Challenges in Nazareth

CHAPTER 21

Yeshua’s brother Yakov asks him to give a sermon before he leaves Nazareth. There are those who protest; however, the local rabbi finally agrees. Yeshua tells the men in the synagogue some things that infuriates many who become so angry that they grab him and take him to the brow of a hill where they are about to throw him off when a bright light, brighter than the Sun, shines down upon them, and they fall to the ground in terror. Yeshua, Miriam, and his disciples leave for Capernaum, where they are joined by Yeshua’s younger brother, Yakov, and Yeshua and Miriam’s children.

 1 And it came to pass that Yeshua and Miriam journeyed back to Nazareth with the disciples to visit their children and family for a short time.

 2 When they had arrived at the homes of their family, his brother Yakov asked Yeshua to give a sermon before he left, but three elders of the village came to him when they had word of his intent and said he should not speak because many were still angry with him from the last time he had taught them, for he had given them teachings about women that they did not agree with.

 3 Miriam was with Yeshua when the elders reproved him, and she was upset by their words and said unto them, “Yeshua last taught the people of Nazareth years ago. Are there still those who after all this time have not comprehended the truth of his words?

 4 You have in your midst the light of Elohim upon the Earth, and you would turn him away? He has loved you and known you since he was a youth, and you would turn him away? He takes nothing from you and gives everything to you, and you would turn him away?

 5 Are your traditions and laws and beliefs such heavy stones around your neck that you cannot make attempt to lift your heads and see a greater light?”

 6 The elders scowled as Miriam spoke, and they were angry at her words. One of them raised his voice in anger to Yeshua: “Your wife is a living testament of why we do not want to listen to your words. How dare you allow her to speak to men in such a manner! It is not the place of a woman to reprimand men. This is evidence of the correctness of our position. Surely, your teachings give us great distress.”

 7 Yeshua reached for a moment to hold Miriam’s hand. Then releasing it, he said unto the elders in a calm voice, “When you speak ill of a righteous woman or a child, you offend God. Verily, I say unto you thus you have spoken this day. Lest you die in your sin, make haste to make amends.”

 8 But they did not make amends. Instead, they turned their backs in unison and walked away from Yeshua and Miriam.

 9 “What will happen to them?” Miriam asked.

 10 And Yeshua said unto her, “They still have the days they live to see the light of truth and repent of their sins. But they must not procrastinate the day of their repentance, for they know not which sunrise shall be their last.

 11 And on the Day of Judgment, all are weighed in the balance by their actions and their words, and each word or action, be it idle or with intent, is either a step forward or backward in their eternal progression.

 12 Those that tip to the light shall inherit exaltation, and those that tip to the darkness shall inherit the dreariness they embraced in life. Not by Elohim are they sent to their reward or punishment, but by the resonance of their soul drawn to the destiny they have built for themselves by their thoughts and deeds in life. And so it shall be for a great time.”

 13 Miriam came to him and embraced him, asking, “Why do people that have known you since you were a boy, who even now are neighbors to your mother and your brothers and your sisters, treat you so disrespectfully? Even if you were still just the simple carpenter of your youth, you should be given more respect than they have shown.”

 14 Yeshua held her close, saying, “It has always been so since the dawn of time that a prophet has no honor in his own country.

 15 Among the people that have known someone as a simple man, it is difficult for them to make the leap and understand that he is more than that. So it is with me and the people of Nazareth.”

 16 When Yakov heard of the way Yeshua had been treated, he was greatly displeased and he went immediately to the synagogue to speak with the rabbi, and the rabbi agreed to let Yeshua read the scriptures in the synagogue the following day, which was the Sabbath, as this was an accepted custom.

 17 When the Sabbath came upon them, Yeshua stood before the men of Nazareth within the synagogue. He was given a scroll containing the words of the prophet Elijah to read. He held the scroll but kept it rolled up and did not read from it, but spoke all the words of the scriptures from memory.

 18 Quoting from their scriptures, he said unto them, “The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

 19 Then he gave the scroll back to the attendant. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, and he said unto them, “Today, this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

 20 There were gasps of astonishment at his words, and many were angry, saying he was being sacrilegious.

 21 But others spoke well of him and were amazed at the thought-provoking words that came from his lips. ‘Is this not Joseph's son?” they asked, perplexed that he was given a scripture to read that so fulfilled his purpose.

 22 Then another observed, “But is he really Joseph’s son? Look at his appearance. Could a man who looks like that have had Joseph for a father?”

 23 Another man stood and challenged, “If you fulfill the scripture, show us a miracle like those we have heard you have done.”

 24 Yeshua answered, saying, “Some of you say, ‘Physician, heal yourself!’

 25 Others have heard of miracles I have done and say, ‘Do the same here in your own town.’

 26 But it is not the physician that needs healing, but the sick.

 27 Nor have I healed anyone. They have healed themselves by their faith. I merely was the river channel through which the healing water of Elohim flowed because of their faith.

 28 They believe on me and their belief calls the Celestine Light of Elohim. It flows through me to them and great it is. But where is your faith in me?

 29 As I said to my wife, I say unto you: No prophet is accepted in his own town. If it is only because of miracles you would believe, that is no faith at all.

 30 Verily, faith must come before the miracle, not the miracle before the faith.

 31 You will hear me no more in Nazareth. I have given you the good light, but too many of you prefer darkness. Let it be as you desire.

 32 If there are those among you who can find the faith to see the light, then leave this town and come and join the Community of Light on the north shore of Gennesaret.

 29 But those who cannot find the faith to see the light, inherit the desolation they sow.

 30 You think Elohim must bless you because of who you are, but I say unto you Elohim blesses you not because of who you are, but because of how you are.

 31 Therefore, I ask, how is your faith? What are your quiet acts of charity and goodness that show the true light of your heart?

 32 I tell you now of a truth that you may find pricks your vanity. There were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when it did not rain for three and a half years, and there was a great famine throughout the land.

 33 Yet Elijah helped none of them, not even one, but went instead to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon.

 34 And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the Prophet, yet not one of them were cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian.

 35 The blessings and Celestine Light of Elohim are given to the worthy, not the undeserving, regardless of whose children they are. So it was in the days of old; so it is today.”

 36 Now many of the people of Nazareth in the synagogue, when they heard these words, were filled with wrath.

 37 They rose up in anger and drove Yeshua out of Nazareth, notwithstanding the protests of his brothers and disciples and their attempts to protect him.

 38 They took Yeshua by his garments to the brow of the hill upon which the town was built, intending to throw him headlong over the cliff.

 39 At the very moment, when it seemed he would be plunged to the rocks below, a brilliant light flashed all around them, blindingly brighter than the Sun at noonday.

 40 They fell to the ground in terror, shielding their eyes from the light, and Yeshua passed through the midst of them and went his way, gathering his brothers and his disciples to him as he passed.

 41 Coming to the house of Yakov, he said unto him, “Good brother, thank you for your efforts to protect me from the ignorant. You have known me since your earliest memory. Am I not just the simple carpenter’s son to you as I am to them?”

 42 Yakov was hurt by Yeshua’s words, and he answered, “No, brother, though I call you that I have always known you are much more than a brother. You are a prophet, yes, but I think also much more than that as well.

 43 The miracles you can do are wonders. Even nature bows to you.

 44 Only a moment ago, the Sun came down from the sky and lighted upon your shoulders. What could that possibly be? Something no man has ever seen before. You are connected to God greater than other men. Only by that could you do these things.

 45 I believe that if a man would know God, truly know Elohim in his heart, he must follow you, even though your doctrines are strange and difficult sometimes.

 46 But as you said, it is not because of miracles, but because of your words and your love that I would follow you.”

 47 Yeshua gave Yakov a warm embrace and said, “I would be honored if you would follow me, my brother. We are leaving tomorrow for Capernaum. Put your affairs in order and meet us in that vicinity with your family and our children as soon as you can.”

 48 And it came to pass that Yeshua and Miriam and his disciples departed the following day for Capernaum and Bethsaida upon the coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nepthalim.

 49 Thus, it was fulfilled the words spoken by the prophet Esaias, who said, “In the land of Zabulon and Nepthalim, on the shores of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, the people which sat in darkness saw a great light, and to them which dwell in the region under the shadow of death, a wondrous light has sprung up.”

 50 Shortly after arriving, they were joined by Yakov and his family, as well as their own children.

 51 And Yeshua’s youngest brother Yudas, who was unmarried, came as well with their mother Miryam.

 52 Yeshua’s disciples that had traveled with him returned to their families in Bethsaida and related all that had transpired in their travels with Yeshua.

 53 From that day forward, they began to meet with all of their families each week to hear Yeshua and Miriam and the other disciples speak when they were home and to share a common meal together.

 54 And they began to apportion various tasks that could serve everyone well, and they became very productive, with greater freedom of time for study and prayer and play.

 55 Thus began the first Community of Light.