# Uriah, an Old Man of Nazareth explained — Jesus the Son of Man

> Chapter companion for Jesus the Son of Man by Kahlil Gibran.

## What happens

Uriah, an old man of Nazareth, delivers a bitter monologue against Jesus, recalling His childhood defiance, His aloofness as a youth, and His later teachings that Uriah perceives as insults and attacks on the people. Uriah expresses a wish that Jesus had been sent to war to be killed, and reflects on the shame such a son would bring.

## Themes in this chapter

### Misunderstanding and Betrayal

Uriah's monologue exemplifies the misunderstanding of Jesus' mission and the hostility He faced from His own townspeople.

### Humanity and Divinity of Jesus

Uriah's perspective highlights the human Jesus, who was seen as an ordinary boy and youth, yet whose actions were perceived as arrogant and divisive.

## Character check-ins

### Jesus

Uriah recounts Jesus' childhood, youth, and ministry with hostility, accusing Him of arrogance and speaking evil of the people.

### Uriah

The speaker, an old man of Nazareth, who feels personally insulted by Jesus and wishes He had been killed in battle.

## Key lines

> His childhood revolted, and rejected the sweet milk of our nature. His youth was inflamed like dry grass that burns in the night.

As a child, He was rebellious and rejected our nurturing ways. As a youth, He was passionate and destructive.

_Uriah uses vivid imagery to condemn Jesus' early life._

> If He had been my son, I would have committed Him with the Roman legions to Arabia, and I would have begged the captain to place Him in the forefront of the battle, so that the archer of the foe might mark Him, and free me of His insolence.

If Jesus were my son, I would have sent Him to fight with the Roman army in Arabia, hoping the enemy would kill Him and rid me of His arrogance.

_Uriah expresses a violent wish for Jesus' death._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/jesus_the_son_of_man_se/chapters/uriah-an-old-man-of-nazareth
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/jesus_the_son_of_man_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/jesus_the_son_of_man_se/chapters