The rejection of Jesus and embrace of David
Even mature Christians may have preconceived notions that blind us to the truth. We may look at someone but are unable to see their real qualities because we hastily came to a conclusion about who they were sometime in the past. Preconceived judgements are sometimes accurate, especially if our thinking was godly and charitable when we acquired it. The Gospel today displays the former rather than the later perspective.
2nd Samual gives us an insight into the embrace of David by the Elders of Israel and Psalm 48 gives us King David’s view of our proper relationship to our heavenly Father. Mark’s Gospel shows
Our Lord was in one way like you and me. He expected when he visited his hometown, people he had known all his life would welcome him and listen to what had to say. But he was received with scorn. Nazareth was not a prominent place in Roman Palestine. It was not a cosmopolitan city like Jerusalem or Damascus. When Philip told Nathaniel about Jesus of Nazareth, he responded, “Nazareth! can anything good come from there?” (John 1:46) But it was the place Joseph and Mary had raised him. Jesus was surely a model son, loving to his parents and siblings, a fine carpentry apprentice, and diligent student of the local Rabbi.
When he defeated the efforts of Satan in the desert, he sought out his cousin John the Baptizer and asked him to baptize him. What was John’s reaction? That great man was recognized as a prophet by all Israel. Yet his response to his cousin whom he knew very well was,” I need to be baptized by you and do you come to me? Jesus replied, “Let it be so now, it is proper for us to do this to fulfil all righteousness.” (Matt. 3:13-17) The Lord did this, not because he needed to repent but set a precedent for all his followers to come.
Later in his ministry he would often be called a Rabbi, a title similar to professor. But a prodigy, especially a sinless one, may have had few friends. Mark’s Gospel described what kind of welcome he received.
Jesus came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. On the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, “Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands! 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?” And they took offense at him. Then Jesus said to them, “Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown, and among their own kin, and in their own house.” And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them. And he was amazed at their unbelief. (Mark 6:1-6)
So what do we see in these verses? The visit of Jesus to Nazareth is his first to his hometown since he began his formal ministry and gathered a corps of disciples. The Nazarenes were just like the Teachers in the Temple who listened to Jesus as a 12-year-old. Back then, “Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.” (Luke 2:47) So impressed were the teachers of the law of Moses that they hosted him for 3 days and nights.
Not so with the Nazarenes. The synagogue crowd was astounded but unbelieving. Where did he get these words, who gave him the wisdom that we are hearing … it could not be his own wisdom. A bit more must be added to this context. Cana of Galilee was just 4 miles away. Surely the townspeople had heard the story of a miracle of 6 ceremonial pots of water being changed into wine at a wedding party there. These pots held 20 -30 gallons each. So the total would be from 120-180 gallons of wine. How could that event not lead at least to respectful curiosity? But although there may have been the highest pitch of expectancy, when faced with the ‘Carpenters’ son they were dismissive. The reaction of the Nazarenes can be attributed to any number of reasons, among them was the the blindness that accompanies unbelief. Jesus is who he says he is, and every day we have occasion to belief him or to dismiss what he says.
The nearness of Cana came from Alfred Edersheim, a 19thC Anglican priest and Professor of the Septuagint at Oxford University. He published in 1883 The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah. That two-volume work was in my 20’s and 30’s a lifeline for me into the wonders of the life of Christ and the common life of the people. Professor Edersheim reminded me also of the first chapter of John’s Gospel: “He came to that which was his own and his own did receive him.” (1:11)
How different this is from the treatment of our Lord’s ancestor, David son of Jesse, by the Elders of Israel.
All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron, and said, “Look, we are your bone and flesh. For some time, while Saul was king over us, it was you who led out Israel and brought it in. The Lord said to you: It is you who shall be shepherd of my people Israel, you who shall be ruler over Israel.” So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron; and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel. (2nd Samuel 5:1-5)