When the Gospels tell us the story of Jesus, they pause two times to inform us that He grew spiritually (and physically) in Nazareth before He began His incredible ministry. This time period is what scholars refer to as the “hidden years.”
Nazareth represents hiddeness and growth in private. It also represents being ignored and rejected, which is what the Lord experienced in Nazareth.
Jesus spent most of His earthly life in Nazareth. Those years were critical for what He would later do in public.
Too many leaders today have never had a Nazareth experience. They’ve never grown in a hidden way. They’ve never known the pain of being ignored, rejected, and even repudiated.
Therefore, when they rise to prominence, they prevent themselves from having peers who can speak into their lives. They insulate and isolate themselves instead.
To all my 20- and 30-something friends who are called to the Lord’s work — don’t skip Nazareth or rush the clock on it. It’s a necessary ingredient for the impact of your future ministry.
