Some people are just born on the wrong side of the tracks. By luck of birth, one person is socially desirable, and another is undesirable. The Jews thought Jesus was from the wrong side of the tracks. He came from the region of Galilee. His home town was Nazareth, a village with a poor reputation among the ancient Jews. Oh, how the Jewish leaders had misjudged God!
It is written in John 7:52, “Are you also from Galilee? Search and see that no prophet arises out of Galilee.” Little did they know that Jesus was actually born in Bethlehem, the city prophesied to be the birthplace of Messiah. He didn’t grow up there because God chose to have Jesus moved to Nazareth of Galilee. The Jews never asked what side of the tracks Jesus came from, and Jesus didn’t offer – that is not the basis upon which to follow Jesus.
God could have had Jesus raised anywhere. If anyone deserved to be born on the right side of the tracks, Jesus was. God chose Nazareth, and the people of Galilee because He was not too good to be around them. Jesus also willingly submitted to the shame of the cross for people who despised Him. Jesus left us an example of humility towards anyone, regardless of the circumstances of their birth.
Do others make you feel like you are from the wrong side of the tracks? Know this; God wants you no matter where you were born. In God’s eyes, we are all from the same side of the tracks.
I hope to see you Sunday! Let’s sit down over an open Bible and study God’s word together.
Photo by Carlos Andres Gomez on Unsplash
