Matthew 2:23 says of Jesus, “This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets: ‘He shall be called a Nazarene.’” (NASU) In spite of that an Old Testament passage cannot be found that declares the coming Messiah to be called a Nazarene. What can be found is that the promised Messiah will be despised and rejected. That seems to be the connection. John 1:45-46 states, “Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote — Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." Nathanael said to him, ‘Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?’” (NASU) Nazareth was mocked as a despised village within the mocked and despised region of Galilee. Throughout the gospels, Jesus is often referred to as “the Nazarene”. At His arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus asked the authorities two times who they were looking for. Both times they answered that they were looking for Jesus the Nazarene. Jesus answered that He was indeed the Nazarene. John 19:19-20 caps the list, “Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It was written, ‘Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews’”. (NASU)
It would seem logical and reasonable that the Bible would have stopped referring to Jesus as the Nazarene following His crucifixion and resurrection but it didn’t. The disciples on the Emmaus road referred to Jesus as the Nazarene. Peter began his first sermon (at Pentecost) this way, Acts 2:22 "Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs….” (NASU) At the first healing miracle (Acts 3), Peter invoked the name of Jesus the Nazarene. In the first defense given to arresting authorities (Acts 4), when asked by what power or in what name did Peter and John heal a man, Peter answered that it was done in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene. When the religious leaders brought charges against Stephen, the first Christian martyr, they referred to the Lord as “this Nazarene, Jesus”. When the Apostle Paul gave his testimony to the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem he said, “It happened that as I was on my way, approaching Damascus about noontime, a very bright light suddenly flashed from heaven all around me, and I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?' "And I answered, 'Who are You, Lord?' And He said to me, 'I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.'” (Acts 22:6-8 NASU) So when Jesus revealed Himself to Paul on the Damascus road, He was still referring to Himself by a name given to Him by mockers symbolizing their rejection of Him.
In the book of Acts we see the continuing work of Jesus not through His earthly body, but through His new body, the Church. It seems significant to me that Jesus intends for us to realize that those who truly follow Him will be despised, mocked, and rejected. That fact ought not to keep us from proclaiming Christ as Savior and Lord. Rather, it should give us encouragement that the mocking and rejection is good evidence that we belong to Christ. Surely being mocked and despised is not a pleasant experience but it can certainly be a joyful experience. Matthew 28:19-20 and Acts 1:8 combine to give Christians their marching orders. If we are obedient to those non-negotiable commands, we ought to not be surprised when rejection comes. We ought to expect it and count it joy that we have been identified with Christ.
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