Rejected at Home. Mark 6:1-6.
He went away from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. And on the Sabbath, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands? “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.”And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. And he marveled because of their unbelief. And he went about among the villages teaching.
Dear Friends of Jesus,
Jesus seems to have anticipated opposition in Nazareth, so he established his base in Capernaum instead (1:21; 2:1; 3:20). But the proof of the pudding is in the eating, so Jesus presents himself to his neighbors and relatives in Nazareth.
Evidence (vv. 1-2). As Jesus taught in the synagogue, there was no question that he was unique in his teaching and miraculous deeds. The people of Nazareth wondered about the source of his wisdom and power to perform miracles, but they did not challenge the teaching or miracles.
Evasiveness (v. 3). Instead of confronting the phenomenon before them, the Nazarenes avoided the glaring facts and dismissed Jesus as a fellow village boy, as if to say, “If we cannot teach and perform miracles as he does, yet we were playmates, are neighbors and in-laws, we will not accept him.” The evidence could not be wished away but as we saw earlier, unbelief is a choice, and they made theirs.
Exclusion (vv. 4-6). Rejection of the truth does not nullify it. The fact remains a fact even if everyone rejects it. The people of Nazareth had now isolated themselves from the rest of Galilee by their unbelief. But they only denied themselves the great wonders that he was doing and continued to do elsewhere. Unbelief harms the unbeliever and his own.
Your Loving Pastor Chris.