Return to Nazareth - Matthew 2:19-23
The Return to Nazareth
19 After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 20 and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.”
21 So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, 23 and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.
Reflection:
Jesus' return to Nazareth is significant for several reasons. First, the ruthless King Herod is dead, but another ruler of Judea, Archelaus, has much of the same evil intention as his father. So again an angel communicates to Joseph, and he wisely moves to an area north of there, in the district of Galilee, called Nazareth. This was a small agricultural town, which was built on a hill. Nazareth was the home of King Samson, and also significant for what is called in Jewish history, the Nazarite vow, where a boy was set apart for God and never cut his hair or touched any alcohol drink. We also know from Luke 2 that Joseph lived there and probably Mary too. So not only was this place safer as the ruler Philip, was a mild man, but also more familiar to Mary and Joseph. So we see God providing for this young couple despite this crazy journey they are on. And again we see Joseph quick to obey not questioning but trusting the angel's message.
We also see a word play on the word "nazer", which is the Hebrew word "branch", specifically in the sense of Messianic language of the "Righteous Branch of Israel". While there is not a specific Old Testament prophecy regarding this, Matthew all along has been connecting Old Testament prophecy to Jesus' life. In John 1, when Nathanael hears that Jesus is from Nazareth he replies, "Nazareth, can anything good come from Nazareth?" So while there is no literal OT citation it speaks of the generally maligned character of which Isaiah speaks about when he says "we esteemed him not!"
So we continue to see the humanity of Jesus, and the humble beginning of his life. Many would not envision the King of kings coming from such a low fanfare story, but it gives all the more authenticity to the mysterious way in which God works so that it might be unmistakably clear it is his doing not ours. So Jesus grew up in obscurity, in a small town.
So how might God be calling you to a similar life and walk of humility? Matthew will later tell us in chapter 10 that the greatest one among us is the one who serves! As you walk through your life this week, think of our humble Jesus and how he has called us to walk in the same humility. As the apostle Paul says in Philippians 2, we ought to have the same attitude/mindset of our Lord and Savior who came not to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many!
19 After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 20 and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.”
21 So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, 23 and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.
Reflection:
Jesus' return to Nazareth is significant for several reasons. First, the ruthless King Herod is dead, but another ruler of Judea, Archelaus, has much of the same evil intention as his father. So again an angel communicates to Joseph, and he wisely moves to an area north of there, in the district of Galilee, called Nazareth. This was a small agricultural town, which was built on a hill. Nazareth was the home of King Samson, and also significant for what is called in Jewish history, the Nazarite vow, where a boy was set apart for God and never cut his hair or touched any alcohol drink. We also know from Luke 2 that Joseph lived there and probably Mary too. So not only was this place safer as the ruler Philip, was a mild man, but also more familiar to Mary and Joseph. So we see God providing for this young couple despite this crazy journey they are on. And again we see Joseph quick to obey not questioning but trusting the angel's message.
We also see a word play on the word "nazer", which is the Hebrew word "branch", specifically in the sense of Messianic language of the "Righteous Branch of Israel". While there is not a specific Old Testament prophecy regarding this, Matthew all along has been connecting Old Testament prophecy to Jesus' life. In John 1, when Nathanael hears that Jesus is from Nazareth he replies, "Nazareth, can anything good come from Nazareth?" So while there is no literal OT citation it speaks of the generally maligned character of which Isaiah speaks about when he says "we esteemed him not!"
So we continue to see the humanity of Jesus, and the humble beginning of his life. Many would not envision the King of kings coming from such a low fanfare story, but it gives all the more authenticity to the mysterious way in which God works so that it might be unmistakably clear it is his doing not ours. So Jesus grew up in obscurity, in a small town.
So how might God be calling you to a similar life and walk of humility? Matthew will later tell us in chapter 10 that the greatest one among us is the one who serves! As you walk through your life this week, think of our humble Jesus and how he has called us to walk in the same humility. As the apostle Paul says in Philippians 2, we ought to have the same attitude/mindset of our Lord and Savior who came not to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many!
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