Believe It Or Not
Notes
Transcript
Announcements:
Cup orders are due today! Please see Charity with any questions you may have.
Keep praying for our church family as there are many needs represented and we have received over this past week.
Worship:
Holy Spirit Come
2. Same God
3. I Speak Jesus
4. There’s Something About That Name
Introduction:
We just had a graduation yesterday and it reminded me of how we can think of other people whom we have known for so long.
Some of the graduates have family members and friends that will only see them for who they always have known no matter what they do.
Then, there are others who don’t allow their past experience and knowledge to get in the way of what is happening in the present.
Have you ever known someone your whole life and no matter how important or popular they became, you always saw them as who they were all those years ago? Maybe they are a senator, beauty queen, mayor, judge, police officer, etc. (Charity knows 2 former Miss WV; Charlie Woerner TE for the 49ers from Rabun Gap)
This morning we will be talking about something similar in our passage. But before we turn to our passage, let’s go over what we have learned so far in our series on the Book of Mark:
Week 1: Jesus was counter cultural and served others no matter who they were; was against the status quo/The Law and legalism vs. Relationship with God (Jordan: Mark 1:40-45)
Week 2: Jesus calls us to live radically for Him/Not just saying “I’ll pray for you” but actually doing something! See a need and meet it! (Me: Mark 2:1-12)
Week 3: Jesus is _____?/Liar, lunatic, or lord? (Jordan: Mark 3:21-35)
Week 4: It is important to make sure Jesus is the One in your boat and not fear, anxiety, pride, etc. (Me: Mark 4:35-41)
Week 5: The power of Jesus can break the strongholds of darkness (Jordan: Mark 5:1-20)
Please turn to Mark 6:1 and as you are turning there in your tree version or e-version Bible, I want to give us some context.
Background:
Mark positions this account after the three miracle accounts in Chapter 5:
Jesus’ healing of the Gerasene demoniac in 5:1-20
The healing/resurrection of Jairus’ daughter in 5:21-23; 35-43
The healing of the woman with the issue of blood in 5:24-34
In those accounts, Jesus demonstrated His great power on both sides of the Sea of Galilee – the eastern Gentile side and the western Jewish side. Those who witnessed His power on both sides were amazed.
As everyone everywhere is aware of these miracles, including those in his hometown, one would think they would throw a parade for Him. Call Him their hometown hero. Maybe even name a day after him or at least give Him the key to the…village?
But they don’t.
Let’s read in our passage this morning:
1 He left there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him.
2 When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished. “Where did this man get these things?” they said. “What is this wisdom that has been given to him, and how are these miracles performed by his hands?
3 Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And aren’t his sisters here with us?” So they were offended by him.
4 Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his household.”
5 He was not able to do a miracle there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them.
6 And he was amazed at their unbelief. He was going around the villages teaching.
There was a familiarity with Jesus that his hometown people had to wrestle with.
Why? Because familiarity (gaining a lot of information/knowing a lot about something or someone) can breed contempt (looking down on someone with anger and no respect/be offended)
When we become too familiar with something or someone, we risk missing out on its true significance.
Transition: Our passage this morning presents us with a powerful lesson on overcoming familiarity which is important for us if we are going to determine if we are going to believe who Jesus is or not!
Body:
I. The Setting (vv. 1-2)
1 He left there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him.
2 When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished. “Where did this man get these things?” they said. “What is this wisdom that has been given to him, and how are these miracles performed by his hands?
Hometown is Nazareth (v. 1a)
-It was a small place/village: no wall and small well; water not so good
-It had about 500 or a little more people and was small enough of a town that everyone would know everyone else – and everyone else’s business.
-In other words, villages of that size would not be accepting of new ideas or want to learn to be very sophisticated (sounds like some churches today!)
Discipleship is defined as following Jesus (v. 1b) (We have been talking about this already on Wednesday nights in our discipleship Bible study!)
Having disciples following Him also marks Him as a rabbi to others
Jesus was on mission and it was a learning opportunity for His disciples. (I believe He possibly knew what was about to happen as it was a precursor to what the disciples would face later on in their ministry.)
Jesus was a church-going man/synagogue (his hometown church)
2 When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished. “Where did this man get these things?” they said. “What is this wisdom that has been given to him, and how are these miracles performed by his hands?
Many hearing were astonished (not all of them though!) (v. 2)
-even those hearing Jesus preach/teach didn’t care!
-He didn’t have the credentials of a teacher
-The Jerusalem scribes had already begun to spread malicious rumors about Him
The scribes who had come down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and, “He drives out demons by the ruler of the demons.”
Transition: So, what could have been a hometown celebration turned into a criticism and even disdain for Jesus. They remembered little Jesus running around the village and then working with his father Joseph as a carpenter for so long.
II. The People’s Response (vv. 3-4)
3 Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And aren’t his sisters here with us?” So they were offended by him.
4 Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his household.”
V. 3a
Carpenter (derogatory remark): Greek word means “builder” and he would have used wood and stone. They were respected and well paid but not given the respect that a Rabbi would expect
-He’s still building and remodeling lives today!
Son of Mary (derogatory remark): maybe because Joseph is dead at this point and/or it was a slur on the legitimacy of his birth as people referred to be the son of the father
He lived and worked around them for decades (started working around age 15-30 and ministry for 3 years) and seemed to be just another normal guy
Christianity teaches us the He was not just fully human but also fully the Son of God!
V. 3b
They were offended at Him. Why?
-They knew some things about Jesus but not everything about Him
-They had an incomplete view of Jesus. They thought they knew Him but they only knew bits and pieces of Him from before but not now
-”This man” (derogatory remark) get these things: they knew Him
-Mighty works: they heard from other places but He wasn’t able to do much there
-Jesus worked six miracles within a few miles of Nazareth:
Mark 1:40-45 The man cleansed of leprosy
Mark 2:1-12 The paralytic is forgiven and healed
Mark 3:1-6 The man with the shriveled hand
Mark 5:1-20 The demon possessed man and the pigs
Mark 5:21-43 Jairus’ daughter is raised from the dead and the woman with the issue of blood is healed
4 Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his household.”
General principle and maybe common proverb around that time: prophets get honor everywhere except at home
-His sisters were there at church with Him! I wonder if He was looking at them when He said this! (Whoever does the will of God is my mother, father, brother and sister (3:35)
Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”
-Mary and Joseph knew who Jesus was! Did they tell His brothers and sisters?
Remember: familiarity (gaining a lot of information) can breed contempt (looking down on someone with anger and no respect)
Illustration:
Imagine growing up with someone and seeing them day in and day out. It's easy to underestimate their potential or overlook their greatness. Similarly, the people of Nazareth struggled to see Jesus beyond their familiarity with Him as the carpenter's son.
III. Consequences of Familiarity (vv. 5-6)
5 He was not able to do a miracle there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them.
6 And he was amazed at their unbelief. He was going around the villages teaching.
Jesus is healing many people at this point in His ministry but it was hindered in Nazareth because of unbelief
The townspeople made it clear that they are aware of Jesus’ wisdom and His mighty works and were even astonished that Jesus would possess such wisdom and able to perform such mighty works. They still couldn’t bring themselves to believe!
Illustration:
Think of a flashlight in a dark room. If the batteries are dead, the light cannot shine. Similarly, when we lack faith, we hinder the power of God to work in our lives. Our familiarity with Jesus can sometimes dull our faith, preventing us from experiencing His miracles.
Conclusion:
How Do We Change Our Perspective?
(Application)
A. Guard Against Familiarity in Our Faith (Hebrews 3:12-13)
12 Watch out, brothers and sisters, so that there won’t be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.
13 But encourage each other daily, while it is still called today, so that none of you is hardened by sin’s deception.
1. Continually renewing our awe of God's work.
2. Remaining open to new revelations and experiences.
B. Cultivating a Spirit of Expectancy (Mark 10:27)
27 Looking at them, Jesus said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God, because all things are possible with God.”
1. Trusting in God's power beyond our comprehension.
2. Anticipating miracles, even in the familiar.
Illustration: Just as a traveler sees beauty in a place a local might overlook, let us approach our faith with fresh eyes, expecting the extraordinary even in the seemingly every day ordinary.
Closing Thoughts:
1. What amazes Jesus? Faith and unbelief
Luke 7:9 the unexpected faith of the centurion
Mark 6:6 those who should have had faith didn’t
In spite of everything God has done and shown us, why don’t we believe?
2. What hinders Jesus? Our unbelief
6 And he was amazed at their unbelief. He was going around the villages teaching.
He chooses to hinder what He can do because of unbelief
This isn’t about the prosperity gospel or wealth gospel, but we have to have faith and belief that God can answer prayer either on earth and/or in heaven.
Ask God to show you if there’s something in your life He wants to do, that is being hindered by your unbelief: He WILL reveal it to you!
3. What stops Jesus? Nothing does!
6 And he was amazed at their unbelief. He was going around the villages teaching.