Prove it

In Nazareth they had heard what Jesus had done in Capernaum. Now they wanted to see it for themselves. Jesus saw it coming and named the proverb they would throw at him: physician, heal yourself. In other words: show us first, here at home, what you can do.

Jesus did not give in to that demand. He healed people out of compassion, not to prove himself. Later the same challenge rang out at the cross: he rescued others, so let him rescue himself now. There too, he stayed where he was.