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Daily Devotions

Matthew

Matthew 
Day 
Day 212

From One Location to Another

Text: Matthew 13 : 53 - 58

Jesus may be called an itinerant Teacher. After He had taught in one place for a while, He would move to another location. Matthew noted this fact about the ministry Jesus sustained.

“Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these parables,
that He departed from there.
And when He had come to His own country, He taught them
in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said,
‘Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works?'”
MATTHEW 13:53-54

REASONS WHY JESUS MOVED FROM PLACE TO PLACE

There were a number of reasons why Jesus moved from place to place. One reason was stated in the Gospel of Mark.

“But He said to them, ‘Let us go into the next towns,
that I may preach there also, because for this purpose
I have come forth.'”
MARK 1:38

Mark recorded the commencement of Jesus’ ministry. His disciples were asking Him if He would stay where He was. He enjoyed such success and popularity! He did not have to move from place to place! The crowds would come to Him! Jesus knew that He was sent to reach Jerusalem too. No, He could not just stay in Galilee. He had to move from place to place until the climax of His ministry in Jerusalem!

We have another reason stated in Matthew’s Gospel. We need to read the whole context from Matthew’s perspective.

“‘Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary?
And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas?
And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man
get all these things?’
So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them,
‘A prophet is not without honour except in his own country
and in his own house.’
Now He did not do many mighty works there
because of their unbelief.”
MATTHEW 13:55-58

Jesus could determine just how long He would choose to stay in one place. A number of factors may be considered.

1. The needs of the people in that region

Where there were people who needed special attention, there He would stay – a little longer. Out of mercy and compassion, He would linger on to minister as long as He was needed.

2. Where His works were disdained

Capernaum, Bethsaida, Chorazin – these were places He had ministered at for some time. However, they had not responded appropriately! Jesus left ministering in other cities.

3. Where there was rank unbelief

Matthew recorded the way in which Nazareth responded to Jesus when He sought to minister there! The unbelief of the people was astonishing!

a) They were astonished at the wisdom and the power that Jesus possessed!

There was no denying that Jesus displayed great wisdom. There was also no denying the fact that He possessed great powers. This was grudgingly acknowledged.

“Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works?”
MATTHEW 13:54

b) They could not believe that Jesus was genuine

The Nazarites expressed rank unbelief. They gave their reason in their knowledge and familiarity with the family of Jesus. They could even rattle off the names of His siblings, James, Joses, Simon and Judas (Matthew 13:55). They could not come to terms with the idea that God could have endowed Jesus with all the power that He needed for ministry! Obviously, they did not believe that one of their own could become so famous, let alone accept that He was the Messiah!

c) The root problem identified

Matthew knew the exact reason why the Nazarites were so defensive in their insistence that Jesus couldn’t be believed in! They even took offence at the suggestion that Jesus could be anything more than just a carpenter’s son (Matthew 13:55-57)! They refused to acknowledge Him with even the title of “Teacher”. He was dismissed outright. (The word “man” was added in by the translators to give substance to the Person of Jesus. The Nazarites gave him no recognition whatsoever!). Sadly, Matthew noted another reason why Jesus moved from one location to another.

“Now He did not do many mighty works there
because of their unbelief.”
MATTHEW 13:58

NOT WITHOUT HONOUR

Rejection did not say anything about Jesus Himself! He was right in maintaining that a prophet was still a prophet, though his country and his own household may not appreciate him as a special servant of God! Jesus was still the Son of God though some may reject Him!