Trusting God's Servants

1 He went away from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. 2 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? 3 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. 4 And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.” 5 And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6 And he marveled because of their unbelief. And he went about among the villages teaching. 7 And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. 8 He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts— 9 but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics. 10 And he said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there. 11 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.” 12 So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. 13 And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.

I really love how Mark doesn’t beat around the bush. He doesn’t use flowery language to get his point across he just tell it like it is. In terms that anyone could understand.

As I was preparing for this message I came across a quote by Charles Darwin:

“Belief was the most complete of all distinctions between man and the lower animals.”

If this observation is true what does that say for a person who doesn’t believe? Just ponder that for a moment. If that is true does that suggest that the lack of faith on man’s part puts him on the same level as animal?

Trouble in the Text -

The Unbelief of His Acquaintances (Mark 6:1-6)

The Unbelief of His Acquaintances

In todays lesson text we see Jesus and his disciples entering his hometown of Nazareth. Jesus and his disciples are now making the revers journey his family made in Chapter 3:21-31. In those verses they attempted to control Jesus but their actions proved fruitless so they had to return to Nazareth while Jesus’ mission continued. Reports of Jesus missions continued to reach Nazareth, so when the local prodigy returned with his followers there was naturally some interest stirred up among the people.

Because Jesus’ reputation had preceded him, Jesus was permitted to teach in the synagogue. Let’s keep in mind he was ministering to people who knew him and knew him well because he was a native of Nazareth. Although, they were acquainted with him, they had no spiritual perception of who Jesus was at all. In fact, Jesus reminded them of what he had told them at the first dramatic visit, that a prophet is without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household. (; ; ).

The people who heard him teaching in the synagogue were astonished by Jesus’ words and deed. Two things astonished these people: His mighty works and His wonderful wisdom. Actually, Jesus did not do any might works while He was there, so the people must have been referring to those things they had heard about his miracles. I’m just guessing but I’m guessing they had heard about Jesus healing Jarius’ daughter ( bringing her back to life) or either healing the woman with the issue of blood for 12 long years. These miracles were done on the journey back to Nazareth.

Jesus didn’t actually do any mighty works while He was there. Why do you think that was the case? The unbelief of the people from his hometown hindered Jesus from having a greater ministry among them.

As I kept reading the text I kept asking myself what was their problem? Why were they unable to trust Him and experience the wonders of His power and grace as had others? It was because they thought they really knew Him.

Trouble in the Word -

Have you ever been asked to anything away from home and things went well. The people you were working with accepting the things you were saying and doing positively, but when you got back home and tried to present the same information your home boys / girls said… who is that? Isn’t that Elaine and John’s daughter? Didn’t she grow up in that neighborhood off Broad River Road - Bonnie Forest? Isn’t she the one who had the baby and never got married to the daddy? You know how people do. They run down your entire history, but overlook the transforming work of Jesus Christ in your life.

How often do we miss a blessing because of the vessel God is choosing to use?

Familiarity breeds = Contempt

Familiarity sometimes breeds contempt. In one of Aesop’s fables there is a illustration of when a fox had never before seen a lion, and when he first met the king of the beasts, the fox was nearly frightened to death. At their second meeting, the fox was not frightened quite as much; and the third time he met the lion, the fox went right up and chatted with him! “And so it is,” Aesop concluded, that “familiarity makes even the most frightening things seem quite harmless.”

A carpenter was a respected artisan in that day, but no one expected a carpenter to do miracles or teach profound truths in the synagogue. Where didn he get all this power and wisdom? From God or from Satan they asked among themselves? In the scripture the people who called him Mary’s son were insulting him. To identify a man as the son of his mother and not the father was scandalous.

The people of nazareth were “offended at him because they couldn’t understand him. Because they couldn’t explain Jesus, they rejected Him.

Jesus Marveled

And He marveled because of their unbelief. And he went about among the villages teaching.

Twice in the gospel record you find Jesus marveling. As this passage reveals, He marvel at the unbelief of the Jews, and He marveled at the great faith of a Roman Centurion, a Gentile. Instead of remaining at Nazareth, Jesus departed and made another circuit of the towns and villages in Galilee. His heart was broken as He saw the desperate plight of his people () , so He decided to send out His disciples to minister with His authority and power.

Jesus Sends out the Twelve Apostles

Grace in the Text -

When Jesus called his first disciples the fishermen, he promised them that they would soon be be fishers of people. When Jesus hand selected the Twelve, it was in other that they might be with him and that he might send them out. The first part of that job description of being with Jesus was amply fulfilled in the story from the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. Wherever Jesus went the disciples went with him, their presence was noted even when it appears that they had nothing to contribute to the recorded event. Up until this point the disciples had been companions and mere spectators. Sometimes they were privileged private audience, rather than partners in his mission.

The disciples commented on Jesus’ teachings and asked questions that provided the focus for some of Jesus’ teaching and actions. But they had not ben sent out as fishers of people; they were extra’s in training.

At this point in the text we see Jesus doing something very different with the disciples. He called the twelve together then paired them up and sent them out.

Why do you think Jesus sent the apostles out two by two? Undoubtably the could have spread the gospel further if each one took area and worked that thing. That wasn’t Jesus’ plan. There are some advantages of going out in pairs.

Together they could strengthen and encourage each other when thing get tough. 2 - they could provide comfort in rejection. 3 - they could give each other discernment and fewer mistakes would be made. 4 - they could stir each other to action as a counter to idleness or indifference. Our strength comes from God, but he meets many of our needs through our teamwork with others. As you serve christ don’t try to go it alone.

See Jesus purposely taught and trained the disciples sot that they might assist Him and eventually be able to take His place when He returned to the Father.

Jesus is such a awesome God, he gave them authority over the unclean spirits. He gave them the power t o heal the sick and cast out demons. Isn’t Jesus Good. He didn’t send his Apostles out powerless, no he gave them the authority they needed to further the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

That is so exciting to me, but Jesus gave them some other instructions for their journey. He told them to take what they already owned and not to go out and buy special equipment for their itinerant travels. They were not to be loaded down with extra baggage.

When we have too stuff with us, our focus is on what we have and what we can do. We are looking at ourself and our resources for power instead relying on God who is the source of all of our strength.

See when you look to God for provision he will do! if he will feel the sparrow how much more will he do for you? the scripture says Jesus told the apostles

Mark 6:10–11 ESV

10 And he said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there. 11 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.”

Stay with those who offer hospitality to you. In Middle Eastern society the expectation of hospitality for visiting teacher is no surprise; That was a privilege that was expected and the disciples should have been able to take advantage of that hospitality. But Jesus knew that although that was the expectation there would be some not just a single household but often whole communities where the message of the Gospel would not be welcome.

Shake it off

Jesus told them in those places that won’t listen to you when you leave shake off the dust that is on your fee as a testimony against them.

Jesus’ instructions was poignant for two reasons:

first when pious Jews shook the dust from their feet after passing through Gentile cities or territories to show their separation from Gentile influences and practices. What a message for the Apostles to make when they left a Jewish town. They were stating in no uncertain terms that they wished to remain separate from people who had rejected Jesus and His message.

Secondly this action carried a very negative overtone. it was a witness against the witness against those refusing to believe the gospel. A community marked this way is literally marked as unrepentant and will be liable to judgement. Jesus said shake it off…let them have their sin, their unrepentant hearts. The ball is in their court.

Armed with authority and the gospel message of the good news the Apostles went out and preach repentance, casting out demons, anointing many with oil who were sick and healing them. We as disciples of Jesus Christ we are not fans. We are like the apostles we are to take the gospel to the people. Proclaiming his message of salvation to the world. With Holy boldness and authority in Jesus we can cast out demons, anoint the sick knowing that by his stripes we are healed.

You have done you part

In preaching the Gospel we will encounter those who will reject the message but Jesus told you what to do… Just Shake it off

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