Nazareth questions Jesus

After James Tissot (1836-1902), Brooklyn Museum

Coming out of the synagogue in Nazareth, people wonder: "Where did this wisdom come from that was given to him, and these great miracles that are done by his hands? Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James, Joseph, Jude, and Simon? Are not his sisters here with us?" Jesus answers them, "A prophet is only despised in his own country, among his relatives, and in his own house." and he could not perform any miracle.

In the Gospels

The episode is reported in Matthew 13:53-58 and in Mark 6:1-6. They are generally linked to the text of Luke 4:16-30, which Maria Valtorta does not. Indeed, while in Matthew and Mark, the inhabitants of Nazareth question Jesus’ wisdom and miracles which they do not understand, in Luke, they drive him out. In Matthew and Mark, Jesus is accompanied by his Apostles; in Luke, he is alone. In Matthew and Mark, the speech that strikes the audience so much is unknown; in Luke, Jesus' commentary is known. In Matthew and Mark, Jesus speaks of a prophet "despised"; in Luke (and Maria Valtorta), he speaks of a prophet "receiving a bad welcome." So the only things in common in these parallel accounts are a teaching of Jesus in the synagogue and a varied reaction of the audience.

In Maria Valtorta

The episode reported by Luke

It takes place at the very beginning of his public life as the text suggests. The episode takes place just after his Temptation in the desert and he returns to Nazareth preceded by a great reputation. He announces that he has come to fulfill the year of Grace, the "favorable year" prophesied by Isaiah. The Nazarenes think they have found the glory of the country which will bring them fame and financial benefits. Jesus disabuses them: he has come quite the opposite to call them to rid themselves of their passions and to stop following Mammon. The assembly murmurs (EMV 106.3) and becomes turbulent when Jesus states "that truly no prophet is well received in his own homeland. Other countries have welcomed me and will welcome me with greater faith, even countries whose name is for you a scandal." and he cites Elijah and Elisha as Luke reports. That is too much; the assembly becomes threatening and drives Jesus out who, protected by his cousins, will only be safe in a distant neighboring village (EMV 106.5). His mother, alerted, joins him and begs him to leave Nazareth, which Jesus finally consents to for a time to reassure the Virgin Mary (EMV 106.7).

The episode reported by Matthew and Mark

Several months have passed, Jesus has delivered his teachings to the crowds that came to hear him on the Mount of Beatitudes, he has cast out demons into a herd of pigs, etc. The texts of Matthew and Mark recall this. Everyone talks about it and the Nazarenes are intrigued. Curiosity compels them to listen again in the synagogue to the one they had driven out, now returning radiant with glory and accompanied by his first Disciples.

The day's reading is the apologue of Abimelech, a fable featuring trees looking for a cheap king. Jesus, after reading it, comments extensively on the text in a spiritual and not historical sense (EMV 246.1/6). This new and profound teaching strikes the audience: "Where does he get this wisdom and these miracles?"

Jesus then proposes a second apologue (parable) featuring a lamb who becomes a king fought against as he grows (EMV 246.7/9). Everyone understands that this lamb is Jesus, the carpenter's son. How can he proclaim himself king! Have his successes gone to his head? "And they were deeply offended by him," say The Evangelists

Jesus leaves before being joined by one of his Disciples, Alphaeus of Sarahh, who stayed to debate at the exit of the synagogue. He reports to Jesus the slanders he has heard. Jesus replies:

"Do not be distressed. Generally, a prophet is not honored in his homeland and in his house. Man is foolish enough to believe that to be a prophet one must be, so to speak, foreign to life. And fellow citizens and those of the Family more than anyone know and recall the human character of their fellow citizen and relative, but the truth will triumph. And now I greet you. Peace be with you (EMV 246.13)."

The "brothers" and "sisters" of Jesus

The "brothers" of Jesus are his four cousins from the marriage of 'Alphæus, the elder brother of St Joseph and of Mary his wife, otherwise called by reference to her father Mary (daughter) of Cleophas.

The "sisters" of Jesus are the wives of the two eldest, Joseph and Simon, who became Disciples late. The other two brothers, Jude and James, are bachelors but first-hour Apostles.

Dating the life of Jesus

This episode is one of the ten pieces of evidence from the Gospel that allow Jean-François Lavère, using historical data and the temporal data of Maria Valtorta, to date the life of Jesus between December 10/11 in the year -5 (birth) and April 5, 30 (death on the Cross).