Rejection of Jesus

Despite recording many Miracles of Jesus, particularly in Capernaum, the Gospels also record some Rejection of Jesus.

Hometown (Nazareth) rejection

This is an event in the Synoptic Gospels, , where Jesus is strongly rejected by the people of his hometown, which Luke specifies as Nazareth. The core saying is also mentioned in

Matthew states that Jesus didn't do many miracles there because of "their lack of faith". Though this can be interpreted as Jesus being disheartened, or punishing them, it can also be interpreted as implying that the miracles of Jesus were more so "possible" when the crowd believed. This also opens the possibility that the miracles were illusions, or allegory, which by definition could only work if the crowd believed. In a similar passage Mark says that Jesus was not able to do any miracles there except for healing a few sick people. This passage in Luke 4 is the inspiration of the saying Physician, heal thyself.

Luke, however, deviates from the other synoptics, and instead states that Jesus recounted a story about how during the time of Elijah only a Sidonian woman was saved, and how during the time of Elisha a Syrian was healed. This, according to Luke, causes the people to attack Jesus, and chase him to the top of a hill in order to try to throw Jesus off, though Jesus slips away. The historicity of Luke's version is easily questionable, since there is no "cliff face" in Nazareth ["The Complete Gospels", Robert J. Miller editor, 1992, page 126, translation note to Luke 4:29: "Nazareth is not built on or near a cliff face. Luke generally seems poorly informed about Palestinian geography. Aspects of his geography may therefore be fictive."] , indicating the author of Luke was unfamiliar with Nazareth, and had never been there.

This incident is also recorded in the Gospel of Thomas [http://www.misericordia.edu/users/davies/thomas/Trans.htm] , saying 31: "Jesus said, "No prophet is welcome on his home turf; doctors don't cure those who know them." (SV) ["Scholars Version" translation from "The Complete Gospels", Robert J. Miller, editor, 1992]

The negative view of Jesus' family may be related to the conflict between Paul of Tarsus and Jewish Christians, [http://www.jesuspolice.com/common_error.php?id=11 "Wilson (1992) [Wilson, A.N. Jesus: A life. 1992. New York: Norton & Co.] has hypothesized that the negative relationship between Jesus and his family was placed in the Gospels (especially in the Gospel of Mark) to dissuade early Christians from following the Jesus cult that was administered by Jesus’ family. Wilson says: “…it would not be surprising if other parts of the church, particularly the Gentiles, liked telling stories about Jesus as a man who had no sympathy or support from his family (p. 86).” Butz (2005) [Butz, Jeffrey. The brother of Jesus and the lost teachings of Christianity. 2005. Rochester, Vermont: Inner Traditions.] is more succinct: “…by the time Mark was writing in the late 60s, the Gentile churches outside of Israel were beginning to resent the authority wielded by Jerusalem where James and the apostles were leaders, thus providing the motive for Mark’s antifamily stance… (p. 44).” Other prominent scholars agree (e.g., Crosson, 1973 [Crosson, John Dominic. “Mark and the relatives of Jesus”. Novum Testamentum, 15, 1973] ; Mack, 1988 [Mack, Burton. A myth of innocence: Mark and Christian origins. 1988. Philadelphia: Fortress] ; Painter. 1999 [Painter, John. Just James: The brother of Jesus in history and tradition. 1999. Minneapolis: Fortress Press] )."] for example at the Council of Jerusalem, see also Pauline Christianity.

Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum

According to records "many disciples" leaving Jesus after he said that those who eat his body and drink his blood will remain in him and have eternal life ( Jesus moves around in Galilee but avoids Judea, because "the Jews/Judeans" were looking for a chance to kill him. In , ]

References

ee also

*But to bring a sword
*Olivet discourse
*Passion (Christianity)
*Persecution of early Christians by the Jews
*Physician, heal thyself