Jesus Rejected in Nazareth

Background

While previous preachers in this book have done a great job to established the context of the Gospel according Mark, I will take us a little back contextually, to determine why Jesus applied the scenario of a PROPHET disrespected by his own people, and discuss it’s implication to the primary audience, and to us today. Then, our sermon will be done.

Where is our passage located in the progress of redemption?

From biblical history, we know that Jesus did not just appear from nowhere, but that there is a background to his appearance at this time.

Immediately after man sinned, we hear God promising the coming of the SEED of the woman to deal with human mess and the antagonist or adversary, the devil.

God’s revelation on how He was going to fulfill this promise was progressive, revealing in it parts at various time and in many ways through His prophets. However, the inadequacy of Human Prophets to meet the human need was evident. Therefore, there is an expectation of one great prophet who shall meet this need, the SEED of a Woman.

We hear God promise that it’s through the Seed of Abraham that all the nations shall be blessed. That the Seed shall descend from Isaac, Jacob, Judah, and David.

However, before the Seed, who is called the messiah comes, God raises a people group descending from Abraham and establishes a covenant with them called the Mosaic Covenant of which it’s Law Paul calls a School Master until the Messiah comes (the promised Seed of the Woman).

We learn from this Mosaic Covenant that the promised SEED (also called Messiah) shall simultaneously be a High Priest, King, and Prophet. Because that is a Prophet like Moses, who saves His people from slavery.

The Passage in Focus

Mark 6:1–6 (NKJV)

Then He went out from there and came to His own country, and His disciples followed Him. And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, “Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands! Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house.” Now 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. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching.

Then He went out from there (Capernaum) and came to His own country (Nazareth):

He is ministering among his people. These are Jews still under the Mosaic covenant but they are suppressed by the Roman Empire due to their sinfulness as promised in the Mosaic Covenant.

They are busy waiting for the coming and deliverance of the Messiah from the oppressive regime of the Romans. They are seeking a political independence.

And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue (As a Jew, He congregated with His people, and taught them).

And here is Jesus, the Promised Messiah, the SEED of a Woman, ministering in the Old Covenant to is people in his hometown. But the promised Prophet is rejected by his own people.

And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, “Where did this Man get these things? (And here, this just gives us a glimpse of their spiritual status) How did they not understand what he was teaching when he was just explaining the Law and the Prophets? It also proves a point why the promised Land is under the Roman Political Leadership.

And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands! (Yes, he must have such wisdom because it was promised in

Isaiah 9:6 (NKJV)

For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

If you have been faithful to the Scriptures, why are you surprised? Now, they have no reason to dismiss Him other than belittling Him.

Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” So they were offended at Him.

Yes, He is the Promised Seed of the woman. why are you offended with him? And here, I suggest that since the last time Jesus came teaching here, they have not yet done their homework and are still prejudiced:

At the beginning of His ministry just after the Temptation, Luke 4:16-30 records Jesus’ first rejection by the Nazarenes.

Luke 4:16–30 (NKJV)

So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, “Is this not Joseph’s son?” He said to them, “You will surely say this proverb to Me, ‘Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in Your country.’ ” Then He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own country. But I tell you truly, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a great famine throughout all the land; but to none of them was Elijah sent except to Zarephath, in the region of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.” So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff. Then passing through the midst of them, He went His way.

They Drove him outside the city and almost killed him if not for God’s providence. He proclaimed to them that He is the Messiah, by now they have heard his mighty works but are still rejecting Him.

But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house.”

This is just a reminder to them how their forefathers have been rejecting God’s prophets due to their determination to disobey God’s will and have their desires fulfilled just like our generation has forsaken God’s Word for modern prophets, who have no biblical jurisdiction.

Stephen confirms this later, calling them out in Acts 7:51-53

Acts 7:51–53 NKJV

“You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it.”

Now 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. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching.

They have rejected Him, He is not just going to be the means to solutions of their physical problems. The Messiah has a much greater mission than just dealing with symptoms of sin. Our generation has made it their aim to frustrate God by disobeying the Word for the pursuit of hedonism.

Jesus is such the Good News that He has a higher mission than just making you and me feel comfortable in this broken world. He offers us a real solution to the problem of sin, of which its consequences we experience everyday. We must not trade Jesus for our comfort or pleasure here.

But what is the consequence of rejecting Jesus?

Deuteronomy 18:18–19 (NKJV)

I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him. And it shall be that whoever will not hear My words, which He speaks in My name, I will require it of him.

And here is how Apostle Peter interprets this passage after the Lord’s ascension:

Acts 3:22–23 NKJV

For Moses truly said to the fathers, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you. And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’

Now, in case you are also troubled like John the Baptist and you are asking if its Him or not, I am here to confirm to you that Jesus is the One and there is no another one coming other than His second coming.

In case you are one of those who are not satisfied with His biblical solutions or the complete revelation, and you are searching for more from modern babblers. Let me caution you that even the Samaritan Woman at the well understood that when the Messiah come, he would teach them everything and Jesus confirmed that.

John 4:25–26 NKJV

The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will tell us all things.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”

The only reason people go out their searching for answers in wrong places is because they want to satisfy their hedonistic desires, and they miss out on God’s truth in Christ found in the Bible. Otherwise, His Word is sufficient.

You want to know anything about life, Jesus has spoken all that we need to know. Remember the context of Deuteronomy was a warning for people to not consult from soothsayers, fortune tellers, or interpreters of omens, sorcerers, necromancers, diviners and many more which are an abomination before the Lord.

The author of the Epistle to the Hebrews clearly tells us that Heb. 1:1-3

Hebrews 1:1–3 NKJV

God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

And Christ’s Word is sufficient for our Spiritual life that we may mature in faith. Paul knows that and said to Timothy in Second Timothy:

2 Timothy 3:16–17 NKJV

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Let me end with this, How is your walk with God? Do you reject Christ every time you reminded of His word?

In this materialistic world, remember that Godliness with contentment is great gain, and you will be satisfied with Christ alone.