Nazareth

by Jarvis, A. G. | Category: General | Sept 1963

There are many place-names in the Scriptures that hold very special memories for lovers of the word of God. Bethlehem is for ever linked with the inn, and the manger that held the Babe Immanuel. Sychar brings visions of the weary Man, dispensing the water of life. Gethsemane recalls "the midnight scenes of woe", the bitter pretaste of the cup, whilst Calvary, beyond all other places, has memories, sad indeed, but eternally precious.

Nazareth brings other thoughts to mind. How full are the words, "where He had been brought up" of the hidden years of childhood, youth, and young manhood! We know but little of those years, but what is revealed is very precious. He was subject to His parents. He "waxed strong, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon Him" and "Jesus advanced in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and men."

The words spoken by His Father from the open heaven when He was baptized, "Thou art My beloved Son; in Thee I am well pleased" (Luke 3.22), surely cover the whole period of the first thirty years of relative silence. There is comfort and instruction in this thought. It is good to remember that the greater part of the life of the Son of God on earth was lived in the obscurity of Nazareth, occupied with the simple duties inseparable from the home and circumstances of Joseph and Mary.

Obedient to His parents, He has set us the supreme example of obedience. He toiled too at the carpenter's bench,

"Deeming naught of labour soiling That His kingly hands would do."

He dignified manual toil by His humble activities. This is surely an encouragement to most of us, for whom "the trivial round, the common task" are the bounds of daily life. In such a place as Nazareth so uncongenial to the Holy One of God, He did always those things which pleased His Father.

In that place of ill-repute, He lived a sinless life. On His first public appearance after His return to Nazareth, "He entered, as His custom was, into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up to read". Doubtless often while other boys were playing, He was away in the synagogue, studying the precious scrolls. No wonder that at the age of twelve the doctors of the law were amazed at His understanding and His answers. The words of Psalm 119.97-104 give us the secret:

"Oh how love I Thy low

It is My meditation all the day.

Thy commandments make Me wiser than Mine enemies;

For they are ever with Me.

I have more understanding than all My teachers;

For Thy testimonies are My meditation.

I understand more than the aged,

Because I have kept Thy precepts.

I have refrained My feet from every evil way,

That I may observe Thy word.

I have not turned aside from Thy judgements;

For Thou host taught Me.

How sweet are Thy words unto My taste!

Yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

Through Thy precepts I get understanding:

Therefore I hate every false way."

We each have our "Nazareth", where we live our daily lives, where we are known, and watched often by unsympathetic relations or neighbours, as He too was watched. It was at Nazareth that He said, "A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house" (Matthew 13.57). Nazareth, then, may speak to us of those relationships, duties, and responsibilities that none can rightly avoid. May we repeat, for the encouragement of all, that the longest period of the life of the Lord Jesus on earth was spent at Nazareth, and that He is fully acquainted with the trials, toils, and temptations that beset us day by day? For younger ones there is the added lesson that these thirty years were preparatory for the few years of public witness. Those early years were occupied with the simple things such as obedience, toil, reading, and meditating on the Scriptures, and in prayer. Thus was He fitted for the great work He came to do.

Jarvis, A. G. | Sept 1963
General