Taking Offence at Christ

Bible Reading

Mark 6:1–6 NIV84

1 Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. 2 When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. “Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him, that he even does miracles! 3 Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. 4 Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown, among his relatives and in his own house is a prophet without honor.” 5 He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6 And he was amazed at their lack of faith. Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village.

Introduction

We return this week to focus our attention on the Gospel of Mark. We began this exposition some months ago, and have taken a break over the past few weeks as we’ve considered firstly “Church Membership”, and then for the past 6 weeks, we considered the “5 Solae” of the reformation. But we now get back into our study on Mark’s Gospel.

Just to reorient you in terms of what we’ve been seeing as we’ve studied the Gospel of Mark together, obviously being a Gospel book, it’s focus is on Jesus Christ, but specific to Mark, one of the key points that is being conveyed through the Gospel is the authority of Christ. Christ teaches the people with authority. Christ has authority over the demons. Christ has authority over sickness. Christ has authority over even the wind and the waves - the natural elements that do not have life in them! Christ had authority.

Furthermore, we’ve seen together through our study that as Jesus continued to move around between the various cities surrounding the Sea of Galilee with his disciples, preaching the Gospel message, and teaching in the synagogues, his fame spread out into all the surrounding regions. People started coming to him from all of the surrounding areas, bringing their sick to him. Even the teachers of the law down in Jerusalem had heard about Christ, and they had come to listen to him teaching, because they were concerned about what he was saying.

Note that the passage in Luke is far more extensive in terms of the detail. He was driven away eventually by the people, and there was an attempt to murder him (throw him off of a cliff).

And so Jesus’ fame was widespread, and extended well beyond the mere region where he had focused his ministry up until that point in time.

But as we come to our text this morning, what we’ll see is that even though he had become so well known throughout all of those regions, the people of his very own town, those who knew him well, really had contempt for him.

It was not as though these people would not have heard about what Jesus was doing. Remember that Christ’s base from which he was ministering was Capernaum, which is only about 50 km from Nazareth, whereas people were coming from over 4 times that distance to see Christ.

And so the people of Nazareth would have known about him.

In , we read...

Mark 6:1 NIV84

Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples.

Christ had been in the region of Capernaum, but he leaves that area, and he travels down to His hometown (which is Nazareth), and He is accompanied by his disciples.

The small detail that Mark includes there concerning the disciples following Jesus to Nazareth, indicates to us that in all likelihood he was not going there for private / personal reasons, but rather was going there as part of his ministry journey. In that day, the Rabbi’s would walk from place to place with their own disciples following them where they went, and those disciples would learn from them. But they would be recognised as teachers as they walked around.

And so Jesus goes down to Nazareth, but accompanied by His disciples.

As we get into this text, I’d like us to just remember one important point, and that is the fact that Christ’s entire period of ministry was condensed into 3 short years. Christ had left his hometown at the age of about 30, was baptised, and then began ministering, and was crucified at the age of 33. And so this visit back to the town of Nazareth was not after some extremely protracted time. It was within just a couple of years of having left.

1. Nazareth’s Reaction to Jesus

With that in mind, let us consider firstly this morning: Nazareth’s Reaction to Jesus.

Mark 6:2 NIV84

When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. “Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him, that he even does miracles!

We read in verse 2 of our text: “When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed.”

we turn our attention to verse

Responds with a Proverb

The Holy Bible: New International Version. (1984). (). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

What Jesus did in Nazareth was typical of his ministry wherever he went. There was nothing out of the ordinary here. He arrived in the town, and began to teach in the synagogue.

He has a minimal healing ministry

What’s important to note is that many who heard him were “amazed”.

The word “Amazed” there is the same word that is used in , where we read that...

He is amazed

Mark 1:22 NIV84

The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.

Quite frankly, they were astounded.

They immediately recognised the authority and power of Christ’s preaching. It was not as though this was something hidden from them. It was evident to them.

But whereas the response from the crowds in Capernaum (when they were amazed) was to bring all the sick of that place to Jesus to have Him heal them, the response from those in his home town is entirely different!

As we read on, we notice that they began to ask numerous questions (rhetorical questions) about Christ, as a response to this amazement that they had at his teaching. But the questions that they ask teach us much about the hearts of the people of that town, and what their attitude toward Christ was.

...

“Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him, that he even does miracles!

As we consider these questions, they relate to two spheres...

We see immediately from their questions the fact that his power was recognised. “Where did this man get these things?”

They are amazed that this man woh is from their own midst

The Things that they refer to are his teachings, and the authority by which this teaching is proceeding from him.

As they listen to him preaching and teaching in the synagogue, they have a sense of amazement at the kind of things Jesus is saying and the authority with which Jesus is saying those things.

Not only that, but they clearly sense that he has been given great wisdom.

Here is a man who is able to teach and speak with both knowledge, and wisdom. A man who is able to speak concerning God, and life, and make that teaching relevant to us.

But notice further, that they even recognise that he is able to do miracles.

The second sphere relates to his family.

The people of Nazareth recognised not only that Christ was teaching with authority, but that he was able to perform miracles.

And so here we have a case where not only had the word gotten out into all those regions (including Nazareth) concerning this man Jesus, but they themselves at Nazareth were witnesses to what he said and did.

Very clearly, Christ had even performed some miracles in their midst.

And yet they were questioning this man.

“Where did this man get these things?!” - is the question they ask.

We need to just pause here, and consider that...

The reports of his extraordinary charisma and influence as a teacher are more significant than they might first appear.

No people could boast of more prophets, learned scribes and rabbis, than the Jews.

The field in which Jesus distinguished himself as a teacher was, in other words, crowded and competitive.

His prestige caused a dilemma for those acquainted with him, however, for he had not been apprenticed to a famous rabbi, nor could his wisdom be accounted for at home...

In , the question was asked of Him:

John 7:15 NIV84

The Jews were amazed and asked, “How did this man get such learning without having studied?”

And so this is the question in the minds of the people of Nazareth...

Edwards, J. R. (2002). The Gospel according to Mark (p. 170). Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: Eerdmans; Apollos.

They had everything at their disposal in order to make an accurate assessment of this man Jesus, and then to make an appropriate response to him.

They were without excuse. What should have happened at this point is that they ought to have bowed the knee to Him. They ought to have sat humbly at His feet. They ought, at the very least, to have given him credit where credit was due.

And thus they had everything at their disposal in order to make an accurate assessment of this man Jesus, and then to make an appropriate response to him.

Not only had the word gotten out into all those regions (including Nazareth) concerning this man Jesus, but they themselves at Nazareth were witnesses to what he said and did. They were without excuse. They ought to have bowed the knee to Him. They ought to have sat humbly at His feet. They ought, at the very least, to have given him credit where credit was due.

This man Jesus had more than proven by his words and his works that He was someone worth listening to.

But because he didn’t fit the profile or picture of a Rabbi as they understood it, they undermined the authority that he had.

But instead, they ask further questions of Him, with the clear intention of undermining Him, and undermining what he was doing.

They ask further questions of Him, which all had the purpose and intention of casting some serious doubt on His suitability to teach - not because the teaching was bad, but simply because they despised him.

In verse 3, the questions continue...

3 Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.

Isn’t this the carpenter? Jesus was known to them as one who worked with his hands. He was seen by them as a common working man. This man is not a Rabbi, they thought.

This is a mere common man, a man who we know as one who works with his hands. There’s nothing special about him.

They go on… “Isn’t this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?”

Remember, he’d only been gone a couple of years. They certainly weren’t mistaken about who he was. They knew that he was part of that family - the son of Mary.

I think it’s important to also realise that as best as can be seen, Nazareth was a town that was as small and insignificant as towns can be...

You remember the words of Nathanael, when Philip told him that they had found the Messiah, Nathanael asked: “Narareth! Can anything good come from there?”!

Archeological excavations reveal that this place was a small, obscure town, consisting of earthen dwellings that were chopped into the rocky hillside.

The total population of Nazareth has been estimated to be 500 at most.

This is a small town, where everyone knows everyone! And everything that happens is just about common knowledge to everyone else!

It’s these townfolk that are asking the question...

Just as a bit of an aside, it’s interesting to note that they refer to Jesus as being the son of Mary. Usually, the link was made to the Father, and the lineage was given through the Father. But here, the people of Nazareth rather refer to His mother.

Some have suggested that they do this because they were trying to insult Jesus - referring to his apparent illegitimate birth.

I don’t necessarily think that that’s the case. More likely is the fact that Jesus’ father had died by this time.

As you read through the Gospels, the last reference that you have to Jesus’ father, is when he’s 12 years old and the family is travelling back from Jerusalem, and they notice that Jesus is missing.

When Jesus begins his ministry at the age of 30 with the first miracle that he performs being at the wedding at Cana his father is conspicuously absent. And there is no further mention of his father throughout his ministry.

And when Christ is crucified, he commits his mother into the care of the disciple John.

So most likely, Joseph died when Jesus was between 12 and 30 years of age.

And that’s why here, the people of Nazareth refer to him as the son of Mary.

But that is somewhat of an aside.

What we need to keep in the forefront of our minds here is that despite the fact that they heard Jesus teaching, and saw the miracles that he was performing, they despised him.

They sought to minimise the importance of this man Jesus. They tried to keep him simply as a commoner - a carpenter.

In the words of Mark here: “they took offense at him.”

The word for “offense” comes from Gk. skandalon, meaning a “stumbling block.”

The verb (Gk. skandalizein) means to “cause to stumble,” and in the present context to be “put off” or even “repelled” by Jesus.

The word occurs eight times in the Gospel of Mark; in each instance it designates obstructions that prevent one from coming to faith and following Jesus.

A “stumbling block to faith” is a signature motif in Mark

And it is certainly a grave problem.

The “offense” of v. 3 verifies that the amazement of the people in Nazareth is not one of faith but of...opposition.

Edwards, J. R. (2002). The Gospel according to Mark (p. 173). Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: Eerdmans; Apollos.

We must wonder at the hardness of men’s hearts.

Despite a clear demonstration of the power that Christ possessed, and the authority that he had, despite the miracles that he performed, they hardened their hearts.

They refused to listen to Him. They refused to accept Him, simply because they didn’t like this idea that Jesus the carpenter was now being seen to be someone great - a teacher with wisdom and authority.

Cooper, R. L. (2000). Mark (Vol. 2, p. 100). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

2. Jesus’ Reaction to Nazareth

Having considered together the reaction of the people of Nazareth to Jesus, we now turn our attention to the reaction of Jesus to those in Nazareth.

Within the response of Jesus, there are three aspects that we can briefly consider.

2.1. Responds with a Proverb (v.4)

2.1. Responds with a Proverb

Firstly, Jesus responds with a Proverb. Verse 4...

Mark 6:4 NIV84

Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown, among his relatives and in his own house is a prophet without honor.”

In saying these words, Jesus was repeating a well-known proverb of the time.

In both the Jewish and Greco-Roman contexts of that day, the proverb was well known. And so Jesus speaks to these people of his home town and applies this directly to them.

In doing so, He was very clearly identifying himself also with Old Testament prophets who were often ridiculed, not listened to and sometimes even put to death because they proclaimed the word of God.

In saying these words, Jesus was repeating a well-known proverb of the time. He was very clearly identifying himself with Old Testament prophets who were often ridiculed, not listened to and sometimes even put to death.

Jesus was very clearly being rejected by those who knew him best.

He was being rejected for preaching the very counsel of God, and those who despised Him were those who claimed to know God.

Notice that in applying this Proverb, He does so using 3 concentric social circles:

He had already faced the rejection of his very own family, who had arrived in Capernaum in order to take charge of him. They thought that he was out of his mind.

We read in that even his own brothers did not believe in him.

By God’s grace, that situation changed, and we later read in ....

Being back in his home town now, and experiencing this rejection by those whom he knew was merely another example of those who were close to him failing to understand who he was and the nature of his mission.

Acts 1:14 NIV84

They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

Being back in his home town now, and experiencing this rejection by those whom he knew was merely another example of those who were close to him failing to understand who he was and the nature of his mission.

2.2. He has a minimal healing ministry (v.5)

Secondly, in terms of the reaction of Jesus to those in Nazareth, we find that He has a minimal healing ministry.

Mark 6:5 NIV84

He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them.

This is a striking reality. Wherever Christ has gone, there have been hordes of people that of flocked to him in order that they and their loved ones may receive healing.

The instances that we’ve read in previous accounts explain in detail the great extent to which Christ heals, and the vast numbers that are involved.

And yet as He comes to His hometown, there is a considerable contrast...

The wording of Mark here leads us to realise that the the number of miracles was negligible. “He could not do any miracles there.”

Jesus does not stand apart from individuals and groups, and then simply throw miracles at them. He is intimately involved with them, and those miracles performed flow out of the close connection of the people with Jesus. They approach Jesus in faith, and Jesus is able to heal them.

What we should immediately recognise through this description is that Jesus does not stand apart from individuals and groups, and then simply throw miracles at them. When He performed miracles as part of His ministry, he performed the miracles amongst those who were near Him, and who drew near in faith. He performed miracles on those who came close to Him and trusted in His power and ability, and those who desired such healing.

The miracles performed flowed out of these connections that existed. They approach Jesus in faith, and Jesus is able to heal them.

In this instance, the people of his own town lacked faith in him, meaning they did not believe in him and thus scorned him.

It was as a result of this apathy and even negative response to Jesus that the miracles did not occur.

Today, there are many churches in which it is taught that your failure to be healed flows out of a lack of your faith. And they may use such a text as this to defend that position.

To do that demonstrates a failure to understand what was truly happening here, and why it was that the healing failed to take place. The reason was that they rejected Jesus. This is what is meant by a lack of faith there. Rejection.

Combine that with the fact that the healings that Christ performed in that day were most properly done as authentications of the fact that He was the Messiah, then you should understand that if, as one who has repented of your sin, you pray for healing today, and you are not healed, it does not mean that you have a lack of faith, and you need to then conjure up a greater faith. It simply means, that at least for that moment, Christ in His wisdom has chosen not to heal you. Because most certainly He is able. And you’ve acknowledged that. You’ve expressed faith. But you are not healed, and so you simply continue rejoicing in Christ, knowing that in Christ, you will one day be finally made whole.

The people of Nazareth had rejected Christ. They rejected Him as a prophet and Rabbi. They rejected Him as a miracle worker, even though they knew of His miracles.

That rejection of Him amounted in this case to a lack of faith.

And where they were not prepared to acknowledge him, they would not have been prepared to even bring their sick to him for healing, and consequently, there were only very few healings.

2.3. He is Amazed (v.6a)

Thirdly, in terms of the reaction of Christ to those in Nazareth, is that we notice that Jesus is Amazed at their lack of faith. (v.6a)

He is AMAZED!!!

Christ, as He comes teaching and preaching, performing just some miracles before those from His hometown, is shunned and rejected. A complete change from the reception that he’s received throughout those regions, and He’s amazed.

Here is not mere sin, which sin is common to all men.

But rather here is the particular sin of the hardness of heart that has come because of familiarity.

There is simply an unwillingness of the part of the people of Nazareth to give consideration beyond their previous, superficial knowledge of Jesus, in order to evaluate Christ as He stands before them now.

Again, it is the evil of the hardness of their hearts.

It is the evil of an unwillingness to respond to Jesus.

The people of Nazareth saw only a carpenter, only a son of Mary, only another one of the village children who had grown up and returned for a visit.

And Jesus is amazed.

Application

There is much that we can learn from this passage, and I’m going to bring just a few points of application for us this morning.

A.1. Be Astounded, and then Submit

The first point of application for us this morning, is this: ^^^^^^

It is one thing to be amazed by the power of God. It is one thing to say that God can do great things, and that God’s words are powerful, and that God’s deeds are mighty.

Its is something entirely different to respond in submission to that.

The people of Nazareth marveled, they saw, but they failed to submit to the person who was before them.

When Christ had preached that long and challenging sermon on the mount, when He came to the end of the sermon, he gave the illustration of the wise and the foolish builders building their houses.

The wise man built his house on the rock, so that the foundation was solid. When the rains came down, and the floods came up, the wise man’s house stood firm.

By comparison, the foolish man built his house upon the sand. When the rains came down and the floods rose, the house fell down with a great crash!!

And Christ’s challenge there was this: “Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like the wise man, whose house stood firm.”

“…But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.”

The entire point that Christ makes here is that one should not merely hear the words, but should respond…put into action…do something about that which you have heard!

Paul encouraged the Philippian believers to imitate his own life, and to put into practice what he had taught them and shown them...

Philippians 4:9 NIV84

Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Very often we can be astounded by what Christ can do, but somehow or for some reason we fail to truly respond in faith to that.

And what joylessness comes about as a result of that!

A.2. Don’t Judge by Externals

But secondly, in terms of our points of application, we should be sure that we do not Judge Not by Externals.

To add to that, let us not judge by preconceived prejudices and ideas!!

Judge Not by Externals. To do so demonstrates pride of heart, and shows that we do not understand the kingdom

To do so demonstrates pride of heart, and shows that we do not understand the kingdom, and we do not understand the ways which God can and does very often work in carrying out His purposes.

When we judge a situation or circumstances in our lives through our own limited understanding and when our limitations as people are applied to every circumstance, as if God is unable to work outside of those limitations, then we are serving a small god indeed!!!

King Nebuchadnezzar spoke those wonderful words, after he had been humbled and then had his sanity restored, cried out (Daniel 4:34-35):

The New International Version (1984) The Dream Is Fulfilled

His dominion is an eternal dominion;

his kingdom endures from generation to generation.

35 All the peoples of the earth

are regarded as nothing.

He does as he pleases

with the powers of heaven

and the peoples of the earth.

No one can hold back his hand

or say to him: “What have you done?”

Psalm 115:3 NIV84

Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him.

The people of Nazareth looked at this man Jesus, and by His appearances, and by their preconceived notions of this common carpenter, they thought: “What can this man do? Who does He think He is?”

We as Christians may ask that question without even realising it, and without acknowledging that we serve a great God who does as He pleases!

At the Tuesday Bible Study this week, I was sharing with the group how I went to a conference one year, and one of the speakers was David Murray. I didn’t know anything about this man David Murray, and as he came up to preach for the first time, he’s a Scotsman, and he began to speak in his deep Scottish accent. But the speech was extremely slow. And as I heard him start, my immediate response to this was.... “Oh no, this is going to be a struggle to keep my eyes open...” Boy was I wrong!!! Probably the most profound and moving series of preachings that I’ve ever heard in my life!!

The point is simply this: don’t judge by external or preconceived notions! Don’t judge those within the church who you would consider ordinary, and incapable of ministering to you.

There are many seated here this morning who may seem to be just ordinary people, perhaps those who do not konw all that much, do not have much experience in life.

Friends, these are the ones whom God has placed around you, as your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, that we might live as a family together.

God can work powerfully through these people just seated here…don’t underestimate what God can do through them.

And further to that, be encouraged with who you are. If you are in Christ, and humble yourself before Him, don’t be surprised at the ways in which He can make use of you for His glory to those seated around you.

Judge Not by Externals. To do so demonstrates pride of heart, and shows that we do not understand the kingdom

A.3. Don’t Despise the Simple Means of Grace

The third point of application follows on from the previous one, and it’s this: Do not despise the simple means of grace within the church.

By that I mean don’t despise the simple means through which God works in order to bring about change and growth within our lives.

For the people of Nazareth, the simple carpenter was insignificant within the bigger scheme. There was little hope placed in Him in order bring any kind of meaningful change.

So often, we forget that God uses the very simple things, the simple means of grace within the church in order to effect great and radical change, and in order to make a massive impact on society in general.

What are those means of grace that God uses:

The reading of the word

The preaching of the word within the church

Times in prayer, communicating and fellowshipping with God.

Partaking of the Lord’s supper

Fellowship with the saints.

Baptism.

In all of these aspects, if we will simply avail ourselves of them (they are not hard or difficult - in fact they’re quite straightforward!!) God works powerfully through these means.

We don’t need the next big experience. We don’t need some power worker in miracles to come and set our hearts aflame.

God does that through even the most simple means!!

Let us not despise, let us not look down on these simple means of grace, as the people of Nazareth despised and looked down upon the carpenter, who ended up being the MEssiah - the one who radically changed the world, the effects of which we see today.

A.4. Guard Against Hardness of Heart

Fourthly and finally in application, let us be careful to guard against hardness of heart.

The hardness of heart of these people of Nazareth was clearly evident, and they suffered as a result thereof. Christ’s works among them was minimized. Only a handful of healings.

They could have been so blessed, had their hearts not been hard. They had in their presence the very Messiah, the Saviour of the world, who had all power and authority...

What grand opportunity lay before them.

But they hardened their hearts.

(2) There can be no preaching in the wrong atmosphere. Our churches would be different places if congregations would only remember that they preach far more than half the sermon. In an atmosphere of expectancy, the poorest effort can catch fire. In an atmosphere of critical coldness or bland indifference, the most Spirit-packed utterance can fall lifeless to the earth. [1]

In our context today, it helps little if the preaching and teaching of the Gospel take place in the wrong atmosphere.

So often, without us even realising it, we come to church with our hearts not fully prepared. Or perhaps not even prepared at all.

We come with low expectancies. Or no expectancies.

This is exacerbated perhaps by little time or effort put in the week in personal study of the word.

We need to consider if in our own lives, there is even there a hardness of heart?

William Wilberforce said:

300 Quotations for Preachers Expecting to Be Christians without Working

No one expects to attain to the height of learning, or arts, or power, or wealth, or military glory, without vigorous resolution, and strenuous diligence, and steady perseverance. Yet we expect to be Christians without labour, study, or inquiry. This is the more preposterous, because Christianity is a revelation from God, and not the invention of man

In an atmosphere of critical coldness or bland indifference, the most Spirit-packed utterance can fall lifeless to the earth.

(2) There can be no preaching in the wrong atmosphere. Our churches would be different places if congregations would only remember that they preach far more than half the sermon. In an atmosphere of expectancy, the poorest effort can catch fire. In an atmosphere of critical coldness or bland indifference, the most Spirit-packed utterance can fall lifeless to the earth. [1]

Our churches would be different places if congregations would only remember that they preach far more than half the sermon. In an atmosphere of expectancy, the poorest effort can catch fire. In an atmosphere of critical coldness or bland indifference, the most Spirit-packed utterance can fall lifeless to the earth. [1]

To the contracty, in an atmosphere of expectancy, the poorest effort in preaching can catch fire.

That is no excuse for pastors to prepare little for sermons.

But friends, if we are among those sitting in the congregation, a responsibility rests upon you to prepare yourself, and to come expectantly to hear God’s word.

(3) There can be no peace-making in the wrong atmosphere. If those gathered together have come together to hate, they will hate. If they have come together to refuse to understand, they will misunderstand. If they have come together to see no other point of view but their own, they will see no other. But if they have come together, loving Christ and seeking to love each other, even those who are most widely separated can come together in him.

In a similar manner, or along similar lines, there can be no peace-making in the wrong atmosphere. (amongst brother and sisters of the faith)

If those gathered together have come together with a heart set on hating, then they will hate.

If they have come together to refuse to understand, they will misunderstand.

If they have come together to see no other point of view but their own, they will see no other.

That was the attitude of the people of Nazareth.

But how quickly that becomes our attitude too!!

But if Christians have come together, loving Christ and seeking to love each other, even those who are most widely separated can come together in him.

I would encourage each and every person here today:

Consider your heart.

Consider where your heart is.

Do you come purposefully with an eager and expectant heart, expecting God to speak, even if the preacher should find himself weak on that day?

Do you come, knowing that you have a grievance against your brother or sister in Christ, but failing to address that in your own heart, and then looking for every fault of your brother or sister which may add support to your preconceived view.

The hardness of heart that I need to be concerned about is that of my own heart.

The hardness of hear that you need to be concerned about is that of your own hear.

Not someone elses.

Friends, let me encourage to come to Christ with the correct attitude. To come to church with the correct attitude.

There is much that you have to give the church.

Much that you can do that will bless the church.

Come with the intention of loving God, and then loving and serving God’s people!!

May our reaction to the loving and gracious work of Christ be fitting, and pleasing in God’s sight!

Concluding Remark

Barclay, W. (2001). The New Daily Study Bible: The Gospel of Mark (pp. 162–163). Edinburgh: Saint Andrew Press.

In the Scriptures, there are only two instances recorded for us when Christ responded in Amazement.

Both instances related to peoples’ response of faith.

In the situation considered today, the people of Nazareth responded with a lack of faith, despite all the evidence available to them.

The other instance where Christ responded in amazement, it was with the Roman Centurion, whose child was very sick. The centurion said to Jesus - you don’t even need to come under the roof of my house. Just give the command, and my child will be healed.

And Jesus was amazed at the faith of the Centurion.

Such is the weightiness of this matter of responding in faith to God through Christ.

My prayer is that each of us here would have the faith of the centurion, and that Christ would delight and be amazed at our response of faith, rather than be amazed at our lack thereof.

May our reaction to the loving and gracious work of Christ be fitting, and pleasing in God’s sight!

Bibliography

Barclay, W. (2001). The New Daily Study Bible: The Gospel of Mark (p. 162). Edinburgh: Saint Andrew Press.