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Prepare You The Way

A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house. Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching.1

Jesus had returned to Nazareth and Galilee, his home. The people said Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands! Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” So they were offended at Him.2 Jesus marveled at their unbelief. Usually this is where the story ends, and people make a point of just this, a prophet is without honor at home. But with God all is possible, many amazing things did he do in Galilee.

Jesus marveled at their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching. If we continue reading in the same passage he sends out the disciples in two,  So they went out and preached that people should repent. And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them.3 Luke gives account this is when Jesus said, The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few.4 In the land of Galilee. He gave the disciples power to do much and they preached the same message as John the Baptist did, repent for the kingdom of God is at hand. They prepared the way for Jesus.

The message of John was to prepare the way for Christ, The voice of him that cries in the wilderness, Prepare you the way of God, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.5 When Jesus sent the disciples out in twos he told them to say to the people, The kingdom of God has come near to you. This message of repent and be baptized was preparing the way. It would be something the Jews could understand; repentance was a continual message of God to his people and water was used in rituals and cleansing. This message was preparing the way for Jesus; the new covenant which would be brought in by the works of Jesus; the Lamb of God. John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.6

Here in this passage is interjected an account of the beheading of John, this great prophet who prepared the way. After the disciples returned they gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught. Then Jesus mentions Satan's fall from heaven, conquered by the blood of the lamb and their testimony. He sent the disciples out before to prepare the way and they performed many miracles in His name, even the demons were subject to them. Then Jesus performs many miracles. Before Jesus said he could do no mighty works because of their unbelief, now he was performing many mighty works.

The way had been prepared for Jesus. When they returned Jesus said to them, Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while. For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. So they tried to go away to a deserted place to rest but the people came to him and Jesus was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things.7 He performs some of  his greatest miracles in the land of Galilee, he feeds the five thousand with five loaves and two fish. And He walks on water. He calls Peter, Andrew, James, and John in the land of Galilee, saying to them, Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.8

The kingdom of God has come near to you. Only God can draw men to him, we can only prepare the way. We can prepare the hearts of those around us. Through our example of His love and through his word. We can walk and speak faith, Jesus its author. We can prepare the way for God to move in the hearts of men. Our actions are very important, how we live it out. In Nazareth they had such unbelief because they could not get past the humanity of Jesus. People see our humanity, they can't get past this, unless God works through us. Prepare You The Way

Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see; for I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and have not seen it, and to hear what you hear, and have not heard it.9

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