Why is Jesus often referred to as Jesus of Nazareth?

Response

Jesus was known as “Jesus of Nazareth” for various reasons. During Biblical times, individuals were commonly identified by their birthplace or where they lived. For instance, the man who helped carry Jesus’ cross when He could no longer do so was referred to as Simon of Cyrene. This designation included both his name and his place of residence «And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus. », (Luke 23:26). This distinction was necessary to differentiate him from other individuals named Simon and from other residents of Cyrene who were not named Simon. Despite Bethlehem being Jesus’ birthplace, Nazareth was where He lived before starting His public ministry, hence the reference to Him as “of Nazareth.”

In Matthew 2:23, it is mentioned that Joseph relocated his family to Nazareth after returning from Egypt, where they had fled to protect Jesus from Herod, fulfilling the prophecy that “He will be called a Nazarene.” These specific words are not found in the Old Testament books, leading to challenges in interpreting this passage. Most scholars believe that the prophecies regarding the Messiah indicated that He would come from humble beginnings, be scorned, and rejected (Isaiah 53; Psalm 22). The expression “he shall be called” is understood to mean the same as “He shall be.” Therefore, when Matthew states that the prophecies were “fulfilled,” he is emphasizing that the predictions of the prophets about the Messiah being of lowly status, despised, and rejected were completely realized in His Nazarene upbringing.

The term “Jesus of Nazareth” is initially used in the Bible by Phillip, who, upon being called by Jesus to follow Him, informed Nathanael, “We have found the one Moses spoke about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph” (John 1:45).

In the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph” «Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. », (John 1:45). By calling Him Jesus of Nazareth, Philip may also have been making a statement about the lowliness of His birth. The character of the people of Nazareth was such that they were despised and condemned. Nathanael’s response, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” «And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see. », (John 1:46) would seem to indicate such. To come from Nazareth, therefore, or to be a Nazarene, was the same as to be despised, or to be esteemed of low birth. The Messiah who would come to save His people would be “a root out of dry ground, having no form or comeliness” «For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. », (Isaiah 53:2). He would be “despised and rejected of men” from whom men hid their faces and “esteemed him not” «He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. », (Isaiah 53:3).

Jesus of Nazareth was born and grew up in humble circumstances, but His impact on the world has been greater than anyone ever born before or since. He came to “save His people from their sins” «And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his

people from their sins.” », (Matthew 1:21), a remarkable achievement that only God incarnate could accomplish.