A natural man with supernatural progress
The Nazarenes were astonished that the same man who they knew from childhood on had such wisdom and supernatural power. He was "one of them", a man with real parents, brothers and sisters and a normal profession. Jesus was fully human.
But yet he was so different than them. I think that's what made them jealous. That Jesus got that far with the same starting conditions, while their own life was still on the same level.
I think there is a great lesson for us. Can your life be explained without a supernatural, astonishing element in it? Note that they did not say: "Well, Jesus was quite gifted as a child, he was a nice man, this was to be expected. Jesus made good progress."
Does our life reveal a supernatural change in terms of character, courage, lifestyle etc.?
Francis Chan nailed it in his book "Forgotten God": "I don't want my life to be explainable without the Holy Spirit. I want people to look at my life and know that I couldn't be doing this by my own power."
Our life should make people wonder: "Where did this man get all of these things?" (V. 56)
Created 9 months ago
