When I was an educator in the public school system there was an assumption that an educational expert was anyone who lived at least 50 miles away.
This meant that on most professional development days, an expert from out of town was hired to present to the educators.
This was in spite of the fact there was many notable experts within our school district, and sometimes even within our very own school.
So why is it that we look outside of our communities to find proficiency, and can end up missing the expert, and even the divine, which can be found right within our midst?
Even when it is the Messiah who is standing right in front of us?
Luke writes that when Jesus shared his anointing as the Messiah, in the temple in his hometown of Nazareth, they were unable to recognize his authority, and they “rose up drove him out of the town and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so they could throw him down the cliff. But passing through their midst, he went away.” (Luke 4:29-30)
And yet, when he moved onto Capernaum, a city just 40 miles away, they were astonished and amazed by his authority and power and instruction. (Luke 4:36) They were able to recognize that his “teachings had inherent authority, the authority of God himself.” (ESV Study Bible, page 1958)
So why is it that one community was able to recognize Jesus’ divine authority and capability, while another community failed to recognize him, offended by what they perceived as his audacity?
Commentaries suggest it was largely because his hometown was so familiar with Jesus that they took exception to one of their own claiming to be God’s anointed. (ESV Study Bible and the New Bible Commentary, page 988).
That because Jesus had grown up in Nazareth the community, through their lens of familiarity, struggled to view him as being anything more than Joseph and Mary’s son, a carpenter, a mere man. Perceptions that ended up restricting their comprehension. Reducing him to a mere human status.
If we are not careful, this type of familiarity can still cloud our vision.
Causing us to grow indifferent towards Jesus’ immense power, holiness, infiniteness, majesty, goodness, and beauty. And in our familiarity and comfort, we also can become complacent. And end up missing him.
Being just like those in his hometown of Nazareth who had become so familiar with him, that we fail to recognize the Divine, even when it confronts us in places like God’s Word, in others, nature, and providential experiences. Missing these incredibly rich opportunities to acquire new insights, deepen our relationship with Jesus, and grow in our faith.
We are called to ignite our hearts and passion. To reawaken and discover our reverence, attentiveness, awe, curiosity, and wonder of everything relating to the Divine.
So that we will be able to consistently recognize him, and his divine authority, as he continues to stand in our very midst.
@fiveminutesfriday weekly prompt: FAMILIAR
Photo Credits: Robert Magnussan and Hanny Naibaho, from Unsplash
Andrew Budek-SchmeisserNovember 25, 2017 6:58 am
Great post! I think that writers see some of this when they find that family members are not eager to read their work…somehow that familiarity means that the magic of a good novel or nonfiction work is unobtainable.
“Seeing behind the curtain” somehow corrupts the experience…and methinks that is the devil talkin’.
#1 at FMF this week.
https://blessed-are-the-pure-of-heart.blogspot.com/2017/11/your-dying-spouse-409-necessity-fmf.html
Anne Mackie-MorelliNovember 25, 2017 8:09 pm
Andrew, thanks for dropping by The Stones Call. And for your encouragement. I agree with your observations about how families often are unable to see the strengths and gifts of other family members. But nevertheless, we must continue to pursue our calling and use our gifts and hopefully they will eventually come around.
GaylNovember 26, 2017 3:49 am
“We are called to ignite our hearts and passion. To reawaken and discover our reverence, attentiveness, awe, curiosity, and wonder of everything relating to the Divine.” AMEN to this! I love the thoughts in your post and know how easy it is to overlook what is right in our midst.
Blessings to you! Thanks for visiting my blog today!
Anne Mackie-MorelliNovember 26, 2017 4:43 pm
Gayl, thanks for visiting The Stones Call! I appreciate your encouragement! Blessings to you too!
Stephanie ThompsonNovember 27, 2017 1:24 am
Anne, what a great context for using the prompt word! “And in our familiarity and comfort, we also can become complacent. And end up missing him.” Yes! We all need to be reminded of this reality. Author Annie Dillard writes, “It is madness to wear ladies’ straw hats and velvet hats to church; we should all be wearing crash helmets. Ushers should issue life preservers and signal flares; they should lash us to our pews. For the sleeping god may wake someday and take offense, or the waking god may draw us out to where we can never return. ”
Anne Mackie-MorelliNovember 27, 2017 2:53 am
Stephanie, Thanks for your comments and encouragement. I love Annie Dillard’s quote! Thanks for sharing it! It is such a good reminder that our God is mighty and we should stay awake lest we offend Him in our complacency!
CherylNovember 30, 2017 11:33 pm
So good. Recognizing Jesus’ awesomeness is easier when we see through the eyes of a new believer or a child. That fresh sense of awe reminds me of how far I’ve gone down the path of being too familiar. Thankfully, God reconnects me and brings me to life.
Anne Mackie-MorelliDecember 1, 2017 1:34 am
Thanks Cheryl. You make such a good comment about trying to gather a fresh sense of awe so that we don’t become too complacent or too familiar. And yes, thank God, for renewing us, reconnecting with us, and bringing us to vibrancy and life!