6:1–6a Although it is not explicitly stated that this episode took place in Nazareth, the description of the setting as his hometown (6:1, or “his home area”), plus the mention of his family as living there (6:3), make it virtually certain that Nazareth is the intended location. But this story is not just the account of the rejection of Jesus in his hometown, it is also a symbol and portent of his rejection in Jerusalem by the leaders of the Jewish people. As noted earlier, this episode can be seen as concluding a section that may include everything from 3:7 to 6:6. In 3:1–6 we encountered the first clear rejection of Jesus, with a hint of a coming clash (3:6). Here again, there is a rejection of him on the Sabbath in a synagogue (cf. 3:1–2; 6:1–2). In the former case the issue was healing…