To answer this question Let’s think about any troubled community in the United States of America, where there is periodic outburst of violence coupled with low standards of living which results in these communities being described as having a bad zip code.
This was the view that was held by the Jews in regard to Nazareth, when Nathaniel asked the question, can any good thing come out of Nazareth? We read in John 1:45-46
” Philip findeth Nathaniel 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.
And Nathaniel said unto him, can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip said unto him, come and see.”
Imagine how Phillip’s excitement was crushed when Nathaniel asked that question. Further persuasion by Phillip was no longer necessary. Philip thought about the experience he had with Jesus, then invited Nathaniel to come and see.
In verse 47-49 Nathaniel encounter takes a different turn, “Jesus saw Nathaniel coming to
him, and saith of him behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile.
Nathaniel saith unto him whence knoweth thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him before that Philip call thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.
Nathaniel answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the son of God; thou art the King of Israel”.
Nathaniel’s encounter with Jesus dismissed the negative thoughts that had caused him to ask the question. This brings to mind the writing of the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 1:27-29
“But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
And based things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yeah, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
That no flesh should glory in his presence”
Although Nazareth was held by the Jews in low esteem, it is God’s choice to identify his son with that village. So can we like Nathaniel see Jesus not so much from his hometown but who he is. “Thou art the son of God, the king of Israel”
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