NAZARENE

Jerusalem is ‘the city of the great King’, proclaims the Bible in Psalm 48 verse 2 and Matthew chapter 5 verse 35. Kings of Judah usually came from Jerusalem, the glorious, religious and political capital of God’s theocracy on earth, 1 Kgs. 9. 3-6. But this son of David, the Governor, would not be born in Jerusalem, nor live in it, neither would He be received nor crowned in it. He would, however, be condemned in it and then die, as one rejected, outside its city walls.

This ‘Governor’ would be from the humble and obscure village of Nazareth; a place far from the political, educational and religious elite of Jerusalem. Nathaniel could ask, ‘Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?’, John 1. 46. Matthew, not quoting a specific prophet, as on a number of other occasions, but referring to the tenor of the messianic prophets, sees our Lord’s humble connection with Nazareth as a fulfilment of the prophets’ description of One who is ‘rejected of men’, ‘a worm’ and ‘lowly’, Isa. 53. 3; Psa. 22. 6; Zech. 9. 9.

It is interesting to note how the young child Jesus came to live in Nazareth. Though Mary and Joseph were originally from Nazareth, our Lord was born in Bethlehem. Joseph received three dreams from the Lord involving guidance for the child’s location. The last two dreams are in our reading.

The first dream giving guidance from God, Matt 2.13, told Joseph to take the child to Egypt for protection from king Herod. He obeyed. The second dream of guidance, ch. 2. 19, told Joseph to return to the land of Israel for Herod was dead. He obeyed. The third dream of guidance, ch. 2. 22, warned Joseph not to settle in the Judean area as Herod’s son was now reigning. Again, he obeyed and settled in Nazareth of Galilee. Joseph did not receive his guidance all in one revelation. God gave it to him a step at a time. After he obeyed, God gave Him further instruction.

In our text today, we see the Father protecting His Son from an earthly king and his son. How remarkable, then, that, for you and for me, in the Saviour’s hour of crucifixion all protection was removed! Matt. 27. 46.