Nazareth is one of the important and interesting cities mentioned in the Bible. This city is located near the Sea of Galilee and plays an important role in the story of Jesus Christ. In this article, we are going to examine the story and meaning of Nazareth in the Bible and examine the role of this city in the history of Christianity.
Nazareth, a city in Galilee, in the north of Israel, is known in the Bible as the place where Jesus Christ lived during his childhood and youth. In the Gospels, Nazareth is mentioned many times, including:
Birthplace of Jesus: In the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, Nazareth is introduced as the birthplace of Jesus. The angel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary in Nazareth and told her about the birth of Jesus.
Where Jesus lived: Jesus lived in Nazareth until he was 30 years old. He grew up in this city and was engaged in carpentry.
The beginning of the mission of Jesus: After being baptized by John the Baptist, Jesus returned to Nazareth and preached and taught in the city’s synagogue.
Opposition to Jesus: The people of Nazareth did not believe in Jesus and his teachings at first. They even tried to throw him off a cliff.
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Important points about Nazareth:
Nazareth was a small and unknown city at the time of Jesus.
The people of Nazareth believed in Judaism and followed the Law of Moses.
Nazareth was under Roman rule during the time of Jesus.
The importance of Nazareth in the Bible:
As the place where Jesus Christ lived, Nazareth is very important in Christianity.
Nazareth is a symbol of humility and simplicity.
Nazareth is a reminder that God can choose a prophet from anywhere, even from a small and unknown city, to save humanity.
Verses related to Nazareth in the Bible:
Matthew 2:23
Luke 1:26-38
Luke 2:39-52
John 1:45-46
John 4:43-44
Sightseeing places in Nazareth:
Church of the Annunciation: This church was built in the place where the angel Gabriel is said to have appeared to the Virgin Mary.
St. Joseph’s Church: This church was built in the place where it is said that the carpentry workshop of Joseph, the godfather of Jesus, was located there.
Nazareth Village: This restored village resembles life in the time of Jesus Christ.
In which part of the Bible is Nazareth mentioned for the first time?
The first mention of Nazareth in the Bible is found in the opening chapters of the New Testament and in the story of the birth of Jesus. The Old Testament does not mention Nazareth in any of its thirty books, nor does the Jewish historian, Josephus. There are several possible reasons for this:
The first possibility: the village of Nazareth was not founded until nearly the first century AD.
Second possibility: This city is known by another name.
Third possibility: Nazareth was not significant enough to be included in any story or reference in the Old Testament.
However, the Gospel writers were the first biblical writers to mention Nazareth because of its association with Jesus.
In the Gospel of Luke, the author writes about Elizabeth becoming pregnant at an advanced age. In the sixth month of her pregnancy, “the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin girl who was betrothed to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary” (Luke 1:26- 27, with emphasis).
Maryam, Elizabeth’s cousin, learns from this meeting that she has found favor with God and will soon become pregnant by the Holy Spirit, will give birth to a son and will be named Jesus.
“He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of Highness; and the Lord God shall give him the throne of his father David, and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and his reign shall have no end.” (Luke 1:32-33)
As the time of Mary’s delivery approached, the Roman Emperor, Augustus, issued a decree for a census of the entire Roman world. Then Luke writes that “Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be with Mary, who was betrothed to him. and she was pregnant, she should register.” (Luke 2:4-5, emphasis added). Mary gave birth to a son in Bethlehem and named him Jesus.
Why were people surprised that Jesus came from Nazareth?
As word of Jesus’ teachings and miracles spread throughout Galilee and beyond, his popularity grew. However, many Jews were surprised to hear of Jesus’ simple upbringing. Jesus, being the son of a carpenter and growing up in a place like Nazareth, had no education, no training, and no credentials to the extent of someone who had a mission like his. How much more could he explain the authority with which he taught, healed the sick, and cast out demons?
At one point, Jesus returned to his hometown of Nazareth, at which time his neighbors asked themselves, “Where did he get this wisdom and these miraculous powers? Isn’t he the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother called Mary and his brothers Jacob, Joseph, Simeon and Judah? And his sisters, are they not all with us? So where did he get all this? (Matthew 13:54-57, emphasis added.)
The people of Israel were regularly amazed at all that Jesus said and did (Matthew 7:28, 9:8, 12:23, 22:33; Mark 2:12, 11:18; Luke 13:17, 23: 48). However, the fact that this man, their savior, came from such a remote and unremarkable place as Nazareth was even more amazing.
Even Nathanael, Jesus’ next disciple, after hearing that his friend Philip had found Christ in Jesus of Nazareth, first commented, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” (John 1:46)
But why was Nazareth, like the rest of Galilee, so undervalued by the rest of Israel? Several explanations can be given.
Due to Greek and Roman influence in the northern parts of Palestine, the Galilee region was often considered less cultured than the rest of Judea. To the Jews living in Jerusalem and Judea, the religious piety of the Galileans had been corrupted by their Gentile neighbors. In addition, the language and dialect of the Galileans were considered less refined.
Even Peter, Jesus’ disciple who was born in Bethsaida on the northern shore of Galilee and lived with his brother Andrew in Capernaum, was recognized for his Galilean accent in the court of the high priest during Jesus’ mock trial (Matthew 26:69-74). )
Additionally, a few years before the birth of Jesus, a Galilean named Judas led a violent uprising against the Roman occupation. Although the superior Roman army eventually suppressed it, this early revolution led to the formation of the Zealot movement, whose hot fire continued to burn in the background of Jesus’ mission. As a result, the Romans were wary of any possible uprising, emerging leader, or populist movement emerging from Galilee.
Nazareth is known as one of the important and famous cities in the Bible, which plays an important role in the story of Jesus Christ. This geographical city has been an important point for the community of Christians and the original establishment of Christianity. The story and role of Nazareth in Christian history shows how this city was revered as a symbol of faith and commitment to Christ.
Today in the article : What Is Nazareth in the Bible? We reviewed useful information about the Bible and the way of Jesus. If you wish, you can view other articles of Ali Vahidi about Christianity
