true or not, we can only guess. Still, the people's reactions make you question. It’s also possible that Jesus was so extraordinary that people couldn’t explain it. They asked, “Where did he learn this?” He wasn't educated in the “law” by humans. They failed to realize that He was God in the flesh, needing no teachers.
I'm not suggesting that Jesus had a family considered "less than savory.” We don’t have that information; what we do know is that His family thought He was crazy until after His death. It would have taken a radical event to change their perceptions before they became His followers.
APPLICATION:
Perhaps you come from difficult circumstances or a challenging family background. The choices you've made before have contributed to your “past”. You might have been known locally by a particular nickname or reputation. However, Jesus entered your life and saved you. Still, your past may linger in your thoughts. Use it as a reminder of God's grace and mercy, and consider sharing your story with others – “I once was lost, but now I am found.”
Philippians 3:13-14 NKJV - (13) Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, (14) I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Family can often be the harshest critic. Let your light shine brightly. Love Jesus and let His love radiate through you. Just as Jesus’ family, through transformative life events, will eventually come to believe.
It’s okay if they ask, “Where did he learn this?" or "Wasn't this from his family?”
PRAYER:
Jesus, please help me be a light to my family members who think I am crazy. May they see You and Your work in my life. Let my life reflect forgiveness, mercy, patience, and amazing grace.
Matthew 13:54-57 NLT - (54) 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?" (55) Then they scoffed, "He's just the carpenter's son, and we know Mary, his mother, and his brothers--James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas. (56) All his sisters live right here among us. Where did he learn all these things?" (57) And they were deeply offended and refused to believe in him. Then Jesus told them, "A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his own family."
OBSERVATION:
I once heard someone say, regarding their family, that “when they are together, there is an empty jail somewhere.” Maybe you can relate? Some of us come from families with a “less than savory past.” They were (and perhaps still are) considered unpleasant, morally questionable, or disreputable. This term describes a past that leaves a "bad taste in your mouth," similar to how the word "unsavory" originally referred to things that were distasteful to eat or smell.
Maybe at some point, things changed—life-altering events. Something that caused someone in this less-than-savory family to change. This change led to others, and often the rest of the family went from unsavory to pleasant. Yet, those who knew them from their past can’t believe it.
Why are we constantly judged based on who our family is and what they are known for, whether good or bad?
Nothing has changed. Jesus was viewed the same way. The people in His hometown couldn’t reconcile the drastic difference between Jesus and His family. They still saw Him as “Is this not…”.
Remember the very beginning: Jesus was born under "questionable” circumstances, of a virgin. This is the only recorded instance in history, and only God could make it happen. It’s physically impossible without His involvement. Although prophets predicted it, people couldn't believe it when the time came. Many question, “We know his mother, but what about the father?”
In His hometown, people said, “We know him as the carpenter's son, and his brothers and sisters. Don’t get us started!” Clearly, their reputation preceded them. Whether that’s true or not, we can only guess. Still, the people's reactions make you question. It’s also possible that Jesus was so extraordinary that people couldn’t explain it. They asked, “Where did he learn this?” He wasn't educated in the “law” by humans. They failed to realize that He was God in the flesh, needing no teachers.
I'm not suggesting that Jesus had a family considered "less than savory.” We don’t have that information; what we do know is that His family thought He was crazy until after His death. It would have taken a radical event to change their perceptions before they became His followers.
APPLICATION:
Perhaps you come from difficult circumstances or a challenging family background. The choices you've made before have contributed to your “past”. You might have been known locally by a particular nickname or reputation. However, Jesus entered your life and saved you. Still, your past may linger in your thoughts. Use it as a reminder of God's grace and mercy, and consider sharing your story with others – “I once was lost, but now I am found.”
Philippians 3:13-14 NKJV - (13) Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, (14) I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Family can often be the harshest critic. Let your light shine brightly. Love Jesus and let His love radiate through you. Just as Jesus’ family, through transformative life events, will eventually come to believe.
It’s okay if they ask, “Where did he learn this?" or "Wasn't this from his family?”
PRAYER:
Jesus, please help me be a light to my family members who think I am crazy. May they see You and Your work in my life. Let my life reflect forgiveness, mercy, patience, and amazing grace.
Be a light that shines in the darkness, even if that darkness was from a questionable past.
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