Hard To Believe

TEXT

Mark 6:1–13 ESV

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.

“Hard to Watch”

Some things are difficult to view. I don’t like seeing people bullied. I don’t like seeing people mistreated. Especially when you know the protagonist is completely “in the right.”

This passage to me is “hard to believe”.

How could the folks from Nazareth be so derisive toward Christ. They knew about the immaculate conception, they knew about the virgin birth, they had surely gotten word of his ministry and dealings in the temple.

Yet, I’m sure you’ve been equally puzzled by something in your lifetime that looked so right going so wrong because of a vocal few.

“You still singing?” “Where are you now?”

TEXT NOTES

Mark 6:1 ESV

1 He went away from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him.

mark 6.

“There” = Capernaum

1. JESUS LED WELL

DISCIPLES FOLLOWING HIM

He didn’t lead well because he was trying to model Leadership 101. He led well because He was Christ!

After....

Mark 6:2 ESV

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?

2. JESUS TAUGHT WELL

(before) “No one ever spoke like this man!”

John 7:46 ESV

46 The officers answered, “No one ever spoke like this man!”

(after)

Matthew 7:29 ESV

29 for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.

3. PEOPLE WERE AMAZED, BUT GOT HUNG UP

Schooling - Where did get/learn these things?

Where did get/learn these things?

Experience - What is the wisdom given to him?

Authority/Power - How are such might works done by his hands?

Mark 6:3 ESV

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.

Mark 6:4 ESV

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.”

“Out of His League” - Isn’t he a carpenter?

People froze him the “past” that they wanted to remember him by

“No family name / Not in his lineage” - we know his family, they’re still here.

4. PEOPLE WERE OFFENDED

(v3 continued) “and they took offense”

Notice the Digression:

ASTONISHED. They HEARD and were amazed

CRITICAL. They got HUNG UP

OFFENDED. They felt HARASSED instead of helped!

Matthew 11:6 ESV

6 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

Mark 6:4–6 ESV

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.

Mark 6.

5. JESUS MINISTERED WELL

He properly addresses the reality

He notably marvels at the faith - lack of

He notably marvels at the faith - lack of

Matthew 8:10 ESV

10 When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith.

The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, Vol. XVI The Sad Wonder (No. 935)

We never read that either science or art, nature or providence, excited his wonder. We do not find that he marvelled at the grandeur of the temple, although his disciples were evidently wonder-struck, for they said, “Master, see what manner of stones and buildings are here!” Little did his mind dwell upon the gigantic size of the stones, or the antiquity of the pile, or the grandeur of the architecture, but his sympathetic soul mourned as it foresaw the destruction of the whole, and of those who dwelt around it, and he uttered the prophetic words, “There shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.” I do not find the Redeemer marvelled at the force and majesty of the Roman empire, and yet it wielded a very remarkable power, an all-pervading and irresistible influence. Out of utter insignificance the Roman empire had developed itself into a universal monarchy which locked the entire world in its embrace of iron. Scarce a dog dared move his tongue without the leave of Cæsar. In every place, whether sacred or profane, the insignia of the empire were conspicuous; in every nation, whether polite or barbarous, the tramp of the imperial legionaries was heard; and the eagles of Rome were fluttering on every hill and in every dale; and yet I do not find that Jesus ever marvelled at all the pomp and energy of the rule of the Cæsars. Neither do I find that he was ever struck with any wonder by the knowledge of the sages and rabbis of his time, or of any other. There were in his days rabbis who, according to the opinion of their fellow countrymen, were renowned beyond all others; so far as rabbinical literature was concerned, our Saviour may be said to have lived in an Augustan period, and yet, however profound the doctors of the law might be, they were very shallow as compared with the Christ of God, and he never saw any cause in all their wisdom to marvel. There were but two occasions when our Lord Jesus is recorded to have marvelled at all, and both of these were concerning faith. First, he marvelled at the centurion: “I have not found so great faith; no, not in Israel.” And on the second occasion, he marvelled at the absence of faith where it might have been expected to be found namely, in his own fellow townsmen: “He marvelled because of their unbelief.”

He adjusts the strategy to stay on mission

Kept on being who He was

Kept on doing what He came to do

Sets him up easily to send out disciples on a specific mission

------

Authentic Leadership

Authentic Leadership

Authoritative Teaching

Astonished Hearers

Attitude of Criticism

Anger & Offense

Approach to the hostility

Recognize Challenge

Marvel at lack of faith

Ministered with integrity

Sets stage for disciples to minister - sowing the seeds for the church.

[[[[[[[

6. JESUS EQUIPPED OTHERS TO MINISTER WELL

Mark 6:6–7 ESV

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.

Mark 6:7 ESV

7 And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.

MARK 6.7

The assignment was not in perpetuity, it was specific. This was not the launch of the church - it was the assignment of these 12 for this moment.

Mark 6:8–11 ESV

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.”

MARK 6.8-11

Given specific authority a specific task

Given specific instructions on how to go

…where to stay

…how to deal with rejection

Mark 6:13 ESV

13 And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.

SO THEY WENT AND DID...

Mark 6:12–13 ESV

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.

SO THEY WENT AND DID...

MARK 6.

APPLICATION -

We are tempted to look at this text and place ourselves in 1 of 2 positions

1. We want to identify with Jesus who is “wronged” and see the people who are calling into question all of his credentials for the sake of rejecting him.

“They’re rejecting me because something is wrong with them.”

WE MUST REMBER THOUGH THAT JESUS WAS WITHOUT SIN. AND THE MESSAGE WAS ONE CALLING PEOPLE TO HIS AUTHORITY.

This is not about the fact that they just didn’t like him or there was a character flaw or personality conflict.

2. We want to immediately identify with the sensational assignment of the 12 Apostles.

“If I’m doing it right, then this is MY TEXT!”

BUT THIS MESSAGE WAS NOT THE “GOSPEL” FOR CHRIST HADN’T BEEN CRUCIFIED AND RESURRECTED.

This was a specific assignment for a specific group to a specific region. There are principles to learn…but isn’t it funny how our culture pushes us to always identify with the heroes!

THIS PASSAGE IS NOT ABOUT YOU

BEING MISUNDERSTOOD

BEING VALIDATED ON IGNORING DIFFICULT PEOPLE

BEING VINDICATED IN YOUR “RIGHTNESS”

BLAZING A TRAIL OF SIGNS AND WONDERS

IT’S ABOUT JESUS - DOING ALL THINGS WELL

DOING ALL THINGS WELL

This was not Jesus first time in Nazareth ()

They were unkind last time.

He knew that coming in - he wasn’t ignoring difficult people

He still was who He was - and did what He was supposed to do.

IT’S ABOUT THE CHALLENGE OF BEING ONLY A “HEARER” WHO LIVES IN THE MOMENT BUT NEVER MOVES TO OBEDIENCE.

James 1:22 ESV

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

It’s easy to get “caught up” in the moment. But, IF WE DON’T RESPOND WITH REPENTANCE, WORSHIP, and OBEDIENCE - we will spiral into criticizing the messenger and the mechanics and ultimately into rejection. We’ll veto the line items that are too tough to embrace with astonishment.

IT’S ABOUT YOU DOING WHAT HE SAYS TO DO…SO THAT HE GETS ALL THE CREDIT.

Matthew 28:19–20 ESV

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Mark 16:15 ESV

15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.

Luke 24:47 ESV

47 and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

John 20:21 ESV

21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”

Acts 1:8 ESV

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

John 19:20 ESV

20 Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek.

Lead well, serve well, speak well, BE ON MISSION

CLOSING

It’s HARD TO BELIEVE

That the Son of God preaching the Truth of God would be rejected in his hometown

a town that no doubt was abuzz with the immaculate conception

a people whose fodder included Jesus engaging the rabbis at 12

a people who knew firsthand, had seen up close, and handled

MAYBE YOU SAY, “people wouldn’t reject him today if he would appear to them.” Jesus addressed that with the account of the rich man and a beggar called Lazarus in (they have enough of the WORD…they are without excuse).

That people listening to truth could start with astonishment and end in rejection

but that’s the MO of many in pews across the world today

are you enamored with Church? Is that enough?

Have you come to know Jesus Christ personally…powerfully?

That Jesus Christ, the KING of GLORY, would entrust the message of the cross to ordinary people like you and me.

But He did.

We have a power greater than any temporary sign or wonder

We that have been born again from above are THE SIGN and THE WONDER to the onlookers. The miracle of salvation is the only sign and wonder that affects both now and eternity.

Gospel ministry - is where the power is.

My Favorite Illustrations Without Excuse

In one of the “Big Three” conferences during World War II, Roosevelt and Churchill were trying to get Stalin to agree with some proposed strategy. When Stalin gave his reason or excuse for not agreeing with them, they said, “That is no reason for your refusal!” Stalin replied with a story of two Arabs.

One Arab asked the other to lend him his rope. The latter replied, “I can’t. I need it to tie my camel.” The first Arab reminded his companion that he didn’t own a camel. To which the companion replied, “I know that. But when you don’t want to lend your rope, one excuse is as good as any other.”

Excuses offered to God are in the same category. They reveal that we simply do not want to do what He tells us to do.

It’s hard to believe that people could so easily reject the God of this Bible. The God that loves this world so much that he gave His only Son Jesus Christ to live a sinless spotless life...

It’s hard to believe that we could leave a place like this Sunday after Sunday, confronted with the truth of God’s Word, the claims of Jesus Christ, and the person of the Holy Spirit and unwittingly spiral toward criticism and rejection.

James 1:12 ESV

12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

James 1:22 ESV

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

LET’S PRAY!