Trusting The Servant Series

SERIES: WALKING WITH JESUS

“TRUSTING THE SERVANT”

MARK 6:1-56

OPEN

An elderly gentleman took his first ride in an airplane. His friends and family were eager to hear how it went. They asked the old fellow if he enjoyed the flight.

The man replied, “Well, it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. But, I’ll tell you something. I never did put all my weight down on the seat.”

Do you really trust God’s Servant – His Son, Jesus Christ? Do you understand who He is and what He can do for you? Will you put all of your weight on Him?

In our passage today, Mark gives us six encounters with Jesus that teach us about trust. If we trust Him, why do we trust Him? If we don’t trust Him, why not? We have to look at our own relationships with Jesus and decide where we stand on this issue.

REJECTION

Mk. 6:1-6a– “Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. When the Sabbath

came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. ‘Where did this man get

these things?’ they asked. ‘What's this wisdom that has been given him, that he even does miracles! Isn't this

the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here

with us?’ And they took offense at him. Jesus said to them, ‘Only in his hometown, among his relatives and in

his own house is a prophet without honor.’ He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few

sick people and heal them. And he was amazed at their lack of faith.”

This incident is a return visit to His hometown. Jesus had taught in the synagogue there about a year earlier. They treated Him with contempt then and even ejected Him from the synagogue. This time they simply did not take Him seriously.

I’m sure that you’ve heard the old saying, “Familiarity breeds contempt.” These people thought they knew all about Jesus. Although they were amazed at His teaching, they simply refused to accept what He said. They were also amazed at the reports of miracles that He had done. But the fact that He had healed the sick, cleansed the demonic, and raised the dead meant nothing to them.

Mark tells us that they “took offense at him.” The term in the original language means that they stumbled over Him. How many people today still stumble over Jesus? How many think they have Jesus figured out?

RESPONSIBILITY

Mk. 6:6b-13 – “Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. Calling the Twelve to him, he sent

them out two by two and gave them authority over evil spirits. These were his instructions: ‘Take nothing for

the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. Wear sandals but not an extra tunic.

Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. And if any place will not welcome you or

listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave, as a testimony against them.’ They went out and preached that people should repent. They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and

healed them.”

Notice the urgency in the mission. Jesus said they needed to get started. Don’t worry about what you’re going to take. They were to take only what was absolutely necessary. They were to trust God with the rest.

We also have a mission – to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Are we urgent in accomplishing that mission? Or are we too worried about things that we need to just trust God to provide?

God’s commandments always include God’s provision. The apostle Paul, talking about his own work for Christ said in 2 Cor. 3:5-6 – “Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”

Jesus told them that they would face both hospitality and hostility. That describes the situation we face today. Some will welcome the message of the Gospel while other will be offended at the message of the Gospel.

These men were obedient and God blessed their efforts. Obedience is still an important part of being a disciple of Jesus Christ. Are we obedient?

RETRIBUTION

Mk. 6:14—29 – “King Herod heard about this, for Jesus' name had become well known. Some were saying, ‘John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.’ Others said, ‘He is Elijah.’ And still others claimed, ‘He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of long ago.’ But when Herod heard this, he said, ‘John, the man I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!’ For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, whom he had married. For John had been saying to Herod, ‘It is not lawful for you to