From the simplest
Before we talk about the content of the our opening verse mentioned below, it is important to understand a little history of the verse; particularly the town of Nazareth. Nazareth was a small town in Galilee whose people were known to be very poor, uneducated and not smart; the Jewish community called them “sprout”. A sprout is a bud of a plant; it is a sign of growth. A child is known to be a sprout. So, the people of Nazareth were known to be child like and not wise throughout history, and they never changed. Each time the wise community were upset with Jesus they would call him a Nazarene as a way to undermined him. The prophets prophesied about the Messiah they called him a branch(Isa11:1). Jeremiah calls Jesus the righteous branch (Jer23:5), when he speaks about him coming out of the seed of David. We begin to see that out of this lowest of the lowest people called Nazarenes something good is sprouting for the second time. But, could something good come out of a place so low as Nazareth, as Nathanael inquired (Jhn1:46)?
Luke 2:39
39 When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.
Now, unlike every other person born in Nazareth, who was what we call today “Dumb”, Jesus became filled with wisdom. So, this stereotype idea that Nazarene’s were not wise and lowly was about to change; their story was going to be altered. Jesus, this sprout was not going to stay as a sprout, but was going to be the vine. Jesus said “I am the vine and you are the branches”(Jhn15:5). This new generation of Nazarene’s were going to be branched of from the the true vine. All the follower’s or disciples of Jesus of Nazareth are called “of the Nazarene’s”. The prophet Simeon prophesized to Mary that this seed would pierce her heart and that he would be the cause of many to fall and rise; revealing the thoughts of the heart (Lk2:34-35). Luke tells us that the grace of God was on him, and so, everything that Jesus did was backed up with favor. It is a trade mark of the believer, favor; we are dressed with favor because of the name “of the Nazarene”. Jesus was not ashamed of his title “of Nazareth”, he tells Saul of Tarsus “I am Jesus of Nazareth” when he was persecuting him (Acts22:8).
A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
“The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will raise up for Davida] a righteous Branch,
a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land.
46 “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip.
5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
Luke 2:34-35
34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
Acts 22:8
8 “‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked.
“ ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ he replied.