365 Ways to Know God by Elmer Towns
(Devotional Readings on the Names of God)
February 08
JESUS: A NAZARENE
And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which
was spoken by the prophets, “He shall be called a Nazarene”.
Matthew 2:23
Two cities are especially important to the baby Jesus. He was born in Bethlehem, as predicted by Micah 5:2. But God led Mary and Joseph to return to their hometown of Nazareth so Jesus could be called a Nazarene. There is no written record of any prophets who wrote that Jesus would come from Nazareth. Rather, look carefully at the text; it says “prophets,” meaning more than one. Also, this prophecy was spoken; it was not written. This means that several prophets had predicted Jesus would be a Nazarene. Since everyone had to come from some place, Jesus didn’t just appear as an angel, nor did He invade the earth as a grown man. Jesus was born in Bethlehem and grew up in Nazareth. Jesus was a Nazarene.
Lord Jesus, thank You for coming to earth and choosing
one specific spot to be born and to grow up.
The word “Nazareth” comes from the root naz-ar, meaning “to separate,” as in the Nazarite vow. The people of Nazareth were more conservative of most Jewish towns. They separated themselves from other people and from sin. In social, religious and moral customs, they were extremely separated to God. Jesus was as separated as the people of Nazareth, because He was God. Jesus was separate from worldly and secular trends because He was raised in a town called Separated Ones. Jesus was a Nazarene.
Lord Jesus, Your hometown must have been special for God to choose it
for Your boyhood. Thank You for becoming flesh for me. Amen.
Reading: Matthew 2:19-23
Key Thought: God had a special hometown for Jesus.
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