And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.
The most interesting of all subjects, is to eye CHRIST as the Great Nazarene. Few have ever considered the importance of the name; and yet there is none by which the Lord JESUS is distinguished in his holy scriptures more personally directed by way of emphasis, than this. For my part, so very highly significant is it in my view, that I venture to believe that all we read of in the word of God of the Nazarites, and the particularity of their order, had no one object whatever, but to point to CHRIST; and He, and he alone, is the One, and only One Nazarite to GOD. If the Reader will first turn to the following scriptures, and carefully read them, I will venture to offer him my view upon the subject. Numbers 6:2-21; Judges 13:5-25; Lamentations 4:7; Amos 2:11-12
The name of Nazarite, is evidently taken from Netzar the branch and this is well known to be the name of the Lord Jesus CHRIST. The Patriarch Jacob had pointed to CHRIST, in that prophecy concerning Joseph the Nazarite: He separated from his brethren Genesis 49:26. So that the whole concerning the law of separation had a direct reference to Jesus. In Christ therefore, being called Jesus of Nazareth, this must have been wholly upon this account: for CHRIST was born in Bethlehem, and not in Nazareth. And it should seem to have been nothing less than the overruling power of GOD, which could have so universally procured this name to CHRIST, when there were no causes but the LORD JESUS dwelling there which could have led to the idea. I have in my Poor Man's Concordance more fully dwelt upon this subject; so that I shall not in this place enlarge. I will only beg before I dismiss it to observe, that this name was made use of in a manner, and way particularly striking. The Devils used it. Mark 1:24. The Apostles used it while JESUS was upon earth. John 1:45. And again after our LORD'S resurrection. Acts 4:10; Acts 4:10. The band of armed men which came to apprehend Christ used it. John 18:5. Pilate used it in his inscription on the cross. John 19:19. The servant maid at the hall of Pilate used it. Matthew 26:71. The Angels at the tomb used it. Mark 16:6. Yea the LORD himself from heaven used it. Acts 22:8. And if all these were intended (as I venture to believe they were) purposely to point to CHRIST as the true Nazarite to GOD, yea the only One; surely there is much blessedness in the view; and we see sufficient cause wherefore it was that JESUS came and dwelt in the city of Nazareth that he might be called a Nazarene.
REFLECTIONS
READER! let you and I ponder well the sweet and interesting record here given of the birth of CHRIST. If angels, who needed no redemption, praised God at his birth, with what holy rapture and joy ought our songs to go forth in thanksgivings for the same. Behold! with what unequalled humbleness the SON of GOD, as man, when he came and tabernacled in our flesh, manifested himself to the church. But behold! how GOD the FATHER honoured his nativity, in not only sending wise men from the east to worship him, but in causing a star to point to the SAVIOUR. Was not this indeed sweetly fulfilling that blessed scripture; the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. But did the Lord God, in order that his blessed SON should be known, grant such a starry influence to the wise men; and will he withhold the light of his grace from the hearts of his people? Will he not reveal CHRIST in all his glory, and suitableness, and all sufficiency, that, like them, we may fall down and worship him, and present him more than gold, and frankincense, and myrrh, even those graces of his Holy Spirit which are his own?
And was it needful that the Lord of life and glory should go down into Egypt, that what the Prophet had said of calling God's dear SON out of Egypt might be fulfilled? Surely then, LORD, it must be needful to call all thy sons from the Egypt of this world; for all by nature are in that house of bondage, before that an act of sovereign grace hath called them out. Was JESUS, the holy, harmless, undefiled Lord Jesus, here also, as in a thousand other instances, the forerunner and glorious Head of his redeemed? Oh for grace to follow the LAMB whithersoever he goeth
But Oh! thou true and only real Nazarite of GOD! Precious Jesus, thou art indeed the Branch, the Plant of Renown, the Spiritual Joseph of thy people, whose branches ran over the wall. Blessings be on the Head of Him, and on the Crown of the Head of Him that was the Netzar, the Separate, from thy brethren! Methinks I hear my LORD again say, as he did once in the days of his flesh: for their sakes I sanctify myself! Ever precious; and dear name, JESUS CHRIST of Nazareth! Thou art thy church's Nazarene!