And going out from there, He came to His hometown. His disciples were following Him.
This verse presents an important scene in Christ’s earthly ministry. He returns to His homeland, Nazareth, the place where He had grown up according to the flesh and where people for many years had seen His humble life. Outwardly one might think that here He would be received more easily, because they knew Him as a peaceful, righteous, and blameless Person. Yet the human heart is often blinded precisely toward the truth that is closest to it. External familiarity often does not become spiritual knowledge. For this reason, this return becomes not only a visit to His hometown, but also a test for that city. His disciples also followed Him, because they still had to learn not only His miracle-working power, but also how a person responds to God’s revelation. This episode reveals that Christ does not bypass even the places where they would reject Him. He remains faithful to His mission and brings the truth also to those who were outwardly nearer, yet in heart were far from Him.