A Prophet Without Honor - Matthew 13:53-58
A Prophet Without Honor
53 When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there. 54 Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. 55 “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? 56 Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” 57 And they took offense at him.But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.” 58 And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.
Reflection: Chapter 13 of Matthew ends in an interesting manner. As Jesus ended this leg of his mission, not only announcing the nature of the kingdom of heaven, but also doing works that proved it was amongst them, he comes to his hometown synagogue. One would think that there would be quite a great deal of celebration that this son of the town, a true prophet as the world had never seen, was back in their midst. And yet we see quite the opposite. Instead of being overjoyed at his presence, the text says they took offense at him. Instead of embracing him, they question his family. They don't even mention his dad's name, they just say that he is the carpenter's son. They mention his mother's name and brothers, but almost as if they are saying, "How could a prophet come from these ordinary folks?"
As the saying goes, "familiarity breeds contempt!" But in this case it is contempt for the Son of God. And what is the result. The text says Jesus did not do many miracles because of their lack of faith. Not that he couldn't do miracles, as we have already seen him do plenty, but he could do none there. What can this passage mean for us today?
The first thing that hits me is that the people thought they knew Jesus, which prevented them from having faith in him, or being a beneficiary of the kingdom of heaven coming to them through him. He could do no miracles because of their lack of faith. I wonder if those of us who "know" Jesus become so familiar with him, we don't come to expect much from him anymore. We become so educated about him, that we forget to do ministry with and for him in His power.
A good question to ask oneself is, "When is the last time I did something that would only be possible because I did it with Jesus?"
We see this is in the church when there was a period of time that the church explained away miracles because we became so rational in our belief in Jesus. Jesus fit our nice, neat boxes that we created for him. And in that dark time in our church history Jesus could do no miracles because of our lack of faith. The church in effect said, "Isn't this the carpenter's son?" They reduced Jesus to a good story teller, or a good moral teacher and in so doing they took offense at him.
How about you? How about me? Have we become educated beyond our obedience? Do we serve what we are cooking, or rely on someone else's experience of Jesus? Jesus returns to his hometown often (every week if you preach His Word and administer His Sacrament) but do we welcome Him appropriately? Do we say this is the carpenter's son, or this is the Son of Living God, who raises the dead and heals the sick?
Jesus we welcome you to our towns and churches as the greatest prophet who ever lived. Forgive us for taking offense at you? We acknowledge that you are the maker of heaven and earth and by Your Holy Spirit you have sent us to bring Your Good News in word and deed. And as he honor you as the greatest prophet you will continue to do miracles in our town. Amen.
53 When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there. 54 Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. 55 “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? 56 Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” 57 And they took offense at him.But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.” 58 And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.
Reflection: Chapter 13 of Matthew ends in an interesting manner. As Jesus ended this leg of his mission, not only announcing the nature of the kingdom of heaven, but also doing works that proved it was amongst them, he comes to his hometown synagogue. One would think that there would be quite a great deal of celebration that this son of the town, a true prophet as the world had never seen, was back in their midst. And yet we see quite the opposite. Instead of being overjoyed at his presence, the text says they took offense at him. Instead of embracing him, they question his family. They don't even mention his dad's name, they just say that he is the carpenter's son. They mention his mother's name and brothers, but almost as if they are saying, "How could a prophet come from these ordinary folks?"
As the saying goes, "familiarity breeds contempt!" But in this case it is contempt for the Son of God. And what is the result. The text says Jesus did not do many miracles because of their lack of faith. Not that he couldn't do miracles, as we have already seen him do plenty, but he could do none there. What can this passage mean for us today?
The first thing that hits me is that the people thought they knew Jesus, which prevented them from having faith in him, or being a beneficiary of the kingdom of heaven coming to them through him. He could do no miracles because of their lack of faith. I wonder if those of us who "know" Jesus become so familiar with him, we don't come to expect much from him anymore. We become so educated about him, that we forget to do ministry with and for him in His power.
A good question to ask oneself is, "When is the last time I did something that would only be possible because I did it with Jesus?"
We see this is in the church when there was a period of time that the church explained away miracles because we became so rational in our belief in Jesus. Jesus fit our nice, neat boxes that we created for him. And in that dark time in our church history Jesus could do no miracles because of our lack of faith. The church in effect said, "Isn't this the carpenter's son?" They reduced Jesus to a good story teller, or a good moral teacher and in so doing they took offense at him.
How about you? How about me? Have we become educated beyond our obedience? Do we serve what we are cooking, or rely on someone else's experience of Jesus? Jesus returns to his hometown often (every week if you preach His Word and administer His Sacrament) but do we welcome Him appropriately? Do we say this is the carpenter's son, or this is the Son of Living God, who raises the dead and heals the sick?
Jesus we welcome you to our towns and churches as the greatest prophet who ever lived. Forgive us for taking offense at you? We acknowledge that you are the maker of heaven and earth and by Your Holy Spirit you have sent us to bring Your Good News in word and deed. And as he honor you as the greatest prophet you will continue to do miracles in our town. Amen.
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