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Mark - Who is Christ?
A Bible Study Course on the Gospel of Christ according to MARK
PART 4 - Jesus' Great Miracles in Galilee and its Surroundings (Mark 3:7 - 8:26)

7. Jesus Rejected at Nazareth (Mark 6:1-6)


MARK 6:1-6
1 He went out from there. He came into his own country, and his disciples followed him. 2 When the Sabbath had come, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many hearing him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things?” and, “What is the wisdom that is given to this man, that such mighty works come about by his hands? 3 Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judah, and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” They were offended at him. 4 Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, and among his own relatives, and in his own house.” 5 He could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people, and healed them. 6 He marveled because of their unbelief. He went around the villages teaching.

The people of the village of Nazareth knew Jesus for many years, for he grew up among them, and they called him the Son of Mary. For his real father was unknown to them. But this shame was Christ’s honor and distinction, for God himself was his Father who begot him by the Holy Spirit through the Virgin Mary.

However, his four brothers, whose names are mentioned clearly in the Gospel of Mark, were not born of God, nor were they followers of Jesus. They were all younger than Jesus, and sons of Joseph, Christ’s father by adoption. James is first mentioned as the oldest of Jesus’ four younger brothers. He became, after Christ’s ascension, one of the elders of the church with Peter and John. Jesus appeared to his brother after his resurrection, and filled him with his Spirit. Then James wrote his Epistle to the churches (Read Acts 15:13; 21:18:1 Corinthians 15:7 and all the Epistle of James).

The evangelist Mark also tells us that before his ministry Jesus was a carpenter. He also tells us that God only led Jesus to his office as Christ after James, his brother, had become mature and able to provide for the family, for Joseph, their father had died, and it is probable that Jesus himself had been responsible for the family’s support until that time through his work as a carpenter.

The people of Nazareth were astonished at the wisdom of his words, and the overcoming power of his miracles. They had not noticed anything of these gifts during his childhood, but now his divinity is displayed, and the nature of his Father is shown in his love.

Jesus’ former friends and blood relatives did not recognize the source of his gifts, for they did not believe in his divinity, and the Son of God could not perform miracles among them. You may say that God is able to do whatever he wills. Of course, God is able to create something from nothing, and to destroy in judgment those who deserve punishment. But where people do not believe in Christ, his Son, the Holy Spirit cannot glorify him through his powers and his great wisdom. In the kingdom of God, there is no compulsion in faith, love, and hope. He who does not willingly open himself to the work of God’s Spirit does not experience his blessing.

But your faith has saved you. You have become responsible for your surroundings, and the Lord’s blessing flows to others through your belief. Do not wonder if your family and townsmen reject and persecute you, for the same had already happened to Christ. You are not greater than your Master. Learn from him. Do not stay in your hometown, if it rejects you, but go to another area, which deserves you, and bear witness there to Christ, the wisdom and power of God.

PRAYER: O Lord Jesus, forgive us if we grieved you with our unbelief and lack of faith in the work of your salvation at times. Teach us strong faith in your divinity and humanity, that you may fill us with the wisdom of your word, that the power of your Spirit may flow through us, and that we may become a blessing those around us. Bless our friends and relatives today that they may also praise you joyfully as we do. Amen.

QUESTION:

  1. Why was Jesus unable to perform miracles in his hometown?

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