Matthew 2: 22-23
But when he heard that Archelaus had succeeded his father Herod as king of Judea, Joseph was afraid to go there. Warned in a dream, he left for Galilee and made his home in a city called Nazareth. So what the prophets had said came true: “HE WILL BE CALLED A NAZARENE.”
NOTE: There is no writing by the prophets or anywhere else in the Old Testament that says this.
Matthew 21: 10-11
When Jesus came to Jerusalem, the whole city was in an uproar. People were asking, “Who is this?” The crowd answered, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.”
John 1: 45-46a
Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the man whom Moses wrote about in his teachings and whom the prophets wrote about. He is Jesus, son of Joseph, from the city of Nazareth.” Nathanael said to Philip, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?”
NOTE: It would have been quite helpful to know what Old Testament Scripture or writings of the prophets which convinced Philip that Jesus was the Messiah.
John 7: 40-42, 48-49, 50a, 52
After some in the crowd heard Jesus say these words, they said, “This man s certainly the prophet.” Other people said, “This man is the Messiah.” Still other people asked, “How can the Messiah come from Galilee?” Doesn’t Scripture say that the Messiah will come from the descendants of David and from the village of Bethlehem, where David lived?” Has any ruler or any Pharisee believed in Him? This crowd is cursed because it does not know Moses’ Teachings.” One of those Pharisees was Nicodemus, who had previously visited Jesus (Cp. John 3: 1-12). They asked Nicodemus, “Are you saying this because you are from Galilee. Study the Scriptures and you’ll see that no prophet comes out of Galilee.”
Acts 24: 1-2, 4-5
Five days later the chief priest Ananias went to the city of Caesarea with some leaders of the people and an attorney named Tertullus. They reported to the governor their charges against Paul. When Paul had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him. He said to Felix, “Your Excellency, through your wise leadership we have lasting peace and political and social reforms that benefit the people. I don’t want to keep you too long. Please listen to us. We will be brief. We have found this man [Paul] to be a troublemaker. He starts quarrels among all Jews throughout the world [Empire??]. He’s a ringleader of the Nazarene sect.
COMMENTARY: It seems that Nazareth wasn’t thought of too highly and anyone from the village must not have been looked upon favorably. It is strange that all, if not almost all of the ancient cites of the Bible are mentioned in the Old Testament and for the most part survive unto contemporary modern times, but Nazareth doesn’t come existence until its association as the place where Jesus grew up and lived until His public ministry commenced. Even in the intervening years following Jesus’ ascension back into Heaven it seems that Nazareth had the reputation as a socially backwater town and seedbed of rebellion, religious zealotry and a bunch of troublemakers [in my opinion]. Although in the legal and technical sense Jesus was born in Judea, it is interesting how God chose, instead, to associate Jesus with such a place as Nazareth. The history of the world might have been experienced differently if people proclaimed, “Jesus, the prophet from Bethlehem of Judea,” instead of Nazareth.
Micah 5: 2
But thou, Bethlehem Ephrata, though you be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall He [Messiah/Moshiach] come forth unto Me that is the be the Ruler of Israel, whose goings forth have been from everlasting, from the days of eternity. OJB
Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
June 16, 2012
robertrandle51@yahoo.com
