Nazareth has unique characteristics. Sitting way up on a ridge overlooking a wide valley, Nazareth is much more safe giving time to prepare for incoming dangers. And Nazareth is going to catch the wind. It's called The Branch. And is to be fruitful. "Nazareth" is derived from one of the Hebrew words for 'branch', namely ne·ṣer, and alludes to the prophetic, messianic words in Book of Isaiah 11:1, 'from (Jesse's) roots a Branch (netzer) will bear fruit'.
Also unique to Nazareth, before Christians were called Christians, we were called Nazarenes.
Not to be confused with Nazirites - The nazirite is called, "Holy unto the Lord" (Numbers 6:8) swearing not to have wine, not cut his hair and avoid impurity like corpses. Like Samson of The Book of Judges.
Jesus is instead of Nazareth. Isaiah 11:1
Isaiah 11:1
11 And there shall come forth a shoot out of the stock of Jesse, and a branch out of his roots shall bear fruit.
This is really a learning contrast. One Jesus Christ is born into.
Jesus Christ frees us from the Law. And by His free gift - brings us into God's Holiness by the salvation Jesus freely gives us.
Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law for us. Not by His Works but by being the Manifest Word of God His Father.
Nazareth today hosts a city rebuilt to be the City of Nazareth Jesus knew in the First Century A.D. This is part of a trail that is about 60 miles long where followers of Jesus can walk the Jesus Trail.
Some of the dwellings are large, to indicate this might be a 4 generations family living together. Each generation adds on to the house. Peter lived with Andrew in Capernaum and with his mother-in-law. God always wanted families to be Ephesians 3 - living on earth and in Heaven together.
Isaiah 7 tells us of the very industrious life led in this generation. One of hard work with lovely rewards. Not of the wealthy Romans, but with gracious life.
Matthew 2:19-23
19 But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 saying, "Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child's life are dead." 21 And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod
Joseph was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. 23 And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled: "He shall be called a Nazarene."
Like Psalm 139, God has planned the life of His Son. We, as believers are also Psalm 139 - God has planned our lives in His Book of Life and has so many thoughts of us, His Children, tha sand is too numerous to count our Father God's thoughts about us where our days are planned by our Father God.
Psalm 139: 1-18
O Jehovah, thou hast searched me, and known me.
2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising;
Thou understandest my thought afar off.
3 Thou searchest out my path and my lying down,
And art acquainted with all my ways.'
4 For there is not a word in my tongue,
But, lo, O Jehovah, thou knowest it altogether.
5 Thou hast beset me behind and before,
And laid thy hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is high, I cannot attain unto it.
7 Whither shall I go from thy Spirit?
Or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there:
If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, thou art there.
9 If I take the wings of the morning,
And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
10 Even there shall thy hand lead me,
And thy right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall overwhelm me,
[c]And the light about me shall be night;
12 Even the darkness hideth not from thee,
But the night shineth as the day:
The darkness and the light are both alike to thee.
13 For thou didst form my inward parts:
Thou didst cover me in my mother’s womb.
14 I will give thanks unto thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made:
Wonderful are thy works;
And that my soul knoweth right well.
15 My frame was not hidden from thee,
When I was made in secret,
And curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16 Thine eyes did see mine unformed substance;
And in thy book they were all written,
Even the days that were ordained for me,
When as yet there was none of them.
17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God!
How great is the sum of them!
18 If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand:
When I awake, I am still with thee.
The Beauty of the Little Town displays the hopes of God for us to find this life rewarding as we work for our families.
Isaiah 7
10 And Jehovah spake again unto Ahaz, saying, 11 Ask thee a sign of Jehovah thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above. 12 But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt Jehovah. 13 And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David: Is it a small thing for you to weary men, that ye will weary my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. 15 Butter and honey shall he eat, when he knoweth to refuse the evil, and choose the good. 16 For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land whose two kings thou abhorrest shall be forsaken. 17 Jehovah will bring upon thee, and upon thy people, and upon thy father’s house, days that have not come, from the day that Ephraim departed from Judah—even the king of Assyria.
18 And it shall come to pass in that day, that Jehovah will hiss for the fly that is in the uttermost part of the rivers of Egypt, and for the bee that is in the land of Assyria. 19 And they shall come, and shall rest all of them in the desolate valleys, and in the clefts of the rocks, and upon all thorn-hedges, and upon all pastures.
20 In that day will the Lord shave with a razor that is hired in the parts beyond the River, even with the king of Assyria, the head and the hair of the feet; and it shall also consume the beard.
21 And it shall come to pass in that day, that a man shall keep alive a young cow, and two sheep; 22 and it shall come to pass, that because of the abundance of milk which they shall give he shall eat butter: for butter and honey shall every one eat that is left in the midst of the land.
To see the Beauty of the life with it's struggles, is to appreciated Jesus enjoying life. A reason to rejoice in God's Plan for the Joy of His Son walking with us as Grace and Truth. Knowing Jesus enjoyed life and our lives today. Jesus was given a party by Matthew and Lazarus. Jesus loved to speak of vineyards and was known to enjoy eating. Jesus is our Lovable Manifestation of God Himself. Our Father tells us of feasts in Heaven. Rejoice in the city of Jesus' childhood.
John 1
12 To them gave he the right to become children of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth.
16 For of his fullness we all received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
Nazareth
Comforted and sustained, by Words of God - life and in Him Light, way, truth, Life was established.
Abba, Our Father,
We thank You for the Blessings in Life You have given Today. Being Grateful. Seeking Your Goodness and finding this.
We welcome Your Blessings. Your Willing Blessings.
And ask more Heaven on earth for ourselves, the ones we Love. This Nation. And all the world comforted by the prayers of God's creation in communion with His Beloved all over this earth.
In Jesus we Rejoice,
Amen and Amen.
♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment