Hometown Blues

Long ago, in a galaxy far, far away, I used to play in a band that traveled from city to city playing shows for people. We had moderate success; not enough that any of you would know us by name or song, but enough that I felt like I was living my dream. Regardless of how rock star I felt when we were on the road, it was always strange coming home.

When we were on tour, I was Chris, the front man who mastered the art of playing his guitar while both jumping high in the air and kneeling on the stage. I can't dance a lick, nor do I want to, but put a guitar on me and I can't keep from moving. Our job was to dazzle a crowd, and we worked hard at it. But at home, I was Chris, the guy who used to have Jason Priestly hair (if you were born after 1985, google it). I was Chris, the kid who used to run around the church playing tag. When I was in Texas, if I told someone what I did for a living, they would think it was the coolest thing in the world. When I told someone at home what I did for a living, they would say something like, "Oh, that's neat...(awkward, disapproving pause)," or "So, your wife must have to work then?" In any other city, people thought I was living the dream, but at home they thought I was wasting my life and had no problem letting me know that whether by word or attitude.

Jesus went through something very similar when he came home. He had been traveling around the region teaching and doing miracles in outlying towns and villages. Many people had been healed; a little girl had even been raised from the dead. The word was out on Jesus, and people were excited about what he was doing. When he taught, there were so many people in the crowds crushing in on him that he had to get in to a boat at the lakeshore and teach from there to keep from getting mobbed. Yet, when Jesus went back to his hometown of Nazareth, he got a much different response.

Jesus left that part of the country and returned with his disciples to Nazareth, his hometown. The next Sabbath he began teaching in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. They asked, “Where did he get all this wisdom and the power to perform such miracles?” Then they scoffed, “He’s just a carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon. And his sisters live right here among us.” They were deeply offended and refused to believe in him. Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family.” And because of their unbelief, he couldn’t do any miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them. And he was amazed at their unbelief.
Mark 6:1-6

If Jesus had been anything like me, he would have expected a splendid homecoming - the hometown boy who went into the world and made something of himself! But that isn't what he got. Instead he was mocked and belittled. John 7:1-5 tells us that even Jesus' brothers got in on the action and made fun of him. After all the miracles he had done in the region and the wisdom with which he taught, the folks in his hometown gave him no respect and no recognition.

What is really interesting is that the unbelief of the people in Nazareth limited the miracles that Jesus could do there. It wasn't a lack of desire on his part, but a consequence of the the hometown crowd's inability to see the potential of what God could do through Jesus.

Many of you know what it feels like to not be believed in. You know the sting of harsh words that come from a parent, sibling, teacher or coach who think you won't really amount to much. If that's you, you are in good company. Jesus faced that too, but look what he accomplished with his life. The beauty of what God does in our lives is that it has nothing to do with who we are or what gifts, talents and abilities we bring to the table. It is about his strength and greatness, not ours.

Knowing that, is there someone that you have looked at with less than optimism about their potential? Is there someone you have written off as a lost cause, or someone you know could never reach greatness because of their past, their upbringing, their lack of talent or resources? Just like the people of Nazareth, your lack of belief in someone could be limiting what God wants to do not just in their life, but yours. Don't allow your hometown attitude to keep God from doing amazing things through the life of someone you may never expect it from. Your unbelief in someone who seems insignificant could be what keeps the miraculous from happening in your life.