Rejection of the King

INTRO:

Recap

Illustration/Story

Hometown

My Hometown — Kingsport —> Spring Hill

Mackenzie & Morristown —> A little jealous…

What do we love about going home?

TENSION:

Is it possible to be too familiar?

TRUTH:

Mark 6:1–6 ESV

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.

Pray

Setup/Context

Mentioned earlier the emotions that come with returning home — for the first time we know of.

Probably not the same, exactly for Jesus — but not entirely dissimilar

People know him — no introduction needed

Probably knows exactly where the the Synagogue is

Had probably been there MANY times before

A level of comfort

Jesus comes home differently though — a traveling Rabbi…

Would take years to train as a Rabbi

Would have been common for a Rabbi to teach when they came to town. (Comes with his disciples — implies as a Rabbi, not just a visit).

BUT they knew this guy — Not a Rabbi — Carpenter.

Who from your hometown would you be shocked to step in behind the pulpit?

vs. 2 “And many who heard him were astonished”

We should think of the previous stories in Mark…

The disciples after he calms the storm | Hearers of the healed Gerasene Demoniac | The sick woman | The 3 and Jairus & his wife

They start asking questions:

“Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands?”

Echoes of Mark 1:27–28 “And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.”

Questions continue…

Mark 6:3 “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.” —>

The residents of His hometown think that they know Him — “Isn’t this the son of Mary” — but they don’t really know Him b/c this is the SON of GOD.

** Proximity to Jesus DOES NOT automatically equal RELATIONSHIP with Jesus. **

Mark 6:4 “And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.””

A common phrase & parable even in the common culture of the day.

OT examples

Prophets were not often welcome in their hometown.

Familiar — hard to reconcile who this man is now vs. — who we knew!

But is this the way that God intended it?

Is it possible to become too comfortable?

Yes — look at Israel — wandering in the wilderness they wanted to go back to the comfort of slavery in Egypt

Hebrews 11 — Hall of faith (Abel, Noah, Abraham, & Sarah)

Hebrews 11:13–16 “These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.”

A NEW Home —>

From the end of Mark 4 through Chapter 5 we see Jesus leave people astonished at his power and work.

What leaves Jesus Marveling? — The unbelief of these people — not wickedness or action, but inaction…

Jesus’ work is limited because of their UNBELIEF — notice who got to witness Jesus’ work in the previous story — only Peter, James & John, Jairus & his wife — He put the others outside.

Here, they get no “wondrous works” from Jesus — but he moves on to other villages that they may receive him & the good news of the Kingdom…

3 Obstacles to Faith

Familiarity —> Becomes common —

“It is often hard to recognize greatness when we are confronted with it daily”

Exposure to Jesus is no guarantee of faith; in fact, apart from faith, exposure to the gospel can drive people further away as often as it draws them to life —

BECAUSE — Faith is a gift from God — you can’t work yourself into faith — but you can thwart faith in your life.

You can tamp it down — you can pursue other loves instead of submitting to Jesus & it is possible MISS God’s work in your life!…

I often hear from believers — “I wish I would have been faithful earlier in life - instead of running from God.”

I never hear from believers — “I wish I would have ran a little longer before I submitted my life to Jesus Christ.”

John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

Not a cosmic Killjoy — he is just opposed to everything that KILLS JOY…

Another enemy —>

Amazement / Marveling —>

Can become common itself — everything is the “greatest” - “the most important” - “amazing” - “awesome” - “incredible” — Have to get people’s attention…

Language matters — Do we save true amazement for the work of God? —

C.S. Lewis quote = “Don't use words too big for the subject. Don't say 'infinitely' when you mean 'very'; otherwise you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite.”

May the power of God — the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ — NEVER become common — or may we never CEASE to be moved by it…

Offense —>

The residents begin with Amazement, but it turns into offense — Trouble reconciling TWO things…

Offense = (can also be translated — cause to sin, make to stumble or sin, fall, fall-away “skandalizo”)

The SIMPLICITY of the Gospel still offends today…

“A woman once said to a pastor; ‘You mean that if I live a moral life for 70 years but don’t admit I am a sinner and receive Christ, I am lost — but that if a serial killer receives Christ at the end of his life he’s saved?” The pastor said, “yes.” The woman said, “That’s offensive! It’s too easy! I don’t believe that! I will never believe that!”

Christians are not (initially) “better” people they are FORGIVEN people. — Character flaws cling for a while — grow in grace.

Residents —>

They are offended by Jesus — because he was something different than they thought he was. — We do the SAME!

We want something other than what God gives us.

“Greatest obstacle to faith - unwillingness of human heart to accept the God who condescends to us - as a carpenter, the son of Mary.” - Commentator

He is the son of God — but he comes to us as a humble servant — Conquering King; Suffering Servant…

Unbelief / Lack of Faith —>

Notice the dichotomy in this passage — They are astonished at Jesus’ teaching — He is astonished at their lack of faith…

Not their actions, their sin, the presence of evil — UNBELIEF.

Their unbelief only limits Jesus’ work among them —

It is NOT that he does not have the ability — but lacked the proper context…

Jesus uses his miracles to show the nature of the Kingdom — leprosy - the unclean gerasene demoniac - the woman with the discharge of blood

The Kingdom REDEEMS & makes CLEAN.

The unbelief in Jesus’ Hometown runs so rampant that miracles will do no good — to draw the hearers to Redemption…

THE WORK CONTINUES…

In the next passage Jesus sends out His disciples to continue His work in the surrounding area.

He has been teaching them — HOW — Now an example of rejection…

Sends them out to..

Proclaim Repentance —>

Cast out Demons —>

Heal the Sick —>

This was for a short determined period of Time — but Jesus’ followers today are commissioned to do the same!

Are there obstacles to your faith?

Have you allowed the power of God to become too familiar — common?

Are you offended by the simplicity of the Gospel? — Internet example?

Does the unbelief in your life limit God’s ability to reveal himself in your life.

We cannot limit the power of God - but our response to him can limit it’s effect on our lives.

** Jesus Christ came to be rejected & forsaken — so that you and I might be welcomed HOME into the Kingdom of God. **

CONCLUSION:

Hymn: Man of Sorrows | What a Name

Story — Philip Bliss - Attempting to save his family…

Man of Sorrows! What a name For the Son of God, who came Ruined sinners to reclaim: Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Bearing shame and scoffing rude, In my place condemned he stood, Sealed my pardon with his blood: Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Guilty, vile and helpless, we: Spotless Lamb of God was he; Full atonement! Can it be? Hallelujah, What a Savior!

Lifted up was he to die “It is finished!” Was his cry: Now in heaven exalted high: Hallelujah! What a Savior!

When he comes, our glorious King, All his ransomed home to bring, Then anew this song we’ll sing: Hallelujah! What a Savior!

May we never lose sight of this beautiful reality — May it never cease to AMAZE us. — “Hallelujah, What a Savior”

Pray