Mark 6: 1-6 — Except in Your Hometown

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.

Comments:

Nazareth Village Carpenter Shop

Jesus was rejected in Nazareth, and Mark emphasizes that it was by those who were too familiar with him to see who he really was. To them, Jesus was a local, seemingly a peer, just one of the pack of "Carpenter kids" that lived down the street. They asked themselves indignantly, “Where could He have come up with such wisdom and power to do miracles? Why can't I, or my kids do that? After all, He's only a carpenter"

Jesus couldn't do many mighty works there. Why? Did their unbelief limit His power? No.

 

View of Modern Nazareth

But certainly, it would have limited their permission. What I mean is that because they didn't believe that Jesus was the Christ, few would have come to be healed or taught. They lacked the faith of the friends of the paralytic (who tore a hole in Simon's roof to lower the man to Jesus), of the woman with the flow of blood, and of Jairus... the faith that would cause them to get up and get to Jesus no matter what the cost. However, even here, where no "great works" could be done, Jesus still healed the sick that came to Him.

I think that most of us can relate to some of Jesus' feelings at this point… to those we grew up with we will always be just the kid down the street. But that won't hinder the power of the Spirit working through us when we go where he sends us!