Rev. Neil Steven Lawrence, M.Div.

Have you ever felt you were despised and living in obscurity? So did God!

Nazareth was a boom town that supplied goods to one of the many cities called Caesarea (named in honor of Caesar), which was north of Nazareth. At the time Caesarea was being developed quickly by the Romans so it is likely that Jesus family, among many others, we’re supplying carpentry goods to that town. 

When Jesus began his ministry he moved over to a larger city Capernaum, which was on the Kings Highway which moved along the Fertile Crescen. This was a major road which passed through Capernaum, located on the Sea of Galilee. This was a major trade route so his message would’ve disseminated much quicker from there. Where Jesus grew up, Nazareth, was definitely off the beaten path and very obscure.

The Hebrew word: nazar means “despised.” It is likely that this is the root word for the town Nazareth. So the Son of God grew up in this world in: “Despised.” If he had friends that asked him, “Where are you from?” He would say, “I am from Despised.”

In Isaiah 53 the prophet describes the characteristics of the Messiah and says: “He was despised and rejected…”

When Nathaniel, one of the 12 disciples, was being called to come see Jesus (who might be the Messiah), he is quoted as saying, “can anything good come from Nazareth (despised)?”

When the GodHead sent the Son to the earth He was not put in a palace but in Nazareth (despised). That way no matter what we experience on this earth,  or what situation we find ourselves in, or what depths we have fallen too, we must realize the Lord understands and can redeem us from it!

Indeed, our Lord is Jesus of Nazareth! Jesus reminds us by His own life on earth: “The first shall be last and the last shall be first.” When Jesus’ lowly disciples spread out throughout the Roman Imperial territories, full of the Spirit of God and Jesus’ words in their hearts, they “Turned the world upside down!” Though they were not the highest in society with the greatest upbringing, many in fact were also from ‘despised’, they made great impact and transformed their world. With Jesus your background does not constrain your destination; your past does not obscure your future.

“Our greatest fear should not be succeeding at something but succeeding at something that doesn’t really matter.”    – DL Moody