Mark 6:1 – 13
Jesus Rejected at Nazareth
“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.”
Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Apostles
“And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts— but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics. And he said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there. And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.” So, they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.”
One of the most powerful messages I’ve ever heard was in College Station, Texas and it was titled “The Biggest Enemy of the Christian is Noise,” the preacher told us how each of us did not like the quiet and would turn on music, the radio or T.V. when entering a room or getting in our car. Noise makes it hard to hear the voice of God. Back in the sixteenth century, a man named Blaise Pascal said about the same thing; “All men's miseries derive from not being able to sit in a quiet room alone.” It has always been a problem, way before radio, T.V., or any of our technology. As I am reading the Gospel of Mark, I do not believe the noise is the biggest problem, it is unbelief, not of the unchurched, but of those who claim to be Christians.
Do you recall in Mark 5 where Jairus came to Jesus and ask that He come to his home and heal his little girl? Do you recall the Lady with the issue of blood and how she just touched the garment of Jesus and was healed, and do you recall when Jesus got to Jairus home the people were weeping and Jesus told them, she is not dead but sleeping and they laughed at Him? He put them all outside, why did Jesus do that? It is impossible for faith to have power when there is unbelief. After doing so, He talked to the little girl; “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”
That brings us to Mark 6:1-13, and first, we have Jesus returning to His hometown, Nazareth, and going to the synagogue on the Sabbath and begin to teach. You can read above how the people who had known him as the carpenter the son of Mary, were astonished but did not place faith in Him, and Scripture records that Jesus was not able to do any miracles there. Do you recall Jesus was amazed at their unbelief; have you wondered if He also is amazed at yours and mine?
When Jesus sent out the twelve He gave them authority over sickness and demons, and a message of repentance. If they were received then they stayed in one place but if not they were instructed by the LORD to shake the dust off their feet as a testimony against them. I’m fearful we are better at shaking than obeying, and doing what God has commanded. Do you recall this from John 14:12-14, “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”
Both the pastor in College Station and Blaise understood something much deeper than just being quiet, it is a requirement to hearing from God, but then it requires us to believe and obey all that He is instructing us to do.
From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice
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