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So who’s on Jesus’ side? Well, Jairus obviously, and the woman who was sick for 12 years, and a few bewildered, semi-comprehending disciples who thought they’d die in the storm. Thank Jesus that he chose you to be on his side.

Bible passage

Mark 6:1–6a

A prophet without honour

6 Jesus left there and went to his home town, accompanied by his disciples. ²When 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? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? ³Isn’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 offence at him.

⁴Jesus said to them, ‘A prophet is not without honour except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.’ ⁵He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few people who were ill and heal them. ⁶He was amazed at their lack of faith.

Jesus sends out the Twelve

Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village.

Read this passage in a different Bible version

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Long, exhausting weeks of travelling, and it’s time to return home to family and friends. You and I would look forward to knocking on doors, hugging those dearest to us, sharing wonderful meals, laughing together as we tell hilarious, colourful stories of our escapades. So imagine how Jesus feels as he heads home to Nazareth only to discover that his family and the other villagers are against him – they just don’t want to know (vs 2,3). Definitely no ‘local boy made good’ story here. Their lack of belief stopped his mission dead in its tracks (v 5): ‘He could not…’ No relationships, no faith, no miracles (vs 4–6). The seed has fallen on hard soil (4:4,5).

Even with clear evidence of God’s love, provision and care all around them, including in the lives of Christians, some people we may meet still think Christianity is nuts. They choose to ignore God, and maybe even credit the love and care they receive to another source.

Author

Terry Clutterham

Respond

Pray for any of your family and friends who you long to become Christians – those who have heard you speak about God, experienced his love in you and listened to your stories of faith, but still can’t believe.

Deeper Bible study

‘Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.’¹

Mark’s narrative up to this point has been dramatic. Through the ministry of Jesus, the raging sea was calmed, the demon-possessed Gentile freed, the diseased woman healed and the synagogue leader’s daughter raised from the dead. All these events demonstrate Jesus’ authority and power over nature, evil spirits, disease and death. One would expect that when he returned to his home town the people would have welcomed him, but this was not the case. Rather than listening to the depth of his teaching, people chose to belittle him by making references to his trade and naming his family members. They wondered how such a familiar person could do and say such things. Mark typically mentions that the people were amazed at Jesus after listening to him,² but in this instance Jesus was the one who was amazed at their lack of faith. This must have been a very painful visit for Jesus: back to familiar surroundings only to be rejected by those close to him.

The religious leaders and the kinfolk in Nazareth judged Jesus according to their history, tradition, experience and expectations. They wanted new patches on old garments and new wine in old wineskins,³ but this would not encompass the new things that Jesus was doing. Is this also a danger facing some of our churches today? If Jesus were to visit us today, would he also respond that he could not do any miracles among us because of our lack of faith?

O Lord, sustain us when we wander far from your truth; draw us back to your steadfast love, that we may be restored with our eyes firmly fixed on Jesus.

¹ Ps 119:18 ² Eg Mark 1:22,27; 5:20; 6:51; 11:18; 12:17 ³ Mark 2:21,22

Author

Kar Yong Lim