Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother named Mary? And aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? And aren’t all his sisters here with us? So where did he get all this?”
Matthew 13:55-56 NET
As Jesus traveled through Galilee, he visited Nazareth, the town he had grown up in, and preached in their synagogue. Matthew tells us that the townsfolk were astonished at his teaching (Matt 13:54) but also took offense at him (Matt 13:57). But why? He was one of them who had become famous. Why not roll out the red carpet?
The problem was that they thought they knew him. Yes, he was the carpenter’s son. He may even have been the village carpenter until he left to begin his proclamation of the kingdom. And his mother and siblings were still there. They refused to accept that he was not just one of them. As a result, they missed out on much of what he could offer them (Matt. 13:58).
That is a danger we face today as well. We can become so familiar with Jesus that we lose sight of who he is. I grew up with Jesus and cannot remember a time when I did not “go to church” on Sundays and other occasions. I have read the gospels many times and am thoroughly familiar with the stories about Jesus and his teaching. And I even have a famous picture of him fixed in my memory.
Much More than a Carpenter
The danger is that familiarity can take the edge off recognizing him as Immanuel, God with us (Matt. 1:23). Jesus was the carpenter’s son. But he is so much more. He is the Lord of all creation. And, as Lord, he calls on me to deny myself, take up my cross, and follow him (Matt. 16:24). And it is when I do that I can experience his power at work within and through me.
Hanging out with Jesus as a friend is a good thing. But don’t stop there. He is Lord. Be faithful to his call in your life. Then, you will be able to fully experience what he can do.
