Sharing our Faith

Context

life of faith.

Faith awakened.

Recently, Jesus calms storm. Heals woman, raises dead girl to life.

Text

Mark 6:1–13 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. And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts— but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics. And he said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there. And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.” So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.

Introduction - faith is evangelistic

Christian faith is evangelistic.

Good news to share, therefore encounters faith or disbelief of others.

Ancient Problem - his own reject

Jesus goes back to Nazareth. He has been in the general area recently. Near Simon Peter’s house, where his mother and brothers attempted to collect him.

He was born in Bethlehem, but grew up in Nazareth. Mary and Joseph.

Was away for awhile...unknown how long….likely months.

Baptized by John in the Jordan. Began ministry. Fame spreading through the area. Recent events include: calming the storm at sea, healing the woman, raising a girl to life, healing crowds of people, driving out demons.

There is a buzz about town as Jesus comes back. A big move as the eldest son, to depart from him mother and not to marry and settle down. Departed and won fame.

Then it is time for synagogue, Sabbath on Saturday. Town turns out.

He preaches and teaches. Luke specifies that he reads from Isaiah 61.

Jesus is preaching! Imagine that in the contemporary experience.

Did you ever see the Beatles live? (Ed Sullivan 1967) Or hear Billy Graham? Some heard Jesus preach. “Our lesson today comes from….”

They were astounded/astonished! This word is fulfilled in your hearing.

But, not in a good way.

Where did “this man”…he is the same and yet different.

Get these things, this wisdom, such mighty works. Signs of the divine power.

Isn’t this the carpenter. the son of mary (Joseph was dead; and it may have been known that there was something strange around his conception…) brother to… Notice not using his name “Jesus.” That is unusual in the gospel of Mark.

Only recorded use by: Lame man (mark 10), demons (Mark 1, 5)

They were offended. Greek: Scandalized. This isn’t proper!

It would probably have been very validating, rewarding for his hometown to welcome and celebrate him. We always knew you were special. You would amount to something. God was doing something in your life. Yearbook: Most likely to be the Messiah.

Instead, rejected by those who knew him best.

Theological point: They hold against him the very humility of humanity that he embraced in his incarnation. They reject him because he is all too human. He is subject to rejection, ridicule, and even death on the cross.

This is the Markan parallel to John 1. He came to his own, but his own did not receive him.

Jesus pain.

Jesus is amazed/wonders at their unbelief and is limited in what he can do among them. Like unbelief like black hole that sucks away his power.

Current Problem - offense

My friend named Eric, who is now a surgeon. Most people take at face value, the white coat. But me, uncertain, credentials, plaque? Where did this guy get this knowledge, influence, skill, position. I remember us dorking around in high school and now people wait for months to talk with him. Well, I bet he’s not really all that great… Natural desire to even the field.

They probably think the same thing about me…preaching, really?

How much more if someone we knew claimed to be Messiah, or at least that was the rumor? showed up I don’t care how wise or powerful he was, would I believe in him? What would he have to do to prove he was God? Sent from God.

I have sometimes thought that Jesus can only come back in glory — in divine appearance— not like a man — for me to receive him, otherwise I will be too suspicious.

And I grew up in the church, like many of you did. We should be the very ones who really believe in him.

God became flesh and dwelt among us. Really? And this is the very center of our faith. A man who is God. A man who can be rejected. A Jew from Nazareth. 1st c. Friend of sinners. and even put to death.

The world is still that way toward Jesus. And rightly so. Even I am that way sometimes.

We may reject/disbelieve Christ for the very reason we are able to receive him: his willingness to be familiar, to be like us.

But we don’t see him physically, but we do experience by spirit in our bodies: we experience him in conscience, in prompting, in warning, in peace received. Oh that is just my mind, emotions, not Jesus, not God.

Sad, surprised. Amazed. Who loses out. Well, we don’t get the power and miracles. We still get some. But hardly as many as could be. And he doesn’t get to rejoice being among us as Lord, among his own.

Hinge — Jesus sends apostles

Jesus does not let disbelief stop his ministry.

Teachable moment to train his disciples.

Ancient Solution - he relies on messengers!

Jesus sends his disciples out.

He sends them two by two. For testimony and for support.

Spiritual authority like his own.

heal, drive out evil, preach.

Stripped down of physical resources and totally dependent.

Dependent and vulnerable. This makes the gospel less threatening. Its credibility is residing in the faith and obedience, the earnestness of the apostles, not in their power and immunity from rejection.

Stay with those who welcome.

Freedom to depart from those who do not listen.

.That is all you can do. faithful and willing.

to teach them about his own experience And share in it!

A foretaste of Jesus ministry after his resurrection. People will believe on testimony.

jesus himself presence too much, too scandalizing…

They went out. Driving out demons, healing people.

And they were successful.

People believed on Jesus second-hand first.

And the authorities were amazed when the simple fishermen confounded them with wisdom and power.

Paul said we are let in a procession of weakness, defeated, so that others can see and believe or be condemned. (2 Cor. 2:14) We are like clay jars, to show that the surpassing power comes from him not from us. (2 Cor. 4:7)

jesus shows: disbelief is a risk, but commitment to save those who will believe by humble means.

since the world by wisdom did not know…1 Corinthians 1:21–22 “For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.”

Current Solution — We are his messenger today

a blessing that we do not see him

lowly: we might mock and disbelieve

glory: overwhelmed and our chance to have faith cut short.

He comes to us through others just right.

And not because they are better and more secure than us, but because they are also broken and dependent and yet are trusting in him. They really believe it.

Jesus rejoices when we believe not by seeing but by believing.

not merely the word of man but of God.

real salvation. Jesus in heaven heals and delivers from afar through his spirit.

rejoices when we continue to believe: conscience guidance.

and thus we are sent out.

stripped down means no earthly supports or privileges help us. and with a partner to encourage and verify.

my friend Eric: a deeply faithful brother in Christ and we witness based on Jesus’ power. whoke diff kind of healing. Point of shared humanity and need for Christ. Jesus works through that.

We have to let Christ’s power work through us. We do not do ministry for him, he does ministry through us.

people come to true salvation.

There are a million doors for God’s love to walk through into this world, one of them is you. Or, I will come to her by being born in her.

Conclusion

evangelistic faith.

believe, disbelieve. Not surprised, but participating in Christ’s mission.