Rejected In Nazareth
Despite his miraculous deeds, his hometown rejected his ministry and took offense at the humble origins of Jesus – Mark 6:1-6.
Jesus experienced
growing conflict as he began his journey to Jerusalem. In Galilee and Gentile
territory, he displayed his lordship over nature, demons, disease, and even
death, and the crowds welcomed him enthusiastically. But among his own people, he
was met with unbelief and rejection, which became the prelude to John’s
execution.
Previously, the crowds marveled at his
authority and deeds. However, in his
hometown, he marveled at the lack of
faith that he found, and at the rejection of God’s final “prophet,” the
Messiah - (Mark 1:22, 5:20).
- (Mark 6:1-6) - “And he departed from there and is coming into his hometown, and his disciples are following him. And Sabbath having come, he began to be teaching in the synagogue, and many who heard were astonished, saying, ‘From where has this man these things, and what is the wisdom given to this man, and mighty works such as these are occurring through his hands?! Is not this one the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?’ And they were scandalized in him. And Jesus was saying to them that, ‘A prophet is not dishonored except in his hometown and among his kinsfolk and in his household.’ And he was unable to do not even one mighty work, except on a few sick, having laid hands, he healed them. And he was marveling because of their unbelief. And he was going around the villages in a circuit teaching” - (Parallel passages: Matthew 13:53-58. Luke 4:16-30).
NAZARETH
Nazareth was a small and insignificant
village. It is never mentioned in the Old Testament - (John 1:45-46, “Nathaniel
said to him, ‘can any good thing come from Nazareth?’”).
The Greek word rendered “hometown” refers
to Nazareth, the village where Jesus grew up and learned his trade. That the
crowd asked the rhetorical question about his craft indicates that at some
point he had worked at his craft in Nazareth.
The Greek noun rendered “carpenter”
or tektōn is a generic term for an artisan, and it
could refer to several skilled trades, including carpentry and masonry.
The crowd acknowledged his wisdom and his mighty
works. His miracles could not be denied. But the villagers reacted with
skepticism to his lowly origins. They were offended by his ordinary pedigree
and low social status. He was not a man of great prominence or wealth.
OFFENSE AT GOD’S VESSEL
Where did he get his wisdom? He had not
attended any of the rabbinical schools, and he lacked the appropriate
“credentials” to expound on the Hebrew scriptures. The men of Nazareth did not
deny his insight, but they could not comprehend how he acquired it. They were
offended by the vessel that God had chosen, not by the contents of his message
or the miraculous deeds that he did.
Familiarity breeds contempt. In this ancient
culture, heredity and geographical origin had much to do with determining any man’s
place in society.
Thus, the crowd was “scandalized” by his origins. A carpenter was one who engaged in manual labor, something one would not expect the Messiah and king of Israel to do.
The list of his brothers is found only here
and in Matthew 13:55 (James,
Joses, Judas, Simon). Elsewhere in the New Testament, James is a prominent
leader in the church at Jerusalem, and Jude is the author of the epistle that bears
his name - (Jude 1:1).
The passage does not say whether his family
was present at the synagogue, but the crowd knew his family. Presumably, his
brothers and sisters were children whom Mary had by Joseph after his birth.
Here, he is designated the “son of Mary”
rather than the “son of Joseph,” and that suggests the latter was dead. Previously,
his family had questioned what he was doing. It seems, his siblings only accepted
him as the Messiah after his death and resurrection - (Mark 3:21, 31, Acts 1:14, 1 Corinthians 9:5).
REJECTED
No one denied his mighty deeds. Nevertheless,
his own people rejected him. It was not his teachings or miracles that caused offense,
but the person who performed them. Previously, he was rejected by the Pharisees
and Herodians. Now, he is rejected by his hometown and family.
The paragraph ends with him “going around
the villages in a circuit teaching.” The proclamation of the Kingdom was
his primary activity, not miracle-working or exorcisms, though he did those
things when needed. Too often, his miracles produced the wrong results - Unbelief,
confusion, offense, rejection.
The passage warns anyone who would follow
Jesus of his or her possible rejection even by close associates and family members.
To emulate him is to offend the world.
Later, Jesus warned his disciples that times
would come when “brother will deliver up brother unto death and children
will rise up against parents to put them to death; you will be hated by all
because of my name.” They would be betrayed by those closest to them - (Mark
1:14-3:6, 3:7-6:6).
Thus, discipleship entails great
personal risk and cost. If following Jesus comes without any costs,
perhaps it is time to reassess whether we are truly "following the Lamb
wherever he goes.” And in Mark’s account, rejection and opposition are normal
for his disciple, not exceptional, and true disciples can and should expect
resistance to the gospel.
