Hometown Rejection
Notes
Transcript
Intro
Many in this very room were born and raised right here in West Limestone. Imagine growing up in this area your entire childhood. As you enter adulthood, you are a grown man or woman. You come back to this West. Upon returning to your hometown, you face complete and total rejection. Everyone you though you knew and were close to rejects you. They call you names. They hurl insults at you. They make fun of you and your upbringing. They utterly and totally reject you.
This was the case for our Lord and Savior Jesus. Jesus was from the town of Nazareth. This was a small town made up of around 200 to 500 people. This would be a town comparable to West Limestone. Jesus had grown up in this town with Joseph and Mary as His earthly parents. Likewise, He had brothers and sisters as well. People in this small town of Nazareth would have remembered Jesus as a young boy and teenager. However, Jesus has begun His public ministry now. As we have seen over the past few weeks, Jesus has travelled about casting out demons, healing people, and calming storms. Likewise, Jesus had already ventured to His hometown once before. However it did not go well for Him the first time. Jesus was preaching in the synagogue. After He preached, His hometown folks were upset with Him so much so that they were ready to hurl Him off the side of a cliff. This was the rejection Jesus faced from His hometown.
Tonight, we see that Jesus is heading back to HIs hometown in Mark 6. Let’s see how things go this time.
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.
Pray.
If you remember from last week, Jesus healed the woman that had a blood disorder for 12 years. After doing that, He also raised Jairus’s daughter from the dead. Now, He has ventured over to His hometown. So may think that this was Jesus heading home to visit with His family; however, that is not the case as Jesus takes His disciples along with Him. Jesus and His disciples are going to Nazareth to do ministry. Jesus had already been rejected by His hometown once. Now, He is back and we see a similar rejection take place. That being said, Jesus does teach us through this passage of Scripture from God’s Word.
Ministry at home is tough, yet essential.
Ministry at home is tough, yet essential.
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.
As Jesus comes back home with His disciples, He enters into the synagogue once again. He teaches the hometown crowd and notice that the crowd is astonished. The hometown crowd is hearing Jesus whom they had known since He was a young boy. Upon hearing Him, the crowd was mind-blown. They could not believe how Jesus was teaching and the wisdom He possessed. This caused for them to ask questions.
They asked where Jesus got this wisdom and how He was performing this mighty works. As they are asking such questions, the truth of their view of Jesus is revealed. They do not recognize Jesus as the Son of God. Their view of Jesus is that of a hometown boy. They view that Jesus is just the same as they are. Jesus probably had the same accent as they did. He probably grew up with the other boys in the town. The entire town knew who He was along with His entire family.
Notice what they ask as well, “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon?” They saw Jesus as a commoner and are now turning to insults. They point out Jesus by identifying Him with His job. They saw Jesus as just a carpenter. A blue collar boy that worked with His hands. In essence they viewed Jesus as nothing more than a handy man. On top of that, they identify Him as the son of Mary. While we may not take offense to this in modern times, this was an insult to Jesus. They were insulting Jesus and His mother.
One 1st century Israel would be identified by their father’s name. Some suggest that maybe Joseph had passed away at this point in time. However, it would seem as though Jesus would have still be identified by Joseph’s name even if Joseph had passed away. That being said, it is obvious that this hometown crew was now insulting Jesus as well as His mother. They were essentially calling Jesus an illegitimate child while calling Jesus’s mother an adulterous woman.
Talk about a hometown welcome. Jesus was completely dismissed by His hometown. They did not believe in Him. Instead, they were eager to criticize and reject Him. They did not believe that Jesus was who He said He was. Each and every one of these questions were meant to be demeaning in every way. They were rejecting Jesus and the wisdom that He had from God. They were astonished by His teaching. Or, they were amazed by His teachings; however, they did not believe in Jesus. They had completely rejected Him already.
Jesus is omniscient. This means that Jesus is all knowing. Jesus knew that He would be rejected by His hometown. However, Jesus reveals to us through this passage of Scripture that it is still essential to reach out to our hometown with the Gospel.
Oftentimes, growing up in a small town all teenagers can think about is growing up eager to leave a town. I grew up in a small town. I thought that whenever I graduated, I would head off to seminary and live in the big city and be something big. However, that was not God’s plan for me. Instead, I ended up in another small town. God called me hear to Salem Springs. While this may not have been my big plan, this is the big plan that God has for my life. God called me here to minister to y’all and the community of West Limestone. Maybe God will call you to another city to be a shining light for Him. Or, He may leave you right here at home. Whatever the case, ministry is the call.
If you are called to stay in the area of West Limestone where you grew up, that is well and good. However Scripture clearly teaches us that ministry in one’s hometown in tough. You see, Jesus had been surrounded by these people His entire life. While Jesus was perfect, He did not reveal Himself as the Son of God until His public ministry. As He came back to His hometown proclaiming truth regarding the Kingdom of God and His Messiahship, His hometown rejected Him as an illegitimate child turned carpenter. Likewise, when Jesus spoke the truth of Scripture, the people were offended.
Speaking the truth of God’s Word to those close to you will offend.
Speaking the truth of God’s Word to those close to you will offend.
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.”
Jesus had been teaching in the synagogue. As He did so, the people were astonished by the wisdom He taught with. Then, they were offended. Jesus was a hometown guy and He was preaching God’s Word. Jesus taught them God’s Word and they had probably heard the miracles that Jesus had performed. However, they were offended and rejected Jesus.
Danny Akin writes, “Jesus’ teachings and miracles do not automatically produce faith. They actually offended those who changed His diapers, who learned the Torah and enjoyed table fellowship with Him, and who at one time gave Him hugs and kisses. Not anymore. All that has changed.”
Jesus’s friends, family, and town had rejected Him. Those in this small town probably thought that the Messiah could not and would not come from such a town as Nazareth. They thought the Messiah would not come from such humble beginnings nor be born in the way in which He was. However, the evidence was and is overwhelming that Jesus is the very Son of God.
Notice Jesus’s response.
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.”
Jesus came to fulfill the will of the Father. He came holding three offices. Jesus held the office of prophet, priest, and king. In this verse, He highlights His office as a prophet.
If you remember from our study through the book of Joel, Joel was a prophet meaning that God would speak directly to Joel who would speak to the people of God.
Now, Jesus declares that He is a prophet. Jesus is the very Son of God who was on the earth declaring the Word of God. As He came and did so in His hometown, He was utterly rejected. Jesus is heartbroken as He points out that He is rejected by His hometown but more than that by His relatives and His own household.
At that time, Jesus’s brother had not come to faith in Him, and they would not until after His death on the cross, burial, and resurrection. Even His relatives which probably lived in Nazareth rejected Him.
The same is true for those who accept Jesus as Lord today. Following Jesus does come at a cost.
14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
Following Jesus is hard. Jesus is the One true Savior. Living a life totally surrendered to Jesus is hard and not many people will follow Him. Likewise, because not many people will follow Jesus, there may be times that you feel allow and without support following Jesus. However, the call is to follow Him. Jesus had to have felt alone as His family, friends, and hometown rejected Him.
This is the Christian life. Jesus came to bring a sword is what Scripture tells us.
34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. 37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
For those who repent and believe in Christ, it could cost you everything. The way is hard and narrow, but following Christ is worth it as it leads to life in the end.
I am reminded of a missionary that used to come to the church I grew up in. He grew up as a Muslim. Then, he heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Upon hearing that Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose from the grave after three days, this man was drawn to repentance and faith. This costed him everything. His family abandoned him and left him on his own. Following Christ cost him his family.
This makes us seriously consider our walk with Christ.
Can I be honest with y’all?
In our current community, the mindset is that following Christ is well and good until it interferes with our sports schedule. Then again, following Christ is well and good until it means I have to get out of my comfort zone to share the Gospel with my friends. Following Christ is well and good until it means I will offend someone.
That is the true mindset our community has, and it is up to y’all as to whether or not that mindset will change. Y’all are the up and coming generation. Will y’all seriously follow Christ? Or, will y’all give into the mindset that following Jesus is optional?
Jesus taught and people were offended. Understand that following Jesus will cost friends, popularity, and maybe even relationships with family members. However, will you stand on God’s Word and share the Gospel with others like Jesus did even if it offends others?
God’s Word is offensive because it is true!
12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
The Gospel is offensive to those who are not willing to hear. However, to those who do hear the Gospel it is the gift of God to eternal life. To those who repent and believe in Jesus’s finished work on the cross of Calvary, salvation is certain.
22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Our sin gained us death; however, the free gift of God that is Jesus Christ and Him crucified gives the one who will repent and believe life.
For one to hear that they are in sin either offended or drawn to repentance.
7 So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe,
“The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone,”
8 and
“A stone of stumbling,
and a rock of offense.”
They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.
Many who hear the Gospel will be offended as they recognize that their sin is called out. This sin will be revealed by the Gospel and their pride will lead them to anger and offense as they do not believe that they are sinners. This will then give way to rejection. And notice Scripture says they were destined to do this. They were destined to reject. Therefore, know for certain that whenever you share the Gospel some will be offended and reject because they are offended by the Gospel.
Likewise, some will repent of their sin and accept Jesus Christ as Lord.
18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
To those being saved, the Gospel is the power of God.
Despite unbelief, we must faithfully submit to Jesus.
Despite unbelief, we must faithfully submit to Jesus.
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.
Despite unbelief, Jesus continued to minister within His hometown. Notice, Scripture says that Jesus could not do mighty work there. Now, Jesus is omnipotent meaning that Jesus is all powerful. However, “Jesus could not do miracles because He would not in the face of blatant unbelief” (Akin 121). Jesus would not perform miracles because of the peoples complete and total unbelief. The whole purpose in why Jesus would perform miracles was to reveal the truth that He is the Messiah and lead sinners to salvation.
John MacArthur says, “The issue was not that He lacked the supernatural power to perform miracles. Rather, there was not reason to do miracles there, since the purpose of His miracles was to attest to the truth and reveal Himself as the Lord and Messiah, and thus to lead sinner to saving faith.”
Because of their unbelief, Jesus chose not to perform miracles. That being said, Jesus did heal a few folks in Nazareth. However, just as His hometown was amazed by Jesus’s teaching, Jesus is amazed at the unbelief of His hometown. His hometown completely and totally rejected Him. The very Son of God and Savior of the world was in their midst and they rejected Him.
We look at the people of Nazareth and think to ourselves how could they reject Jesus. They saw how Jesus healed people, casted out demons, performed miracles, and heard Him teach. How could they reject Him?
Then, we come to our time period. We have God’s Word which has historical written record of what Jesus did. Likewise, we read that Jesus went to the cross to die for our sins. Jesus lived a holy and perfect life. He is the very Son of God who stepped down from heaven in obedience to the Father. As He stepped down from heaven, He walked the face of the earth never sinning. Then, He was placed on a false trial where He was falsely accused and crucified. Jesus died on the cross because of us. It was because of our sins that Jesus died on the cross. He came as a prophet preaching God’s Word. Then, He fulfilled the office of priest as He became the sacrifice for our sins. He died once and for all in order that our sins would be paid for. He took our place on the cross in order that we could be saved. As He fulfilled the office of prophet and priest, He then fulfilled the office of King as He rose from the grave after three days and ascended to the right hand of God the Father. He did all of that to save us from our sins. Will you reject Him like the people of Nazareth? Or will you repent and believe?
For those who are Christians, you are still in your hometown. Will you seek to make Christ known here in West Limestone? Notice, the people of Nazareth rejected Jesus, but in verse 6 it says that He went on teaching in villages. Will you continue on even in the face of rejection?
Also, have you become too comfortable in your relationship with Jesus? Have you heard the Gospel so many times that you are essentially numb to it? If so, I pray that you will be reminded on the Gospel. Be reminded of your situation before Christ. Before your faith in Jesus, you were dead in your sin and trespasses. Now, you are made alive in Christ because of His love for you. Never let that truth become cold. Instead, remind yourself every single day to walk with Jesus as you remember the price He paid for you on the cross.