Following Jesus: Mark 6 Series

Following Jesus (6)

Scott Bayles, pastor

Scripture: Mark 6:1-6

Blooming Grove Christian Church: 2/5/2017

If you were with us the last few weeks, you know we are on a sixteen-week journey that will take us through the deserts of Palestine, along the shores of Lake Galilee and the Jordan River, and into the cities of Nazareth, Bethlehem and Jerusalem as we follow in the footsteps of Jesus.

The Gospel of Mark is our guide on this journey and recently Jesus has just completed a whirlwind tour across much of northern Israel. In Mark 4, He astounded his disciples by calming the wind and waves on Lake Galilee. Last Sunday, in Mark 5, He shocked the Ten Towns of the Gersenes by casting a legion of demons into a herd of swine. In the second half of Mark 5, He surprised a disease ridden woman who was healed the instant she touched his cloak. His last stop was the home of Jarius, whose daughter had died just moments before Jesus arrived. But death wouldn’t stop Jesus. He took the little girl’s hand and whispered in her ear, “Little girl, get up.” Immediately the girl rose and walked and the Bible says, “They were overwhelmed and totally amazed” (Mark 5:42 NLT).

So far, Jesus seems to amaze and impress just about everyone he encounters. But as we begin chapter 6, we meet some people who aren’t so impressed with Jesus. So if you have a Bible or an app on your phone, open it up to Mark 6 and let’s read this short segment in the life of Christ.

Jesus left that part of the country and returned with his disciples to Nazareth, his hometown. 2 The next Sabbath he began teaching in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. They asked, “Where did he get all this wisdom and the power to perform such miracles?” 3 Then they scoffed, “He’s just a carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon. And his sisters live right here among us.” They were deeply offended and refused to believe in him. 4 Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family.” 5 And because of their unbelief, he couldn’t do any miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6 And he was amazed at their unbelief. (Mark 6:1-6 NLT)

I’m not sure what prompted Jesus’s return home. Perhaps He was tired from all his travels and just wanted to sit in that comfortable rocking chair his father carved. Maybe his mom had been nagging Him to come home and visit for a while. Or maybe He returned home for one of the many Hebrew holidays or family festivals. Whatever his reasons were, there’s always something special about going home—the comfort, the familiarity of it all. And, as I read it, Jesus’s brief trip home unfolds in three parts, starting with Jesus’s reception.

• HIS RECEPTION

Much had changed since Jesus left Nazareth. He left alone and a carpenter. He returned a famous rabbi with a whole entourage of disciples. He spends a few days visiting with family and friends and when Saturday rolls around, he’s invited to speak in the Synagogue. The synagogue was the center of town and the center of religious as well as social life. Important civic meetings were often held there. Everyone came to the Synagogue to connect with God and with his or her neighbors. It was common for a visiting rabbi to be invited to speak in the local synagogue. Jesus had become a well-known and popular speaker, so they rolled out the red carpet for him.

I imagine he received plenty pats on the back and amply attaboys as he entered the Synagogue. The people of Nazareth warmly welcomed him. They were happy to have him in their church and in their lives.

So Jesus now has the opportunity to preach in the very church in which he grew up. And the Bible says, “many who heard him were amazed. They asked, ‘Where did he get all this wisdom and the power to perform such miracles?’” (Mark 6:2 NLT).

Here Jesus was, back in his hometown, preaching to the same people who watched him play in the dirt as a child, who saw him struggle through puberty, who witnessed the grief in his eyes when his earthly father died, and they were amazed. The word translated amazed literally means “struck out of one’s sense.” In other words, Jesus blew their minds. They were amazed at his words, his wisdom and the wonders he could perform. It was obvious that there was something special about this home-town hero.