Eyes to See
Mark 6:1-13
Good morning.
There is a narrative in John 5 where Jesus healed a man on the Sabbath Day and of course, the Pharisees were mad at Him.
John 5:17 But Jesus answered them, "My Father has been working until now, and I have been working."
John 5:18 Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God. NKJV
On October 17, 1989 the SF Giants and the Oakland A’s were in the World Series and I worked in the South of Market Area of SF; but, I lived across the Bay in Union City CA, at the time.
I decided to go to place called Hamburger Nancy’s and watch the game, rather than driving home immediately after work.
Those of you, who are old enough, may remember the day: The Loma Prieta earthquake happened at approximately 5:04 p.m., less than 30 minutes prior to Game 3 of the World Series.
The earthquake caused a piece of the Bay Bridge to collapse, as well as a big section of the Nimitz 880, double decker freeway.
At this time on a normal day, I would have been on either the Bay Bridge or on the 880 freeway heading home to Union City.
The earthquake caused 6 Billion dollars in damage (14 billion today); and because there was a lot going on in the Bay Area, there were 63 fatalities; but, there could have been many more.
The Lord is working all around us, all the time; but, there are those who do not have eyes to see His miracles because of their unbelief, so they fail to recognize all that God does.
Please open your Bibles to Mark 6 as we continue that study
Last week, Jesus and the Disciples returned to the other side of the Sea, to the area of Capernaum, as a large crowd was waiting.
Just then, a ruler of the synagogue named Jairus, came and fell at Jesus’ feet; because his daughter was at the point of death.
Jesus headed towards Jairus’ house to heal his daughter; but, then we heard about a woman who had a blood flow for 12 years, and as soon as she touched Jesus she was healed.
Today, Jesus leaves Capernaum and heads to His home town.
I. Jesus is ridiculed.
Read Mark 6:1-3
From Capernaum Jesus went about 20 miles southwest to His hometown of Nazareth; but, this wasn’t the birthplace of Jesus, even though, He grew up there.
Jesus was actually born in Bethlehem because Mary and Joseph traveled there to participate in a census ordered by Caesar Augustus, and Jesus born in Bethlehem during census time.
As a side note, Bethlehem is known as the house of bread and Jesus is the Bread of Life.
But who would ever think that the Savior of the world would come from such an obscure place as Nazareth?
Many would believe that the incarnate Son of God should have come from Jerusalem and some other prominent place like that.
J.D. Grassmick said, “Nazareth was an obscure hamlet of earthen dwellings chopped into sixty acres of rocky hillside, with a total population of five hundred—at the most.”
Notice, Jesus goes to the synagogue to teach on the Sabbath Day, which was very common for Him.
According to Luke 4, a year earlier, Jesus was rejected by these same people and removed from this same synagogue.
After their rejection, as a show of incredible grace; Jesus is teaching at the synagogue again and His hometown people are amazed at the authority, clarity, and insight of His teaching.
This time, instead of kicking Him out of the synagogue, they choose to ridicule the Lord. These folks knew Jesus when He left and they also remember ejecting Him from their synagogue.
Now, Jesus is amazing them by His teaching and His miraculous power; but, they are not buying into the fact that this blue collar worker from their own town is the Messiah and God in the flesh.
Someone may ask, “How did the people ridicule Jesus?”
So let’s break down their questions and statements…
1. These people wondered how Jesus became such a powerful teacher and miracle worker.
Notice vs.2 says, "Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands!
Jesus very clearly claimed to the Messiah and these folks in Nazareth are questioning His claims.
2. These people believe Jesus is merely a carpenter.
Earlier, Jesus had taken up the trade of Joseph as a carpenter of that tiny village before He began His earthly ministry.
The people of Nazareth are saying Jesus had no formal theological training, nor was He a student of a prominent rabbi; so, He could not be a great Rabbi Himself.
3. These people say Jesus is the illegitimate son of Mary.
In 1st century Israel, people would describe a man as the son of his father. Someone would only refer to a man as the son of his mother, as an insult.
What these folks were insinuating was that Jesus was the illegitimate son of Mary!
The Pharisees previously said Jesus was born from sexual immorality.
John 8:41 Then they said to Him, "We were not born of fornication; NKJV
4. These people say Jesus is a mere man.
To reinforce the idea that Jesus was not the Messiah and He was simply a man; these folks list His brothers and sisters as proof.
Notice the end of vs. 3 says, “So they were offended at Him”
In the original language, the word “offend” is the word skandalizo where we get our English word scandal.
Skandalizo means to trip over or to cause a person to begin to distrust and desert one whom he ought to trust and obey…
“Offend” “To see in another, what I disapprove of and what hinders me from acknowledging his authority” (Strong's G4624)
Kenneth Wuest said, “They could not explain Him, so they rejected Him.”
So clearly, these hometown people will not acknowledge Jesus’ authority as Messiah and Lord. So Jesus responds…
II. Jesus would not, or could not?
Read Mark 6:4-6
Let’s look at the statement about a prophet being without honor.
A prophet, who is very familiar to those around them, will not be regarded as someone special. Usually, the prophet will be envied by those they were closest to.
In this same narrative in Matthew 13:58 Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief. NKJV
We have to be careful attributing too much power to words of faith; thinking someone’s faith or words could limit God.
William Lane said, “Unbelief excluded the people of Nazareth from the dynamic disclosure of God’s grace that others had experienced.”
The Lord is all powerful and nothing we, or anyone else, or anything else, in all creation, can hinder the Lord.
Earlier I said, the Lord is working all around us, all the time; but, there are those who do not have eyes to see His miracles because of their unbelief, and fail to recognize all that God does.
In 1989, when I went to Hamburger Nancy’s to watch the World Series after work, instead of heading home;
When the earthquake hit, I didn’t credit the Lord with sparing my life. In fact, at that time of my life, I was in a sinful, backslidden, rebellious state of mind.
Even in my unbelief and failing to recognize the Lord working; the Lord who is rich in mercy, still allowed me to be saved from a freeway collapse, because He had future plans for me.
G. Campbell Morgan said of this passage, “Not that He in Himself was unable; but, that the condition of willful and persistent unbelief limited the power of the people to receive.”
Notice in vs. 5, we are told that even while He did not do many miracles there; Jesus still healed a few sick people.
Then notice, Jesus marveled because of their unbelief.
Jesus was absolutely amazed that these people could have unbelief after all they had witnessed.
Warren Wiersbe said, “Twice in the gospel record you find Jesus marveling. As this passage reveals, He marveled at the unbelief of the Jews, and He marveled at the great faith of a Roman centurion, a Gentile in Luke 7:9.”
So after Jesus is blown away at their rebellious unbelief; so He leaves Nazareth and He went and taught in other towns and villages in Galilee.
Jesus’ heart was broken by the unbelief, so He decided to send out His disciples with His authority and power to other places.
III. Special power for the journey.
Read Mark 6:7-9
Notice these Disciples were given power over unclean spirits.
We know after the ascension of Jesus back to heaven, we were promised to receive power once the Holy Spirit came upon us.
Acts 1:8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." NKJV
The power promised to believers in Acts 1:8 is actually a different power than what was given to the Apostles here.
Power in Acts 1:8 is dynamis; which means strength power, and ability; inherent power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature.
The word for power in Mark 6:7is exousia (Ex-ah-see-ah) which is the power of rule or government.
The Disciple’s power came from the King of the kingdom, giving His royal credentials and authority to act as His representatives.
As Christ followers we are given power to be witnesses; these men were given specific credentials and Kingdom authority.
What authority did Jesus give to His Apostles? Kingdom power to do special ministry, as an extension of the King.
J. Vernon McGee said, “Many cults try to use this chapter for their authority for some particular ministry or conduct.
“This chapter does not contain instructions for Christians and we should be careful to interpret this chapter accurately.”
There are no Apostles today in the original sense of the word.
The main criteria for being an Apostle in the original sense was to be called by God to be an Apostle and also, to have physically seen the risen Christ.
Paul asked, 1 Corinthians 9:1 Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord. NKJV
Why did Jesus send these men out in groups of two?
a. To encourage one another.
Ecclesiastes 4:9 Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor.
Ecclesiastes 4:10 For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up. NKJV
b. Mutual accountability.
Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. NKJV
Every follower of Christ needs accountability; but even more so, those who are called to a ministry, need more accountability.
c. Mutual cooperation.
1 Corinthians 12:14 For in fact the body is not one member but many.
When a person is sharing the Gospel, it is great to have another Christian there praying while the other is sharing.
But notice what the Mark 6:8 says, “He commanded them”; there are four uses for the Greek word used here commanded
• A military term = obey an order.
• A legal term = subpoena
• A medical term = prescription
• A royal term = a king’s decree
This was not a suggestion from the Lord; but, an order.
When we surrender and become a Christian, Jesus is not only Savior; He is Adonai (boss, master, Lord).
This is why all throughout the New Testament letters, Christians are referred to as a Bond Servant, which is a slave by choice.
Then notice, Jesus told these twelve men to take nothing for their journey. They were not to go and prepare for this mission with their own resources and abilities.
Basically He says, “If someone invites you to stay at with them, take them up on the offer; but, do not prepare a bunch of stuff, only the bare essentials.”
True service for Jesus is not to be done with human ability; but, it should be completed with total dependence upon Him and His provisions.
He tells them that He is giving them all the special power and the authority they will need for the mission.
Then Jesus gives them each a partner; but, He is also telling them to leave now and not to go home and pack.
This is shows the urgency of a true call of Jesus. When you are sure Jesus is telling you to go; then go without hesitation.
If Jesus says wait, then wait until His timing is right.
May we never get ahead of Jesus; but, even more important; may we never lag behind Him either!
Don’t wait to obey Him and don’t worry about the cost, because where God guides; He also provides.
IV. Preach and leave the results to Jesus.
Read Mark 6:10-13
First Jesus makes it clear that the Disciples will face rejection.
Jesus didn’t call them to go on their first mission until He first allowed them to witness His own rejection back in Nazareth.
For those who will not receive, shake the dust off of their feet.
J. R. Edwards said, “Whenever Jews traveled outside of Israel, they were required to shake themselves free of dust when returning home lest they pollute the holy land.
“For Jesus to tell these 12 men to do that (shake the dust off) if a village in Israel wouldn’t welcome them or listen to them was tantamount to declaring a Jewish village heathen.” (Edwards)
Just as the Apostles job was not to change people’s minds; but, to clearly present the message; so, our job is to present the Gospel and leave the results up to the Lord.
Our ministry can touch a heart when we least expect it. On this side of heaven we may never know the people we impacted through our service to the Lord.
However, it is freeing to know that I do not have to manipulate or cause anything spiritual to happen; all I have to do is obey and trust the Lord for the results.
Notice, the harsh reality in vs. 11, It will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gommorah in the day of judgment:
We know the Lord judged Sodom and Gommorah; so, there is an eternal consequence for refusing the free gift of salvation.
vs. 12, they went out and preached that people should repent
G. Campbell Morgan said, “It does not mean that they told men to repent, but that they preached in such a way as to produce repentance.”
“And anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them”
James 5:14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. NKJV
We know oil is a picture of the Holy Spirit in scripture; but, it may also have had a medicinal purpose in that day.
Robertson said, “It is possible that the use of oil (olive oil) as a medicine is the basis of the practice... It was the best medicine of the ancients and was used internally and externally...
The word used in this passage can be translated rub or anoint without any ceremony.”
V. Practical Application.
The Lord is working all around us, all the time; but, there are those who do not have eyes to see His miracles because of their unbelief, so they fail to recognize all He does.
When Isaiah had the heavenly vision of the Lord in Isaiah 6, he responded by telling God to send him as the Lord’s messenger.
Isaiah 6:9 And He said, "Go, and tell this people: 'Keep on hearing, but do not understand; Keep on seeing, but do not perceive.'
Isaiah 6:10 "Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; Lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and return and be healed." NKJV
First the Lord wanted Isaiah to preach the Lord’s message and then they would be without excuse if they denied it. However…
Guzik, “This shows what the word of God can accomplish when it is received with open eyes, open ears, and an open heart.
It brings understanding to our hearts, it makes us return, and it brings healing to our lives.”
How can we guard our hearts and minds to have eyes to see?
1. First we get saved and receive the Holy Spirit.
Romans 8:9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. NKJV
We must have the Lord’s supernatural help in order to hear and see the things of God. We cannot hear or see spiritual things without submitting to the Holy Spirit’s lead in our lives.
In fact, the Apostle Paul describes the blindness of the unsaved
2 Corinthians 4:4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. NKJV
2. We must study the Word of God to hear His voice.
Psalm 119:18 Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law. NKJV
3. We need to ask for the illumination.
Again, hear the Psalmist…Psalm 119:18 Open my eyes,
4. We find our hope in the Lord.
Hebrews 12:2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. NKJV
5. We remember God’s faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22 Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.
Lamentations 3:23 They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. NKJV
6. We trust the Lord for our future.
Philippians 3:12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.
Philippians 3:13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,
Philippians 3:14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. NKJV
And last, but certainly not least…
7. We pray about everything.
Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
Philippians 4:7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. NKJV
When we trust in self; we will fail every time; but, when our eyes are on Jesus, He will give us perfect peace as Isaiah 26:3 says about the person, whose mind is stayed on God.
I want eyes to see Jesus working around me all the time, and when I forget He is working, I pray He reminds me often.
