Nazareth

Nazareth is a town in northern Israel about 20 miles east of the Mediterranean, 15 miles west of the Sea of Galilee, and 65 miles north of Jerusalem. Its name is probably derived from the Hebrew word natzar, meaning branch or shoot. 

Archaeological findings indicate settlements in Nazareth as early as 900 B.C. However, it was an insignificant and rather small town. It was not included in the list of settlements of the tribe of Zebulon (Joshua 19.10-16), which mentions the names of 18 towns and villages. Nazareth’s name is also missing in the writings of Josephus, who mentions at least 45 cities around Galilee. Neither is Nazareth referenced in the 63 towns mentioned in the Talmud. 

From this, some scholars believe that when Pilate put the sign Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews above the head of Jesus on the cross, it was meant as, Jesus of Nazareth, King of Nowhere! It gives new meaning to Nathaniel’s question in John 1.47, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth,” doesn’t it?

It also suggests the term Nazarene may have been a derogatory nickname given to Jesus and His followers (see Matthew 26.17, cf. Acts 6.38).

Jesus spent His adolescent years in Nazareth before beginning His ministry around age 30. After moving His ministry headquarters to Capernaum, Jesus returned to teach in the synagogue of Nazareth 2 times, but was rejected each time. On one of those occasions, the towns-men were so outraged at Jesus, they tried to throw Him off a cliff to His death.