Nazarene!

For Thursday, December 29, 2022:

Matthew 2:23 NLT: “Joseph’s family went and lived in Galilee, in a town called Nazareth. This fulfilled what the prophets had said: ‘He will be called a Nazarene.’”

Evil King Herod had died, so God’s angel ended the Holy family’s exile in Egypt. It was time to come home! The bad news is that Herod’s son Archelaus was now the ruler, and Joseph assumed “like father, like son!” So obediently Joseph and family returned to Israel, but did not settle in the major city of Jerusalem. A smaller town called Nazareth in the province of Galilee was thought to be safer.

At that time, people told jokes about the people of Nazareth, who were falsely thought to be not as smart or capable as others. That stereotypical prejudice caused Nathanael to ask, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”

Philip replied, “Come and see for yourself!” God chose to have his Son, the Savior of the world, center his life and a lot of his preaching around the Sea of Galilee!

Jesus lived in Nazareth; he died in Jerusalem.

Merry Christmas!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship