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NAZARETH

Jesus returned to Nazareth, the town where He was raised. When He read from a specific passage in the scroll of Isaiah, the truth He spoke came forth with such power that the people marveled. They were surprised to have their souls awakened by the words of the carpenter’s son. Certainly, Jesus is the Messiah, and it should be no surprise to us that His words quickened the hearts of those who heard His holy utterances. There was no sin, no guile, no fault, no corruption behind any of His words (Isa 53:9; 1 Pet 2:22). He’s the only prophet who ever spoke the words of heaven with perfect purity and innocence, without fear or doubt. Nevertheless, in the economy of heaven, the greatest blessings are the ones which come forth in the most ordinary ways and from the most common of places. They watched Jesus grow up. They conducted business with Joseph. They greeted Mary in the marketplace. “How could this young man’s words stir our hearts so?” they wondered.

Today, too many of those who profess to be Christians are chasing after what they perceive to be the next miracle or the next mighty blessing from heaven. Even those who confess solid, doctrinal truth these days will clamor to hear the most recent “celebrity” preacher, as if they have something uniquely special. This ought not to be. The truth of Christ’s kingdom is that the most significant miracles are those which come from things we most often take for granted: a child’s smile; the touch of a loved one’s hand; the encouraging word from a brother or sister in Christ. When the gospel is central to our lives, when the person and work of Jesus Christ is what moves our minds and stirs our souls, everything is a miracle which points to Christ, exalts His gospel, and glorifies our heavenly Father in, by, and through Christ Jesus, our Lord. Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Father in heaven, may it be
We not forsake what’s plain;
In ordinary things we see,
Christ’s cross which cleans sins’ stain.

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11/20 Reading Portions: 1 Chronicles 15; James 2; Amos 9; Luke 4