stephen R Harrison

Luke 4:16 has always helped my restlessness. “Jesus went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read…”

Did you catch that? Jesus went home. He returned to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. He went to the synagogue, as was his custom. Jesus had a home church. Familiar places. Familiar people. The Son of God who came from heaven had a local hometown. Can you imagine Jesus standing to read a familiar text in a familiar place to familiar people?

He was known by his hometown: “Jesus of Nazareth” (Mark 1:24, Matt 21:11, John 19:19). His ministry, while reaching beyond the limits of time and generations, would hover close to home. The incarnate had roots.

There’s something special in this that settles an incessant need to wander to find contentment, identity, and approval through a new place, new people, a new church, a new career, etc., and simply be at peace and settle down in a place one can call home and a church where one can fully know others and be known.

Jesus lived 90%+ of his life in the same community, same church, seeing the same familiar faces of friends and family day in and day out. Think about that! He knew their names. They knew his. He knew their kids. They watched him grow up. I’m sure he spent time in their homes, with their families, and at their tables.

The divine Son who could have been everywhere, with everyone, and done everything was also the incarnate Son who chose to have a local home, church, family, and profession. “Pastor, I think you’re making Jesus out to be TOO human.” He was FULLY human! He was also simultaneously FULLY God! To me, there’s something soothing about Jesus’ example of residing in and returning home.

Jesus didn’t grow up in every town. He didn’t attend every church. He didn’t have every career. There’s something sacred and settling about living in the simple satisfaction of home.