Actes 24:5

We have found this man … a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.

The Nazarene and the sect of the Nazarenes

(text, and Matthieu 2:23):--

1. Our Saviour, though born at Bethlehem, was commonly known as Jesus of Nazareth, because Nazareth was the place where He was brought up. This was a place very much despised, and the people were the boors of the country. More than that, you will generally find everywhere some town made the butt of ridicule. The name signifies “sprouts,” and the Jews, who were great at puns upon names, threw it as a jest at the people who came from that town. And Matthew refers to Ésaïe 11:1, where it is said that a rod shall come out of the stem of Jesse, and “a Netzar, a Nazarene, a Branch shall grow out of his roots.” Perhaps Nazareth was called “branch” because trees flourished there, and not much else; or because they thought the people rather verdant, and they therefore called them “sprouts” and “greens,” as the vulgar do at this day when they wish to express contempt.

2. As Nazarene was a term of contempt in the olden times, so it has continued to be. The apostate emperor Julian always called our Lord the Galilean; and when he died, he cried, “O Galilean, Thou hast vanquished me.” This is still the name given to our Lord by the Jews, and Christians are called among Mahometans, Nazarenes.

3. Our Lord was never ashamed of this name: He called Himself “Jesus of Nazareth” after He had risen from the dead. Notice our Redeemer’s condescension. It was a marvel that He should live on this earth at all; but if He must, why is He born in Judaea? Why not in Rome? Yet if born in Judaea, why must He live in Galilee? And if He must live in Galilee, why not at Capernaum? Why choose Nazareth, and be a carpenter’s son, and be rejected by His fellow townsmen? Was there ever such condescension as this? Verily “He emptied Himself.” Nothing was left Him of honour or respect.

I. Our Master, the Nazarene, was, and is despised.

1. He was despised because--

(1) In His person, parentage, state, habits, etc., there was nothing grand. He was no popularity hunter, flatterer of the great, or man of strife.

(2) His followers and chosen friends were common fishermen--unlearned and ignorant men. He was not a preacher that attracted the elite of society. Those highly cultured minds went to hear Rabbi Simeon, the Pharisee, who expounded points of no earthly importance; but Jesus was one of whom it is written, “The common people heard Him gladly.” And so the wise ones ran Him down as “a Nazarene.”

(3) His doctrine was unpalatable. He told a learned Rabbi, “Except a man be born again,” etc. They could not bear His levelling teaching. He went further, and dared to tell the Scribes and Pharisees that all their outside religion was a lie unless the inner part of the soul was cleansed.

2. Christ is as much despised as ever. How frequently you will find in newspapers, and magazines contempt poured on the doctrine of justification by faith, the Atonement, etc.

II. Christ’s followers must expect to bear a measure of the indignities poured upon their Leader. If you follow Christ fully you will be sure to be called by some ill name. They will say--

1. How singular you are! “Mine inheritance,” says God, “is unto Me as a speckled bird. The birds round about her are against her.”

2. How old-fashioned! You believe those old Puritanical doctrines. Do you not know that the world has made a great progress and has entered upon the nineteenth century? Will you never move with the times? Will you get as far as Moses, and Jesus, and John, and stick there?”

3. How credulous! They say, “You simple-minded people have great capacity for believing! We are far too sensible to feel sure about anything. As to this Spirit of God that you trust in, it is sheer enthusiasm. Be rational.”

4. How enslaved! “You dare not go to the theatre; you dare not drink.” No; but you need not say that we have no liberty because we do not feed out of the swine trough, for such liberty we never desired. We have liberty to serve God and do good, and this is the freedom which we covet.

5. What company you keep! Keep to “society,” and society will smile upon you; but if you attend meetings where so long as people love Christ you count them the best of company, then you are low and vulgar, a Philistine, or a Nazarene.

III. There is, after all, nothing despicable in either Christ or His people.

1. What is there to be ashamed of in Him? He is the Son of the Highest. His is the sublimest of all lives, and even His enemies have been struck dumb by the splendour of the love that moved Him to stoop so low.

2. There is nothing to be ashamed of in being a Christian. I am afraid that there are some Christians that we have need to be ashamed of, and that we ourselves do many unworthy things. Christians ought to be reflections of Christ, but I fear they often cast reflections upon Christ. But the fact is that the ungodly usually revile those who are true to Christ. Well, when they do, there is nothing in that to be ashamed of. Shall I be ashamed because I try to do what is right? Shall I be ashamed of chastity and truth? (C. H. Spurgeon.)

Prejudice in authority

On the occasion of some visits to Ireland, when Charles Wesley and other preachers were furiously assaulted by the mob, the depositions of the victims were laid before a grand jury. That body, after considering them, came to the following conclusion: “We find and present Charles Wesley to be a person of ill fame, a vagabond, and a common disturber of His Majesty’s peace; and we pray he may be transported.” (J. F. B. Tinling, B. A.)