Great Lessons from the Life of Christ #9
Jesus Rejected at Nazareth
(Mark 6:1-6)
JESUS REJECTED AT NAZARETH
(Mark 6:1-6)
1. I could not get past the lessons of these six verses.
2. While John the Baptist was a recluse preaching in deserted regions
of Judea, Jesus was anything but a recluse.
a. Occasionally he would get away to rest, but for the most part he traveled from city to city.
b. Four cities figure prominently in his life:
(1) Bethlehem – the place of his birth. Though he and the family did not live in Bethlehem his birth there was the fulfillment of O.T. prophecy.
(2) Jerusalem – the site of the Jewish temple – the focal point of Jewish religious life. Not only did Jesus go there often, but much more often the religious teachers and leaders came to him. Rarely from pure motives, but to hear and challenge this one that the crowds were following.
(3) Capernaum – a city on the northern shores of Galilee where Jesus probably lived during his adult ministry.
(4) Nazareth – the small town where Jesus grew up.
3. In all probability, few people in history would have ever heard of
Nazareth if Jesus had not been associated with it.
a. Sorta like – Mt. Airy, Powells Cross Roads or College Station
b. It wasn’t located on a main route. A map of ancient Israel shows that the main thoroughfares of the day passed many miles to the north and west.
c. Nazareth was a little out of the way town – in no way important to the national or religious life of Israel.
(1) It is not mentioned in the Old Testament.
(2) In fact, based on John 1:46, it seems to have had a bad reputation. When Nathaniel was brought to and introduced to Jesus, do you remember his question: “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?”
4. Do you remember how that Jesus came to live in Nazareth?
a. (Matthew 2:13-18) Herod wants to kill the Christ child, so Joseph
is instructed to take Mary and Jesus and flee to Egypt.
b. In the verses that follow (Matthew 2:19-20) we are told that
upon Herod’s death, they were instructed by an angel to return
to Bethlehem. Because Archelaus (Herod’s son) ruled the
territory they go to the town of Nazareth.
5. And there in Nazareth Jesus grew up…
a. Learning from Joseph how to be a carpenter.
(1) Greek (tekton) referring either to a stone mason, black
smith, or a carpenter.
(2) The most common use is a carpenter.
b. A carpenter’s skills included – hewing beams for houses, building
household furniture, carving out yokes for oxen and plows for
them to pull.
c. It was hard work – Jesus was strong and rugged. His hands were
were weathered and calloused. The pictures that we see and the
way that Jesus is portrayed have little resemblance to what
Jesus would have actually looked like.
6. He was “the son of a carpenter.”
a. Most believe that at this point Joseph is dead – which would
mean that Jesus being the oldest son, the shop would now
belong to him, with his brothers working under him.
b. But at some point – maybe 6 months to a year before this -
Jesus had left the shop in their care, sought out John to be
baptized and had begun to teach, preach, and call disciples.
c. Put yourself in the shoes of his brothers and sisters – What
would you have thought?
(1) The word around town is that Jesus had given up a good
Job, was wandering around Galilee teaching and calling
disciples.
(2) “Teaching and calling disciples! He can’t teach. He’s a mighty
good carpenter, builds a right nice table, but he doesn’t
have any formal training. He is a small town carpenter, not
a trained theologian.”
(3) Remember (Mark 3:20-21) – his family sought him out in an
effort to convince him to come home. They like everyone
else thought his elevator didn’t quite reach the top floor.
To put it blunt – they thought he was a nut case.
d. And this one that everyone is talking about comes home – the
town is not excited, but embarrassed. As Jesus walks the streets
all eyes are on him – not eyes of admiration, but eyes of
suspicion.
(1) He comes back into town not as the carpenter that everyone
remembered, but as a rabbi (a teacher), with a group of
disciples following him.
(2) And he shows up at the synagogue – not that this is strange
but there comes the point in the service where any male
present was given the opportunity to speak and Jesus takes
advantage of the opportunity.
7. (vs. 3) “When the Sabbath was come he began to teach in the
synagogue, and many hearing him were astonished.”
a. Amazed at Jesus, and asking, “Where did he learn these things?
Where did such knowledge, wisdom, and insight come from. And
he even performs miracles. How can this be?”
b. Look at the end of verse 3 – “They took offense.” Literally, the
text says, “They were scandalized.” – They aren’t indignant at what he said or did. They are amazed at his ability.
c. The problem is who Jesus is. He is an average, ordinary guy,
from an humble background. He is a peasant, a carpenter, a
common, working man – he is just like us.
(1) In this country we admire those that rise from humble
beginnings.
(a) We make a big deal and have a certain fondness
for those like an Abraham Lincoln who rise from such a
beginning to a position of power and prestige.
(b) It makes that person “one of us” because he is from a
blue collar background or because he was an enlisted
man.
(2) That is not the way it was viewed in the ancient world, as
there were two classes of people – there were the haves and
there were the have nots.
(a) Anyone who was anything came from noble linage.
(b) In his attempts to discredit Jesus, Celsus in the 2nd
century wrote: “It was enough to dismiss Jesus on the
basis of his humble orgins.”
(3) vs. 3 – “Isn’t this the carpenter?”
(a) “Isn’t this a common laborer, from a regular family, from
a little out of the way town?”
(b) “The Son of God…right!” How dare anyone try to get us
to believe that such a one could be the Messiah. Such a
thought was scandalous.
6. So rather than consider his claims – they attack the man.
a. He is just a carpenter – a common laborer.
b. He is the “son of Mary” – Jews never described a man as the son
of his mother, even if she were an widow, except to insult one.
(1) Some, maybe most adults remembered the circumstances of
his birth.
(2) Both he and his mom had been the butt of many a joke in
Nazareth – the illegitimate child who grew up to work in a
local shop – unfortunately, he is just one of us – not even
one we are proud to claim.
7. As I read this story you have to be touched by the reality that for
most people there is a special place in one’s heart for home.
a. I can only imagine what Jesus wanted to do for these people who
had long been a part of his life – but he was not allowed to –
because they want nothing to do with him.
c. vs. 6 – tells us he was amazed – and he was hurt
d. And as a result they missed out on an awesome opportunity.
8. There are at least three lessons that are crystal clear in this text
I struggle with which to pursue in the limited time we have.
a. I wondered how much I miss out on, because I fail to see Jesus
for who and what he is?
b. I wonder how much I am like these people in my judgment,
really my misjudgment of others?
c. As I think about what Jesus no doubt wanted to do through these
people, but could not because of their lack of faith. I wonder how
many blessings I have missed out on because of my lack of
faith.
d. Let’s pursue those first two, as this faith issue will crop up a
number of other times.
Like the citizens of Nazareth, how much do I miss out on because I fail to see Jesus for who and what He is?
1. We face a challenge that I am not sure we are as aware of as we
need to be.
a. Many of us have been Christians for many years.
b. Meaning that, week in and week out we have been coming to
worship, singing many of the same songs, hearing many of
same prayers, listening to many of the same sermons, and
every week taking part in communion.
c. When one does the same thing over and over there is the
danger that things can become a bit stale, a bit redundant,
a bit routine. The songs, the sermons, the prayers.
2. Maybe that was the problem at Galatia.
a. Paul writes and wants to know what has happened to all the
joy, the fire, the enthusiasm, that had once characterized
their lives.
b. One of the verses that stands out to me is (5:7) where he
asks: “You did run well. What has hindered you?”
3. Think back to the day that you were baptized into Christ.
a. You had begun your Christian life, and it was an exciting time.
b. If the devil had been standing around you would have killed him
with your bare hands. You were enthused, excited, the future
was bright. You dreamed of what could be, of what would be.
4. Let’s try it this way – Do you remember how you felt the day you
got married?
a. Remember the excitement. Gentlemen, remember when you first saw your bride? Remember that kiss where the preacher almost had to pry you two apart?
b. What a great day! Is it that way now? Has anything changed?
The honeymoon ended and reality set in.
5. And what is true of honeymoons is true of some churches and
some Christians.
a. Something happens to the thrill, the excitement, the joy that was
once there.
b. And one of our great challenges is to quit nostalgically looking
back and realize that my responsibility is to the present and
to the future.
c. Question: Fifty years from now will there be a group of Christians
in this place holding up Jesus? Proclaiming Jesus as the only
answer to man’s present and future?
(1) John 10:10 – Jesus came to bring abundant life
(2) Life now, tomorrow, for the remainder of life, for eternity.
6. But somehow for some, repetition and the same ole familiar routine
has brought boredom, and if not boredom just the filling of a pew
and going through the motion.
a. Wonder if the angels ever look down and ask, “Where is the joy,
the excitement, the enthusiasm, the thrill of serving Jesus?”
b. Could it be that Jesus searches our hearts as he did those in
Nazareth and asks, “What has happened?” Do you not realize
who and what I am. Do you not realize what I have given you
and what I want to give?”
7. How much do we miss out on because like those in Nazareth we
fail to see Jesus for who and what he is?
a. We sing it…preach it…say right words in our prayers…
b. But in our lives, in our worship, and in our daily conversation,
we show that we miss out on what he came to give.
Like the citizens of Nazareth, how much do I judge, prejudge, misjudge, other people?
1. Maybe a better way to ask that is: How many opportunities have I
missed because I misjudged, prejudged, or wrongfully judged
another person?
2. We are quick to say that we do not want to be judged and that we
do not judge, when in fact we do judge and we are judged.
a. Just like those in Nazareth we stereotype, pigeon hole, typecast
and judge – and we pay a price for it in lost opportunities and
friendships.
b. Do we judge – you decide – answer the following…
(1) All blondes are…
(2) All politicians are…
(3) All teens are…
(4) All old people are…
(5) All people from the north are…
(6) All people from the south are…
(7) All preachers are…
(8) All democrats are…
(9) All republicans are...
(10) Don’t tell me we don’t judge…I’m not buying it.
3. Here is the question –
a. How many opportunities have I missed, to be a blessing or to be
blessed because I sat in judgment on another?... How many
friendships have I let pass by because of my judgmental
attitude… How much knowledge, insight, wisdom could I have
gained, had I not dismissed him or her so quickly?... What
growth opportunity did I miss, because I wanted nothing to do
with…
b. How could the people of Nazareth be so blind – so dense – how
could they fail to see such an opportunity standing right in front of them? I can’t believe their pride, their prejudice, their intolerance, their narrow mindedness.
(1) Reminder – He who lives in glass houses had best be mighty
careful before throwing any rocks.
(2) What opportunities we miss – because we misjudge and write people off.
Like the citizens of Nazareth, how much am I missing out on because of my lack of faith?
1. Because of their lack of faith, they limited the power of God.
a. God is no less powerful because we lack faith – it is simply that
God has designed it, that His power is a response to faith.
b. Natural laws and spiritual laws work in a certain way, and try
all you want you cannot make them work otherwise.
c. The power of God is designed to be released as we trust Him
in faith.
2. They limited the blessings of God.
a. God blesses all of His creation (Matthew 5:45).
b. What would God have done among these people if they had
responded in faith? God will sometimes bless little, even no
faith – but there is never a time in all the Bible when God
fails to bless faith.
3. One of our greatest needs - faith
Conclusion: If you fail…
• to see Jesus for who and what he is, you miss out on so much.
• to see His creation for who and what they are, you miss out on
even more.
• to be a people of deep faith, you miss out on even more.
• Truth be told – most of us are missing out on a lot of what our
Lord wants us to learn, experience, and enjoy.
