Matthew 13:44-58
Be Still: Holy Spirit, awaken my heart. Shake me free from familiarity, dullness, and distraction. Restore my wonder. Amen.
Read: Matthew 13:44-58
Coming to his hometown, (Jesus) began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. 'Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?' they asked. 'Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?' And they took offence at him......And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith. (vv53–58)
Encounter: Something tragic happened in Nazareth and it’s worth noticing the difference between these people and the Pharisees. The Pharisees opposed Jesus from hostility. The people of Nazareth opposed him from familiarity. They were not violent. They were not plotting. They simply thought they already knew him – we know his family; we’ve seen him grow up.
Their familiarity closed their hearts. What should have produced wonder, instead produced offence.
Earlier this week, we explored how words can create offence. But Jesus shows us something deeper – offence doesn’t only come from harmful words; it can come from familiarity. Nazareth didn’t reject Jesus because of what he said, but because of what they assumed they already knew.
Familiarity without faith turns revelation into routine or ritual. And this can happen to us. It’s so easy to recognise the form but miss the Presence. I’ve often found myself praying, especially in moments of deep intercession: 'Lord, don’t let me lose the wonder of knowing you.' Wonder is the doorway to encounter. When wonder fades, awareness fades.
When awareness fades, faith fades. And like Nazareth, we risk missing the Jesus who is standing right in front of us speaking, moving, inviting, drawing near, yet wrapped in the ordinary, the familiar, the expected.
The people of Nazareth did not reject Jesus because his teaching was weak. They rejected him because his wrapping was familiar.
Jesus still comes to us this way:
in familiar Scripture,
in everyday moments,
in ordinary people,
in quiet whispers rather than dramatic signs.
But If we lose wonder, we stop recognising him.
Apply: Where has Jesus become familiar to you?
When you no longer read Scripture with expectation
Where routine or ritual has replaced relationship
Ask the Spirit: Jesus, where have I stopped looking for you because it feels familiar?
Then pray: Restore my wonder. Let me see you again.
Devote: Jesus, forgive me for the times I’ve treated your presence as ordinary. Open my eyes to see you as you truly are. Make my heart tender, awake, and full of holy expectation.