Jesus of Nazareth

As far as we know, Jesus spent more of His life in Nazareth than any other place.  Joseph was originally from Nazareth, and after Christ was born in Bethlehem and lived in Egypt, “they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.” It was there that “the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom.”  After the incident at the temple at the age of twelve, Jesus “went down with [Mary and Joseph], and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them” (Luke 2:4, 39, 51).  He started His ministry at about the age of 30, and so he likely lived about 25 years in Nazareth, perhaps 70-75 percent of His life.  He was known during His ministry as “Jesus of Nazareth,” as evident in numerous scriptures.  For example, Philip told Nathanael, “We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph” (John 1:46) we read in Luke of a multitude and a blind man: “And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by” (Luke 18:37).  On the road to Emmaus the disciples described events “concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word” (Luke 24:19). It was well-known that Jesus was from Nazareth. 

             Given how long He lived in Nazareth, it’s incredible that as a whole the city rejected Him as the Messiah.  Near the beginning of His ministry, we read, “And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read” (Luke 4:16).  So He went back to His hometown, and there in the synagogue He read the passage about the Messiah from Isaiah 61.  He may have even come with anticipation, perhaps thinking as  was declared to Nephi before His birth, “Behold, I come unto my own, to fulfil all things which I have made known unto the children of men from the foundation of the world” (3 Nephi 1:14).  He was coming to His own people; the people knew Him, calling Him “Joseph’s son” and yet they did not accept His declaration as the Messiah.  When He spoke to them about miracles given to Gentiles in Old Testament times, they were so angry with Him that they “rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong” (Luke 4:29).  They were ready to kill one of their own, one who had grown up in their town and surely was know to them as righteous and obedient.  What hardened hearts they had to have had to have sought to murder Him!  With sadness He commented to them, “Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country” (Luke 4:24).  Perhaps He was thinking specifically of the people of Nazareth when He declared with sadness to the Nephites, “I came unto my own, and my own received me not. And the scriptures concerning my coming are fulfilled” (3 Nephi 9:16).