Jn 14:7-14
54[Jesus] came to his native place and taught the people in their synagogue. They were astonished and said, “Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds? 55Is he not the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother named Mary and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? 56Are not his sisters all with us? Where did this man get all this?” 57And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and in his own house.” 58And he did not work many mighty deeds there because of their lack of faith.
THE CARPENTER’S SON: Jesus returns to Nazareth, his native place, in the middle of his Galilean ministry. The people of Nazareth have probably heard of reports coming from Capernaum and the towns close by the Sea of Galilee where Jesus had manifested his exousia or authority by his wisdom and mighty deeds. Hearing Jesus teaching in the synagogue confirms the reports about him. The crowd appears prepared to grant Jesus honor. But then they proceed to question whether Jesus is really that different. In asking whether Jesus is Joseph’s son, the people in the synagogue are questioning how an outstanding teaching could come from one born of a carpenter (Greek tekton, artisan working in stone or wood). In a society that places a premium on family of origin, inherited honor, social status, and achievement of family members, Jesus has little or no chance to be recognized as a “prophet” among his fellow townspeople. His riposte of a prophet having honor except in his native place and in his own family cuts them to size as they do to him: outsiders (people not of his own village or family) are better able to judge the honor of the prophet.