So the multitudes said, “This is Jesus, the
prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.”
Matthew 21:11
Never had a title so much irony. It would have been funny, if it weren’t so sad. The setting of this verse was Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Thousands were cheering, others shouting “Hosanna” (literally, “save now”). People were cutting down palm branches or throwing down articles of clothing so the donkey He rode on could touch them and they could walk away with a souvenir. It was a very big deal.
Some in the group were late-arrivers and didn’t know what was going on, so they asked “Who is this?” (Matthew 21:10).
“This is Jesus, the Prophet from Nazareth,” the people replied. At this point in His career, everyone had heard about Jesus of Nazareth. Before Jesus was famous, everyone looked down on the insignificant town in the rural hill country of Galilee. Now, He put the obscure, northeastern outpost on everyone’s map. He was the healer, the preacher, the feeder of thousands. He should have made his hometown folks all proud.
Yet, Jesus’ neighbors and boyhood companions had rejected Him and even tried to kill Him, because He wouldn’t perform miracles for them (Luke 4:21-30). Christ was acknowledged as a prophet everywhere, except with those who grew up with Him.
When Nathaniel (i.e. Bartholomew) was first told of Jesus of Nazareth, his first reaction was “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” (John 1:46). When he finally did come and see the Savior, he was changed by Him. He was ready to leave everything he had to follow this Prophet from Nazareth.
February 28
