In the 13th chapter of Matthew, the former tax collector records an incident that occurred in Jesus’ home town. Jesus had been touring Israel, preaching in villages and along the shore of Galilee. After a season of ministry, he went home and began to preach in the synagogue. Those who had known him previously were amazed at his teaching and his miracles. Perhaps, they had heard of his healings more than having witnessed them.
Interestingly, after being amazed, they began to be offended. The text reads, “Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” And they took offense at him” (Matt. 13:54-57).
Instead of being excited and celebrating what God was doing in the life of the man they had known as a boy, they took offense. They fell into the trap of not being able to see what a man had become, but only seeing him as he once was. Jesus had all the markers of a great prophet, but they could only see him as the carpenter’s son.
Apparently, his teaching with authority felt as if he were talking down to them. The last sentence in that section said, “And he did not do many miracles there because io their lack of faith.” Jesus reflected on the experience by saying, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.” Remember that even his own brothers did not believe until after the resurrection.
Perhaps, you have had the same experience trying to share Jesus with your family or old friends. They may be polite, but still only see you as their child, their sibling, or their old “running buddy.” It’s hard for parents to see even a grown child as one who can teach them or give direction to their lives. Even when you are grown you are still their child. Our siblings fall into the same trap. It’s hard to submit your heart and intellect to someone you played with in the mud and carried with whom you carried out childhood rivalries. Old friends may be offended because you don’t share in their lifestyle of pursuing sin and pleasure anymore.
If you have a real burden for these people you love and care about, you may feel frustrated or feel like a failure because they won’t hear you. Jesus gets you! He definitely knows how that feels. How could anyone turn him down as a prophet with his stellar teaching and amazing miracles? And yet they did. We often forget that more people turned Jesus down than accepted him.
Let me encourage you. Don’t measure your testimony or witness by those in your old circle of friends or even family. Certainly, we need to share the gospel and tell them how Jesus has changed our lives. Some will respond and reach out to Jesus. But if they don’t…continue to love them and let your life be your testimony. But in addition, pray that the Holy Spirit will birth faith and spiritual hunger in their hearts. Just as importantly, ask the Lord to bring someone into their life to share the gospel whom they can hear – a peer, someone they look up to, or someone inserted into a circumstance at just the right time. They may not be able to see us as someone who can give them direction, but we can pray and we can continue to model Jesus for them. Take heart, Jesus’ entire family came to believe eventually.