1 Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. 2 When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed.  “Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? 3 Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. 4 Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” 5 He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6 He was amazed at their lack of faith.           

People were bound by the past. They could not see Jesus Christ, Son of the living God because all they could see was little Jesus, Mary’s boy. They all knew Him. They saw Him grow up. They could not possibly accept Him as anything else but what they always knew Him to be. They had never seen Him perform miracles. They had boys who went to school with Him. Many no doubt even called Jesus over to fix their broken ox-cart or repair a beam in their house when He was older and about his father Joseph’s business. They were filled with the stereo-typed opinions of who Jesus was and could not change their thinking. 

It is difficult for people to do away with first impressions. That hangs with you for the rest of your life. I remember once when I went to speak at my home church at Elim Baptist in Detroit. What kind of reaction do you think I got? It wasn’t comments on the sermon or what I was trying to share spiritually, but “Oh, Dale I remember when you were in my SS classes and you and your friends got into trouble. I remember when you said your Christmas lines. I thought of that while you were up there speaking. My, how the years have passed.  Or Dale, do you remember the first time you spoke at Youth group? You fumbled around so much you quit early.” 

For those people I was not God’s servant that day bringing a message to inspire, or challenge, or inform. I was little Dale. That made me think I’d always be little Dale. One lady came up and said, “Boy I am so happy you are doing what you are doing because when you were in Jr. High group you were such a pistol.” I had a different memory than she did.           

Often people are caught up not only in memories, but tradition. In Jesus’ situation they were offended that He returned changed. They would like to see Him, but still see Him as they knew Him. Being ingrained in traditions are often the biggest barrier to growth. In established churches the tie to the past is great, but we cannot live on the memories of yesterday.  

Jesus changed from what they knew Him to be.  They failed to see the glory of the Lord upon Jesus. If the people had broken from the memories and traditions that surrounded Jesus, they would have seen the power of God working in their lives as well. 

I have been pleased with some suggestions and ideas and even acceptance of some changes we have made at my first church started in 1869 and in my second church, started earlier in 1866. There are a lot of traditions, but they must be challenged with the ministries of 2025, not the 1950’s. We can’t be doing those things the same way all the time as cultures change. Yet we need to preach, teach and promote the same gospel in a manner that is effective for our society. 

Application:  Let’s not be bound to the past where Christ cannot do any great work because we might be bound by past traditions.

Prayer:  Lord, I come, without You I fall apart, You're the one who guides my heart.   Guide my heart Oh Lord. Let me not be bound by anything that prevents me from worshiping You.