Jesus’ answer to the people of Nazareth confirms to us that their offence had something to do with his familiarity. He is not welcome to speak to them about God, repentance, or faith because they know him too well, or in their eyes he does not have sufficient authority to do so. They cannot accept that Jesus could be a prophet, never mind God’s King. Their familiarity with him has blinded them to the message that he seeks to communicate. How often is it not the case that the hardest people to speak to about the gospel are those who know our sins and failures so well? Or that people are excited to listen to someone from “out of town” and respond positively to his message even if it is exactly the same message they hear from you?
4 And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.”