We Are All In Danger…
Mark 6:1-6
Pastor Darin Phillips

This passage is a warning, a cautionary tale about what can happen when we let our bias, our prejudice and our blind spots cause us to miss the pile of gold right in front of our noses.

 

1. Hometown is Impressed (Mark 6:1-2a)

Most of what we have read so far in our journey through the Gospel of Mark takes place around the shores of the sea of Galilee but now Jesus heads back to his hometown — just a little farther inland. 

Jesus is given the opportunity at the synagogue in Nazareth to read from the Law (first 5 books of the Bible) and the Prophets and then to give an explanation of what was read. Jesus does this so well, so powerfully and authoritatively that the crowd is in amazement. 

This happens other times in his ministry.

In these other places the amazement at Jesus’ wisdom and skill in teaching leads to respect & curiosity, which leads to crowds putting their faith in him.  Not in his hometown. Part of the scandal of Jesus is that he hadn’t done the usual route to become a Rabbi. At age 4-5 all Jewish boys & girls went to Beth Sepher (elementary school).  At 12/13 all the girls and 80% of the boys stopped school and learned the family trade and skills of domestic life. The 20% of boys went on to Beth Madras (Secondary School).  At 18 - top 1% went on to select a Rabbi and study for years. Jesus definitely went the trades route and became a carpenter like his earthly father, Joseph.  Interestingly, we are given a glimpse of Jesus at age 12 in Luke 2.

Luke 2:46-52 (CSB)

46 After three days, they found him in the temple sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all those who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers. 48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”

49 “Why were you searching for me?” he asked them. “Didn’t you know that it was necessary for me to be in my Father’s house?”[a] 50 But they did not understand what he said to them.51 Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was obedient to them. His mother kept all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and with people.

 

2. Hometown Refuses to See Past Familiarity (Mark 6:2b-3)

Jesus did grow in wisdom, stature & favour but people are fickle, especially from his hometown of Nazareth. 

The doubts and skeptical question come like a flood from the neighbours Jesus grew up with. The first question in their minds is about the source of Jesus power, wisdom and teaching skill.

What are the choices?
A. Natural talent?  No, this is supernatural.
B. The Devil?  Doesn’t seem possessed or crazy.
C) Truly from God? That can’t be, he grew up here in Nazareth!!!

I said at the beginning this is a cautionary tale of how bias, prejudice & blind spots can cause us to miss who Jesus really is.

Do we still do this today?

Oh, you were a bricklayer, a carpenter, a plumber, an electrician. As opposed to Oh you are a doctor, rich business owner…well then. It’s a horrible, ridiculous way to rank people. In total contrast to that…   *God sees the heart.  *God sees the potential he puts inside all of us.  * God sees what we can become not just what we’ve currently achieved.

Doing any of these jobs isn’t about the status of the position but instead — whether or not you see your job as ministry. Carpentry, plumbing, electrical, bricklaying, nursing, landscaping are ministry when you embrace it as a holy calling and seek to do good, God glorifying work — you are IN MINSTRY.

It was contrary to Jewish usage to describe a man as the son of his mother, even when she was a widow, except in insulting terms.  Rumours to the effect that Jesus was born illegitimate appear to have circulated in his lifetime. They finally go on to include the familiarity with all of the family — Jesus’ brothers and sisters.

How tragic!!  We are in danger of missing who Jesus is, simply because we are familiar with him.

 

3. Jesus’ Response (Mark 6:4-6)

Jesus is amazed at their lack of faith. That is terrifying — those folks were amazing God with their unbelief.  In contrast — Jesus meets a Roman Centurion in Matthew 8 and because of the man’s great faith — Jesus heals his servant from a distance. Let’s be people of such faith that Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, is amazed at our faith, not our unbelief.