Jesus Returns to Nazareth
Jesus Returns to Nazareth
The return of Jesus to Nazareth after his early childhood exile in Egypt is a pivotal yet often understated episode in the Gospel narratives. This event not only fulfills ancient prophecy but also shapes the contours of Jesus’ identity, ministry, and reception among his own people. Nazareth, a small and seemingly insignificant village in Galilee, becomes the setting for Jesus’ formative years and the launching point for his public ministry.�
The Biblical Account: Matthew and Luke
The primary sources for Jesus’ return to Nazareth are found in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. After the flight to Egypt to escape Herod’s murderous rampage, Joseph, Mary, and Jesus remain in Egypt until the death of Herod the Great. Matthew records the divine guidance that leads the family back to Israel:
“But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, ‘Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.’ And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene.” (Matthew 2:19-23)
Luke’s Gospel, while not recounting the flight to Egypt, also affirms that after the presentation of Jesus in the temple, the family “returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him” (Luke 2:39-40).
Both accounts emphasize that Nazareth becomes the home of Jesus’ family, the place where he grows up, and the context in which he is known as “Jesus of Nazareth.”
The Town of Nazareth
Nazareth was a small village in the region of Galilee, located in the northern part of ancient Israel. Archaeological evidence suggests that in the first century, Nazareth was home to only a few hundred inhabitants. It was not mentioned in the Old Testament, nor in the writings of Josephus or the Talmud, indicating it was fairly obscure.
Galilee itself was a region with a mixed population, including Jews and Gentiles, and was often looked down upon by the religious elite in Jerusalem. The reputation of Nazareth is reflected in the words of Nathanael, who, upon hearing of Jesus, asks, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” (John 1:46). The town had a low social standard and had no expectations that the Messiah could emerge from such humble origins.
Despite its insignificance, Nazareth becomes the setting for the fulfillment of prophecy and the emergence of God’s plan to save his people. The choice of Nazareth as Jesus’ home highlights the theme of God’s preference for the lowly and marginalized, a central concept that runs throughout the Gospels.
Formative Years in Nazareth
The Gospels provide only brief glimpses into Jesus’ life in Nazareth, but these years are foundational for his identity and mission. Luke summarizes this period with the words, “And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52). Jesus grows up in a devout Jewish household, participates in the life of the synagogue, and learns the trade of a carpenter (Mark 6:3).
These years in Nazareth are ordinary and vague. Jesus is known as the carpenter’s son, and his family is well known in the community. This ordinariness becomes a stumbling block for many when Jesus begins his public ministry. When he returns to Nazareth as an adult and teaches in the synagogue, the people are astonished and offended: “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” (Mark 6:3). They are familiar with Jesus and his family’s origin, leading them to reject his claims and authority.
Jesus Returned to Nazareth to Start His Ministry
The Gospels record that Jesus returns to Nazareth at the outset of his public ministry. Luke provides a detailed account of Jesus’ visit to the synagogue, where he reads from the scroll of Isaiah:
“And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,
‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.’
And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, ‘Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’” (Luke 4:16-21)
Initially, the people marvel at Jesus’ gracious words, but their amazement quickly turns to skepticism and hostility when Jesus challenges their expectations and reminds them of God’s mercy to Gentiles. The episode ends with the people driving Jesus out of town and attempting to throw him off a cliff, but he passes through their midst unharmed (Luke 4:28-30).
The rejection in Nazareth foreshadows the broader rejection Jesus will face from his own people, even as he fulfills the role of the suffering servant.
Conclusion
Jesus’ return to Nazareth after the exile in Egypt is a moment of profound significance in the Gospel narrative. It fulfills prophecy, shapes Jesus’ identity, and sets the stage for his ministry of humility, rejection, and redemption. Nazareth, though insignificant in the eyes of the world, becomes the place where the Son of God is revealed, the Scriptures are fulfilled, and the kingdom of God begins to break into history. In the story of Jesus’ returning to Nazareth, we are invited to see the glory of God in the ordinary, the fulfillment of promise in the unexpected, and the triumph of grace in the midst of rejection.