“If I speak in human and angelic tongues, but do not have love, I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal.” 1 Corinthians 13:1
Charity begins at home. At least that’s what the Nazarenes thought about the doings of their favorite son. They wanted Jesus to work a few miracles in their own backyard—and maybe send a message to their enemies to boot.
Knowing human nature as he did, Our Lord was ready for the challenge. “Physician, cure yourself” is doubtless the proverb he expected to hear—and he did. His neighbors and relatives wanted him to do the things they heard he had done in Capernaum.
That demand did not go over well. Jesus admonished the crowd, suggesting that they take up the challenge to cure themselves instead. What he meant was care for one another… place your own needs and concerns after the stranger’s and those who are suffering. To make matters worse, Jesus specifically referred to God’s kindness toward Israel’s enemies: the widow from Zarephath, and Naaman the commending general of Aram’s armies. That was too much for the Nazarenes to hear. They drove Jesus out of town with the intention of actually killing him.
Charity begins at home. At least that’s what the Nazarenes thought about the doings of their favorite son. They wanted Jesus to work a few miracles in their own backyard—and maybe send a message to their enemies to boot.
Knowing human nature as he did, Our Lord was ready for the challenge. “Physician, cure yourself” is doubtless the proverb he expected to hear—and he did. His neighbors and relatives wanted him to do the things they heard he had done in Capernaum.
That demand did not go over well. Jesus admonished the crowd, suggesting that they take up the challenge to cure themselves instead. What he meant was care for one another… place your own needs and concerns after the stranger’s and those who are suffering. To make matters worse, Jesus specifically referred to God’s kindness toward Israel’s enemies: the widow from Zarephath, and Naaman the commending general of Aram’s armies. That was too much for the Nazarenes to hear. They drove Jesus out of town with the intention of actually killing him.
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