Passing Through the Midst

The Story

Jesus came home to Nazareth, the town where He grew up. On the Sabbath, He went to the synagogue as usual, and they handed Him the scroll of the prophet Isaiah.

He found the place where it was written, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,” anointed to preach good news to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, and to set at liberty those who are bruised. Then He rolled up the scroll, sat down, and said, “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.”

At first, people were impressed. But then they started whispering. “Is not this Joseph’s son?” We know this man. We watched Him grow up.

Jesus knew what they were thinking. “No prophet is accepted in his own country,” He said. Then He reminded them that in Elijah’s time God sent the prophet to a foreign widow, and in Elisha’s time He healed a foreign man, Naaman the Syrian.

The room exploded with anger. The people of His own hometown rose up, forced Him out of the city, and took Him to the edge of the hill their town was built on. They meant to throw Him off the cliff.

“But he passing through the midst of them went his way.”

Reflection