Stories of the Rabbi 9

Mark 6:1-29 – Hometown blues, sending the 12, the sad demise of a good friend

· 6:1-6 Hometown Blues

o Vs. 1 - Although not explicitly called out, Jesus has returned to Nazareth, His hometown.

o Vs. 1 - The 12 were with Him; although they don't play a role in this story, one can assume He is bringing them to train them up in their ministry. They are about to understand that not all audiences are receiving His message.

o Vs. 2a – Jesus' fame had reached Nazareth; therefore, He was asked to preach in the Synagogue during the Sabbath.

o Vs. 2b – 3a – The people were amazed at His teaching and ministry but could not grasp why Jesus was doing what he was doing. They asked three critical questions and two rhetorical questions:

§ Valid questions that we all must ask ourselves about Jesus:

v "Where did this man get these things?" – meaning His teachings. Only learned Rabbis could know the scripture like Jesus knew the scripture. It took many years of study, and the town knew that he did not go to a rabbinical school (like Paul would have gone to)

v "What's this wisdom that has been given him?" – Consider where Solomon got his wisdom. Wisdom was a divine gift.

v "What are these remarkable miracles he is performing?" – again, miracles were evidence of a divine presence.

§ Rhetorical questions – how can a mere man do divine things?

v "Isn't this the carpenter?" – Your vocation defined you in that time (and in our present time). How could a carpenter do divine things? Isn't that reserved for the religious elite?

v "Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?"

a. Here, Mark is name-dropping again. When this Gospel was written, James was either the head of the Jerusalem church or had been martyred. Judas (Jude) had prominence in the early church and had written a circulated letter that became an epistle.

b. The more significant point is that the town knew Jesus' family and knew Jesus as that carpenter in town. Jesus had probably worked for many in the town, and now He was teaching with Rabbinical authority and performing miracles.

o Vs. 3b – They took offense.

§ They took offense not because of what Jesus said and did but because of whom they thought he was.

§ All heresy and unbelief start with a misunderstanding or a refusal to understand who Jesus is.

o Vs. 4 – Jesus explains to His disciples that He is not surprised at their unbelief.

o Vs. 5 – Jesus' ministry was limited because the people chose not to believe.

o Vs. 6 – As amazed as they were at His teaching and miracles, Jesus was just as amazed at the level of their unbelief.

· 6:7-13 Sending of the 12

o Jesus and the disciples were moving about Galilee, preaching and healing

o The sending of the 12 has four principles

§ Vs. 7a: Don't go alone – He sent them out in pairs

§ Vs. 7b: Know that you have Jesus' authority over the enemy

§ Vs. 8-9: "Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. Wear sandals but not an extra shirt." – Rely on God for your needs. Your mission is not for gain but to give. God will provide what you need as you give and love others in your ministry.

§ Vs. 10-11: "Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them." While doing ministry, you will encounter two different responses:

v Acceptance – appreciate those who accept your message and ministry and bless them

v Rejection—If rejected, after making an honest effort, politely move on. God always honors humanity's free will to reject Him. He never forces Himself on people.

o The 12 went out and did what Jesus did.

· 6:14 – 23 Death of John the Baptist

o Mark has inserted the story in the Gospel to explain what happened to John

o Herod mentioned here is Antipas, son of Herod the "Great" (or better known as Herod the butcher of Bethlehem)

§ Born in 25 BCE, he was raised in Rome, so although of Jewish descent, he was thoroughly pagan

§ After Herod the Butcher died, Augustus Caesar split Palestine into three regions for the three surviving sons. Antipas received Galilee. (Philip received the northern region, and Archeius received the South).

§ Antipas had heard many rumors about Jesus (that He was a modern prophet or Elijah had returned).

§ Another rumor was that Jesus was the reincarnation of John the Baptist – thus the story of how John was killed.

o The story of how John died is ugly – John was speaking truth to power

§ Antipas was living in a sinful situation by marrying his brother Phillip's wife Leviticus 18:16, 20:21 and John was calling him out on his sin

§ This accusation by John bothered Antipas's (Philip's) wife more than it bothered Antipas – so John was imprisoned.

§ After an erotic dance (one that would have been popular in pagan and Roman parties but scandalous in Jewish terms) – Antipas offers his stepdaughter whatever she wants.

§ After talking to her mother – she asked for John's execution and the display of his head for all to see.

§ John's disciples got the body and buried it.

o Why is this story in Mark's gospel at this particular place in his Gospel?

§ Mark had to dispel rumors at the time of the writing that Jesus was a reincarnated prophet, such as John or Elijah.

§ This story is a foreshadowing of Jesus' death:

v Other people press Antipas and Pontius Pilate to execute their prisoner.

v Both acknowledge their victim's innocence.

v Both would rather take the easy road and make others happy than do the right and moral thing.

v Both rejected the truth told to them by their victims.

§ Sandwiched between the sending of the 12 and their return (which will cover that week after next), Mark is letting his readers know the cost of discipleship. The cost of being obedient to calling will incur persecution. The cost of being a disciple is steep.