Nazareth - That Scandalous Town

 

““Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?”

Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip.”

John 1:46

 

Nazareth obviously had a reputation.

Not a good one either, judging by Nathanael’s response to Philip.

Maybe it was considered the ‘other side of the tracks’ or the ‘bad side of town’ to use a couple of terms familiar to us today.

It sounds like it was not a place mom’s let their kids freely roam the streets nor does it sound like a place one might plan to vacation in.

No, Nazareth had a bad rap.

Maybe you’ve encountered similar statements about yourself.

Maybe you have been ostracized.

Hurt by others’ neglect or worse, their insults and injuring words.   

The comments directed at you (or about you) include –

“Can anyone good come from that family?”

“Stay away from them, they’re nothing but trouble.”

Or even, “I forbid you to see them again, they are beneath you!”

But I have some wonderful news for you.

God is in the redemption business.

Even better news – we are A-L-L in need of redemption.

You, me and everyone else.

So if others have turned up their nose at you; remember that God will not.

Instead, He will extend to you His grace-filled hand.

Did something good come out of Nazareth?

Indeed it did.

Jesus, the Messiah.

Let God be God and watch Him turn your life from scandalous to sacred!

He can cause others to be amazed at what He does in your life.

Let Him have His way!