Mark 6:1-14

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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.

Pray:

Big Question? How Do People Respond to Jesus?

Faith in Jesus.

What prevents someone from following Jesus?

When we respond in faith what does the rest of our life look like?

We will not exhaust this conversation but rather scratch the surface and explore it through this text.

I will admit upfront that faith is a mystery, but i hope that through todays sermon we can take heart, and Jesus will use this conversation to grow your faith.

Through exploring this… I hope we can all answer where are we at with Jesus… what is our next step.

Transition: There will be two parts to this mornings sermon, first the response of Jesus family and his home town, and secondly the Apostles…

A Response of Unbelief:

1. Amazed but Apathetic

Mark 6:2 ESV

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?

What they see does not lead them to faith but rather more questions…

Where, what How?

It does not add up.

Sometimes Rationalism can combat faith.

Hebrews 11:3 “By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.”

What Jesus is doing is defying natural order.

If we desire to add it all up… we run this risk of seeing what Jesus is doing before our eyes.

The God who created all things… Controlls all things.. he is not bound by natural things.

Hebrews 11:1 ESV

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

There is always an unseen component to faith.

“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the Sun has risen, not only because I see it but because by it I see everything else.” — C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory

How do we see this today?

Jesus is impressive. I like what he stands for… but he is not my Lord.

Until I get all my questions answered…. I will be left questioning.

Seek answers to questions, but do not let your questions rule you.

Faith is not a matter of having all your questions answered.

2. Assessing His Accreditations

Mark 6:3 ESV

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.

They Know Jesus himself as a Carpenter

The Son of Mary (No mention of Joseph)

They know his sibling

Who did he study under? What are his credentials?

They doubt Jesus because he does not have the credentials to speak up….

How do we see this today?

What could a 1st century prophet have for me in 2025.

How do people question the transformation that has taken place in your own life?

Sometimes it is very difficult to Pastor in your home town. (It shouldn’t stop us) People are not placing faith in you… or I, but Jesus himself.

3. Aggravated by His Assertions

Mark 6:3 ESV

Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.

They were offended?

They did not want to be confronted… certainly by someone like Jesus.

How do we see this today?

We are so easily offended.

To be offended is the greatest charge we often place on someone.

Reality is Jesus will offend you…

You are being confronted.

You are not the moral judge of all things…

Jesus is.

4. Absent of Authentic Faith

Mark 6:4 ESV

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

They have seen it… but it does not move them.

We can be so hardened to the work of God

We can allow reason,

How do we see this today?

We must explore Jesus and his word apart from all other factors.

Family, The Church, What you want to be true?

How does Jesus respond?

Mark 6:4–6 ESV

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.

Jesus Marveled (In the prior passage they are marveling at Jesus power) (the transformation of a Demon Possesed man)

Jesus could not do any mighty work in that town.

The Grand Mystery of Faith.

The way God works is in response to the faith of people.

Could Jesus work.. The fact is his doesn’t work amongst people without faith.

Hebrews 11:6 ESV

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Exalting Jesus in Mark Unbelief Is One Thing that Limits Jesus (Mark 6:5)

Tim Keller is helpful here: “Jesus’ miracles were not ‘magic tricks’ designed to prove how powerful he was, but ‘signs of the kingdom’ to show how his redemptive power operates. His miracles always healed and restored and delivered people in ways that revealed how we are to find him by faith and have our lives transformed by him.… He ‘could’ not do a deed that would not redeem”

Transition: Faith in the door hinge that opens us up to the work of the Lord. Jesus wants to work, but he will only work in peoples hearts and lives who respond in faith. In the following section we will see this transformative power.

A Response of Faith

1. Submitting to His Authority, and Trusting His Provision

Mark 6:8–11 ESV

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.”

A complete posture shift from the response of Jesus family

The Message: “Don’t think you need a lot of extra equipment for this. You are the equipment. No special appeals for funds. Keep it simple.

They submit to whatever Jesus has. Trusting he will provide

The Staff: Walking Stick

Take nothing: The Lord will provide

Only take one Tunic

Stay in the first home you enter

2. Taking Bold Action, being sent out on mission to proclaim the Gospel.

Mark 6:12–13 ESV

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.

It is from the presence of Christ that people go out with the authority of Christ to proclaim the word of Christ and to further the works of Christ - Alistair Begg

Proclaimed: The Gospel

People should repent

The Kingdom of God is here…. (Healings)

In this moment we see displayed what the mission of their life looks like… and thus so should ours?

Closing: How do you respond to Jesus?

1. Place our hope and trust in Jesus.

2. Pray for those without faith with clarity

3. Take Bold Actions for Jesus

Prayer Prompt:

Jesus my trust is in you.

Pray for those without faith.

Jesus move me into mission.