Jesus Walks Through Crowd in Nazareth Despite Attempted Violence
Jesus of Nazareth, whose name is derived from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, was known for his powerful works and teachings [3, 9]. Nazareth, meaning "the guarded one" or possibly "a shoot/sprout," was Jesus' ordinary residence and is not mentioned in the Old Testament [1, 5]. It gained its significance from its connection to Christ's life [1].
According to Luke's Gospel, Jesus returned to his hometown synagogue in Nazareth to announce the arrival of God's salvation [6]. Initially, the people were pleased with his words. However, their attitude shifted when Jesus reminded them that God's reach extended to Gentiles as well as Jews [6]. This statement infuriated the crowd, leading them to attempt to kill him [6]. Despite their violent intentions, Jesus "passed through the crowd and went on His way" [4].
This event in Nazareth is understood by some scholars as a preview of Jesus' entire public ministry [6]. Throughout his ministry, Jesus was recognized as "Jesus of Nazareth" [2, 3, 7, 8]. He was anointed by God with the Holy Spirit and power, and he "went through, doing good, and healing all those oppressed by the devil" [2, 10]. This reputation for mighty works and signs was well-known throughout Judea and Galilee [3, 10].
The people of Nazareth, despite witnessing Jesus' wisdom and miracles, questioned his authority, asking, "Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?" [11]. This reaction highlights the challenge Jesus faced even in his own community, where his humble origins were well-known [9]. This incident is considered by some to be Jesus' first and only visit to Nazareth during his public ministry [11].
Sources
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Nazareth — (the guarded one) the ordinary residence of our Saviour, is not mentioned in the Old Testament, but occurs first in (Matthew 2:23) It derives its celebrity from its connection with the history of Christ, and in that respect has a hold on the imagination and feelings of men which it shares only with Jerusalem and Bethlehem. It is situated among the hills which constitute the south ridges of Lebanon, just before they sink down into the plain of Esdraelon, (Mr. Merrill, in "Galilee in the Time of Christ" (1881), represents Nazareth in Christ's time as a city (”
- Acts “Acts 10:38 (YLT) — Jesus who <FI>is<Fi> from Nazareth--how God did anoint him with the Holy Spirit and power; who went through, doing good, and healing all those oppressed by the devil, because God was with him;”
- Acts ““Men of Israel, hear these words! Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved by God to you by mighty works and wonders and signs which God did by him in your midst, even as you yourselves know, -- Acts 2:22”
- Luke “Luke 4:30 (BSB) — But Jesus passed through the crowd and went on His way.”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Nazareth — Separated, generally supposed to be the Greek form of the Hebrew netser, a "shoot" or "sprout." Some, however, think that the name of the city must be connected with the name of the hill behind it, from which one of the finest prospects in Palestine is obtained, and accordingly they derive it from the Hebrew notserah, i.e., one guarding or watching, thus designating the hill which overlooks and thus guards an extensive region. This city is not mentioned in the Old Testament. It was the home of Joseph and Mary (Luke 2:39), and here the angel announced to th”
- Luke (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Luke 4:16: 4:16-30 Jesus’ sermon in Nazareth previewed his whole public ministry. Jesus returned to his hometown synagogue to announce the good news that God’s salvation had now arrived. The people were pleased until Jesus reminded them that God reaches out to Gentiles as well as to Jews. The infuriated crowd then attempted to kill him.”
- Mark (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Mark 10:44: And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth,.... "That passed by", as reads the Persic version; which he might learn, by inquiring the meaning of such a multitude of people, and the noise; or he might hear his name frequently mentioned, and it said, that, he, was coming, or passing by: he began to cry out; aloud, and with great vehemency, and often repeating it: and say, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me: he did not call him Jesus of Nazareth, as the common people did, but Jesus, the son of David, a title of the Messiah; nor did he ask for money, but f”
- Luke (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Luke 18:36: And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by. Some of the company answered him, that Jesus, the prophet of Nazareth, so much talked of, and said to be the Messiah, who was become so famous for his doctrines and miracles, for healing diseases, and dispossessing devils, was just "then" passing by; and this occasioned the noise and clamour. And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by. Some of the company answered him, that Jesus, the prophet of Nazareth, so much talked of, and said to be the Messiah, who was become so famous for his doctrines and miracle”
- Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 21:11: 21:11 The crowds with Jesus understood him to be a prophet, empowered by God to teach and to perform miracles. • The description from Nazareth in Galilee highlights Jesus’ humble origins (see 2:23).”
- Acts (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Acts 10:37: That word - ye know - This account of Jesus of Nazareth ye cannot be unacquainted with; because it has been proclaimed throughout all Judea and Galilee, from the time that John began to preach. Ye have heard how he was anointed with the Holy Ghost, and of the miracles which he performed; how he went about doing good, and healing all kinds of demoniacs and, by these mighty and beneficent acts, giving the fullest proof that God was with him. This was the exordium of Peter's discourse; and thus he begins, from what they knew, to teach them what they did not know. St. Pe”
- Matthew (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Matthew 13:54: And when he was come into his own country--that is, Nazareth; as is plain from Mar 6:1. See on Joh 4:43, where also the same phrase occurs. This, according to the majority of Harmonists, was the second of two visits which our Lord paid to Nazareth during His public ministry; but in our view it was His first and only visit to it. See on Mat 4:13; and for the reasons, see Luk 4:16-30. Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?--"these miracles." These surely are not like the questions of people who had asked precisely the same question”