When acknowledging Jesus' wisdom and power is not enough (Mark 6:1-6)

My minister friend has been teaching the men’s Sunday School class in our church this month. He is to preach this Sunday morning and asked me to substitute for him. (No, not the preaching — the SS teaching.)

I haven’t made much headway yet in preparing for the class, but here are some of the preliminary notes I have so far. (Maybe taking the time to post them in this format will help cement them in my own mind in preparation to teach…and live.)

“And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him” (Mark 6:1).

Am I enough of a disciple to do what disciples do — follow the Master? For some reason, that reminds me of a little saying I saw recently:

“Rather than putting Christ back in Christmas, I’d settle for putting Christ back in Christians.”

And that reminds me of a portion of Galatians 2:20 — “Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God.” Like I wrote to our church leaders earlier in the month:

I am committed to being a disciple of Jesus and to growing “in grace, and in the knowledge of” Him. I marvel that “Christ liveth in me.” I so want “the life which I now live” to be “by the faith of the Son of God.” The Lord Jesus knows I want Him to live His life through me. I continue to purpose to make those daily choices driven by these realities…and to repent when I fail at that.

“And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?” (Mark 6:2).

Notice they didn’t deny His wisdom and miracle-working power. But they did wonder where He got these things. Up until then, through all the years they had known Him, He had never shown such wisdom and power. No wonder they were taken aback and astonished! I expect I would have been too.

“Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him” (Mark 6:3).

Nazareth — where He should have been received with honor. But they knew Him. And had known Him for a long time. He had grown up among them…and they’d had no idea about Him. Such wisdom and such miracles!

And yet, despite acknowledging His obvious wisdom and power, they rejected Him. I would say that response is not particularly unique to them. I think we all have at least somewhat of a tendency to dismiss unexpected wisdom and gifts in someone with whom we are quite familiar, especially if what he says makes us too uncomfortable

A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house (Matthew 13:57)

“But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house” (Mark 6:4).

How nice it would have been had they accepted Him as their “favorite son.” But they didn’t — because He was of them and well-known to them. Having grown up with Jesus, perhaps there is the danger that He is somehow too familiar to me to impress me as I ought to be impressed. I hope not!

I don’t believe Jesus was whining or complaining about their lack of support and enthusiasm for Him and His ministry. In fact, here is a couple of glimpses into the heart of Jesus toward those who should have welcomed Him and received Him…

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!” (Luke 13:34).

“And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes” (Luke 19:41,42).

“And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them” (Mark 6:5).

What effect do my doubts and unbelief have on my own prayers?

Those “few sick folk” Jesus healed — amidst the surrounding swamp of unbelief, from where did their faith come?

“And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching” (Mark 6:6).

I am impressed by Jesus’ faithfulness in teaching, despite the dishonor and unbelief.

Now for a few questions I posted for a parallel passage some 9 years ago:

  • Should I move “there” because I think I will be more appreciated and my gifts more recognized?
  • Do I appreciate our local “prophets” less than the visiting ones?
  • Do I reject a local leader just because I know him so well as “one of us”?
  • Might my “unbelief” in him affect the effectiveness of a leader in my home congregation?
  • Am I handling personal rejection in a godly manner?
  • What is a godly way to dealing with such rejection?

And here’s a verse to help bring this home further:

“Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God” (Hebrews 3:12).

OK, that’s enough of my notes for teaching this lesson. However, I invite you to read two pieces I wrote (in the early years of this millennium) about Mark 6:1-13…

These Posts Might Be Related:
  1. The Hindrance of Unbelief
  2. The Secret of Spiritual Power
  3. Live. Christ.
  4. Flaunting Darkness?
  5. I Stagger

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