"Family Relations And Stressful Dinners”

In Jesus Holy Name July 7, 2024

Text: Mark 6:1a, 2b (Luke 4:29–30) Pentecost VII Redeemer

“Family Relations and Stressful Dinners”

Do you remember the story of Br’er Rabbit? The Uncle Remus folk tale is an African American trickster story about the exploits of Brer Rabbit & Brer Fox. Here is the short version. Wily Fox played a trick on Br’er Rabbit.

The fox made a doll out of tar and stuck it on the side of the road. When Rabbit saw the tar baby, he thought it was a person and stopped to visit. It was a one-sided conversation. The tar baby’s silence bothered the rabbit. He couldn’t stand to be next to someone and not communicate with them. So in his frustration he hit the tar baby and his hand stuck to it. He hit the tar baby again with the other hand and, you guessed it, the other hand got stuck.

“That’s how it is with difficult relatives.” When family dinners come around we know that some difficult relatives will be present and stuck with them Some one described their Mother-in-law as “A cactus wearing a silk shirt.” She looks nice. Everyone thinks she’s the greatest, but get close to her and she is prickly, dry, and her comments often hurt.”

It’s like being crammed and jammed elevator. People thrust together by chance on a short journey, saying as little as possible. The only difference is you’ll eventually get off the elevator and never see these folks again—not so with the difficult relative. Family reunions, Christmas, Thanksgiving, weddings, funerals—they’ll be there and everyone is on edge. (from Max Lucado Daily Devotion)

Country singer, Billy Currington, recorded a song a few years ago, “People Are Crazy,” with the lyrics, “God is great, beer is good, and people are crazy.” The family of Jesus thought He was crazy. They were stuck with Him.

Jesus has become well known in Galilee. His miracles have preceded his visit

to His hometown. He visited the synagogue that He attended during His childhood. His family is present. He was initially welcomed eagerly by the people of Nazareth as one who had developed a reputation as an interesting rabbi, a great teacher.

The rumors had spread to Nazareth of the mighty works He had done in the region of Galilee, particularly in and around Capernaum, Peter and John’s home town where they had a family fishing business. These rumors told of miraculous works Jesus had accomplished. His reputation increased their curiosity that day Jesus appeared as the guest rabbi.

When the Sabbath arrived, it was appropriate for the local Synagogue ruler to offer this “religious celebrity” time to read the scriptures and make comments on the text. The people were proud that this hometown boy had done well—until they heard what he said. They decided He was crazy.

Luke tells us the passage Jesus read was from Isaiah chapter 61. When he finished, Jesus sat down and said: “Today, this Scripture is fulfilled in your midst.” They got the message. They understood that He was saying: “Right now, right here in your presence, this text is fulfilled in Me. I am the promised Anointed One of Israel. I am the Messiah, the one to fulfill prophecy, “the light of the world.”

Their response? “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” Translation? This is no Messiah! He’s just like us! He’s the plumber’s kid from down the street. He’s the accountant on the third floor. He’s the construction worker who used to date my sister. God doesn’t speak through familiar people. (Max Lucado Daily Devotion)

One minute he was a hero, the next a heretic. Look at what happened next. “They got up, forced Jesus out of town, and took him to the edge of the cliff on which the town was built. They planned to throw him off the edge, but Jesus walked through the crowd and went on his way” (Luke 4:29–30).

Quoting Jesus’ hometown critics, Mark wrote, “Jesus is just the son of a carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon. And his sisters are here with us” (Mark 6:3). Who does He think He is? He was claiming that He was the long expected Messiah. But even His family did not believe Him. “God is great, beer is good, and some people like Jesus are crazy.”

That’s what the family thought. That’s what the hometown folks thought. When Jesus was on the cross, only His mother was there. He was buried by “non-members of His family.” (Leonard Sweet Jesus: A Theography p. 181)

If your aunt doesn’t like your career, you could change jobs a dozen times and still never satisfy her. If your sister is always complaining about what you got and she didn’t, you could give her everything and she still may not change.