Jesus Rejected in Nazareth

In the last five articles in this “Walk as He Walked” series, we’ve examined some of the mighty works—particularly the miracles—Jesus performed while traveling throughout Galilee.

These works, in addition to His powerful teaching sessions, caused His fame and popularity to grow throughout the region.

Then Jesus again traveled back to “His own country” (Matthew 13:54). His previous visit had ended poorly (Luke 4:28-30).

Though His popularity was growing, He had already experienced opposition from certain religious leaders. However, one would think His hometown—the place where He was raised and where He had worked throughout His 20s—would now heartily welcome and accept Him.

That didn’t turn out to be the case.

Jesus rejected by His own people

Shortly after arriving back home, the Sabbath came and Jesus, as His custom was, taught in the local synagogue. The people there were very surprised by His teaching, yet not in a positive way.

“And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, ‘Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands!’” (Mark 6:2).

This shows that Jesus didn’t spend His teen and young adult years—the period before He began His public ministry—teaching or performing miracles, as some postbiblical writings suggest. To the people of Nazareth, His teachings and miracles seemed to come out of nowhere.

They were shocked that this Man who had grown up and worked among them was now doing these extraordinary works.

“Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” (verse 3). (Contrary to the idea that Mary remained perpetually a virgin, the Gospels reveal Joseph and Mary had at least six children after Jesus’ birth.)

The people of Nazareth didn’t remember Jesus as a preacher or miracle worker—they knew Him as a carpenter and a member of a family. Matthew’s account shows they also referred to Him as “the carpenter’s son” (Matthew 13:55).

In essence, they were saying: You’re just Joseph’s kid. We saw you building houses for 10-plus years. You were just a normal person. We see your mom and your siblings around town. And now suddenly you’re a great preacher and miracle worker? People are even saying you might be the Messiah! Do you really expect us to believe that?

Instead of accepting Him in this new role and treating Him with respect and honor, “they were offended at Him” (Mark 6:3).

Since Jesus was sinless His entire life, nobody in that village would have had any stories of bad behavior from His past. If they had honestly contemplated their recollections of Him, they would have recognized this was a person who had never gotten in trouble, never caused mischief, never used bad language, never been dishonest and never treated anyone rudely or unkindly.

Knowing His character and reputation, they should have been the first people to believe Him! However, that was not the case.

Those who rejected Him probably included people with whom He had close relationships and friendships. Jesus would have spent countless hours with many of them, both socially and professionally.

John records that this rejection extended even to His own brothers (technically half-brothers). Despite having grown up witnessing their older sibling’s flawless character, “even His brothers did not believe in Him” (John 7:5).

Isaiah prophesied that Jesus would be “despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:3). Being sneered at and rejected by the very people He had known growing up was part of the sorrow and grief He experienced during His human life.

Jesus’ response: “A prophet is not without honor”

Jesus didn’t respond with frustration or try to provoke them by staying longer. Instead, He calmly highlighted a principle of human nature He was seeing at work: “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house” (Mark 6:4).

In other words, the people who are most familiar with a person are often the quickest to reject him. Jesus’ observation was similar in sentiment to the modern phrase: familiarity breeds contempt.

Jesus didn’t allow bitterness to set in and distract Him because He recognized that people have been rejecting God’s servants for centuries. Jesus made the observation not only based on this experience in Nazareth, but on other similar situations He had witnessed during His time on earth or that were recorded in Scripture.

Many of the people God directly worked with were rejected by those closest to them, including Joseph (Genesis 37:10-11), Moses (Exodus 2:11-15; Numbers 12:1), Elijah (1 Kings 19:10) and Jeremiah (Jeremiah 20:1-2, 7-10).

In many of the other towns Jesus visited, He was welcomed by the people and attracted large crowds of interested onlookers. But in His hometown, He was met with skepticism, criticism and even sarcasm.

Jesus moved forward

Though undoubtedly saddened and disappointed by this experience, He didn’t allow it to discourage or deter Him. Instead, He moved forward, continuing the work He was sent to do.

He didn’t linger long in Nazareth, but still “laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them” (Mark 6:5). In a display of His perfect character, He didn’t let the negative reception of the majority keep Him from showing mercy to those in need. He exemplified the principle Paul would later write about: “Repay no one evil for evil” (Romans 12:17).

Upon departing His hometown, Jesus moved on to the surrounding villages, “in a circuit, teaching” (Mark 6:6). There’s no evidence He ever visited Nazareth again.

Lessons from Jesus’ rejection at Nazareth

Consider three lessons we can learn from the rejection of Jesus in Nazareth.

1. Don’t use people’s past to put them into a box.

Though they had no bad experience from the past to hold against Him, the people of Nazareth nevertheless refused to see Jesus as anything more than Joseph and Mary’s son, the carpenter. They blinded themselves from recognizing the remarkable Man in front of them, mentally boxing Him in as the boy and carpenter they had watched grow up.

This should remind us of the importance of respecting the process of growth, development and maturity in people’s lives—especially those we’ve known since their youth.

Unlike with Christ, when we watch people grow up, we’ll see their youthful mistakes and immaturity. But as they mature and take on new roles and responsibilities, we should be careful not to reject the adults they’ve become simply because of who they once were.

2. Let your example speak for you.

There’s no record of Jesus getting frustrated and trying to convince His kinsmen that He wasn’t just “the carpenter’s son.” He didn’t try to coerce them into respecting Him.

He simply lived out what Paul later taught a young pastor who wasn’t being taken seriously due to his age: “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12).

If someone dismisses you because of your past or your age, don’t try to force their respect through words. Instead, focus on your example and conduct.

That’s exactly what Jesus did.

In the face of rejection, He didn’t retaliate or demand recognition. Instead, He responded with calm dignity—showing kindness, extending mercy and continuing to do His work.

He let His actions speak louder than words.

3. Don’t let discouragement distract and get the best of you.

Being rejected and criticized by your people, people you deeply care about, can be very discouraging. Mistreatment might be easier to take when it comes from people you’d expect it from, but it really stings when it comes from those close to you.

That kind of discouragement can get us down and, if we’re not careful, breed bitterness and stagnation.

Instead, Jesus set an incredible example of resolutely moving forward and not allowing the experience to get Him down. He acknowledged it for what it was, human nature at work, and moved forward.

It wasn’t a Nazareth problem—it was a human problem.

Sometimes the key to moving past mistreatment is to view it within the wider context of human nature. When we remember that people have been mistreating people in similar ways for thousands of years, it helps us not to take mistreatment against us too personally. It also helps us to show mercy.

Jesus didn’t allow bitterness to set in and distract Him because He recognized that people have been rejecting God’s servants for centuries.

We will all experience mistreatment from someone, sometimes even from someone close to us—a family member or a friend. When that happens to you, don’t allow it to distract or deeply unsettle you.

Instead, react as Jesus did—and with determination continue to . . .

Walk as He walked.