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Familiarity Breeds Contempt?

He went away from there and came to bhis hometown, and his disciples followed him. And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, "Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works 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. And Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household." And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. And he marveled because of their unbelief. bAnd he went about among the villages teaching. (Mark 6:1-6 ESV)

The old saying tells us that "familiarity breeds contempt."  This passage could be the poster-child for this proverb.  Jesus has returned to his home town - the place where he grew up.  I find that in this type of scenario, there are two responses that can manifest.  In the first, the town can rejoice in the "local boy who has made good."  In this scenario the community basks in the reflected glory from a famous local which sets the town in a favourable light.  Unfortunately, Nazareth responds according to the second common scenario - jealousy at someone who is "just one of us." who does he think he is?  He's no better than the rest of us.  We knew him when he was a nobody."

What a tragedy.  Those who knew him best and had the best opportunity to spend time with him missed that amazing chance because they couldn't get past the idea that the Messiah could be one of them.

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