Proper 9
July 5, 2015
Mark 6:1-6
The Scandal of Christ
July 5, 2015
Mark 6:1-6
The Scandal of Christ
Grant, Lord that the course of this world may be so
governed by Your direction that Your Church may rejoice in serving You in godly
peace and quietness. Give us eyes to recognize You, ears to receive Your
Word, and hearts to believe its promises. By Your grave, bring us to the
fullness of Your glory…
“He came to His
own and His own did not receive Him.” – (John 1:11) Two very different
astonishments stand, side by side. Jesus’ teachings amaze His hometown
neighbors. Yet their closed- minded, obstructed hardness, leaves Jesus amazed.
We see similar contrasts today. People experience so
much goodness from God and yet remain unfaithful and unbelieving. But Jesus did
not retaliate. Or write people off. Even when they scornfully dismissed Him. He
took the world’s rejection. And through His sacrificial death, reconciled the
world to God.
In Jesus’ hometown of Nazareth. The people take offense
at Him. The religious community had already written Him off. Now, His friends
and relative – the people from His own hometown will reject Him too.
These people were astonished at His teaching and His
words. They could not explain His greatness. They referred to Him, as they knew
Him - a carpenter…The son of Mary along with his brothers and sisters.
Unable to explain Him, they took offense. They were scandalized by Him. A
prophet is without honor among His own people.
That was then. This is now. What sort of reception
does Jesus receive today? Those who can’t figure Jesus out. Who are unable to
get the explanation they want take offense of Jesus and His word. It was a sad
day for the people of Nazareth. It remains a sad day whenever someone rejects
the Savior and His message of grace.
Did Jesus fail? From our text, one might assume so –
there is a reason why – the people refused to believe in Him. “A prophet is not without honor even from his
own country.”
In Jesus’ hometown. In Nazareth. The people take
offense at Jesus and His work. How so?
Jesus failed to gain the people’s understand Vv. 2-3 -
“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! 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.” Mark
6:2 -3
The people took offense at Jesus. His mere presence
created a scandal. His own people were
not proud of His teaching and healing. Jesus was not the local body who made
good. They were jealous of His power. His wisdom. His success. He was a simple
carpenter. Where did He get this wisdom? His mother, brothers, and sisters all
lived there. “Who does He think He is?”
they asked. They were so offended. They could not believe Him. Was He a prophet
sent from God? Surely not!
Transition: Jesus failed to gain the people’s
understanding. He failed to win the people’s faith.
He failed to win the people’s faith in Him V.6 - “And he was amazed at their lack of faith.”
Mark 6:6
It was not that Jesus could not do any mighty
work. To the contrary. He had the blessing of His Father. Faith is
the receptive agent, which receives these gifts. Without faith, God’s grace
would do us no good.
Thus, the hymn writer would remind us;
Today Your
mercy calls us
To wash
away our sin.
However
great our trespass,
Whatever
we have been,
However
long from mercy
Our hearts
have turned away,
Your
precious blood can wash us
And make
us clean today.[1]
Nothing in
my hand I bring,
Simply to
Thy cross I cling;
Naked come
to Thee for dress;
Helpless,
look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to
the fountain fly,
Wash me,
Savior, or I die![2]
Nazareth was a defeat for Jesus. There was no other
place where Jesus was rejected except at the cross outside the Holy City. Of
all places, Jesus could have expected acceptance was among His closest friends
and family. It may have discouraged Jesus to giving up His teaching and
preaching. How does He take this failure? “He
went one teaching.” He went on with His work to other places; working as
hard as ever.
Transition:
Jesus failed to gain the people’s understanding. He failed to win the
people. He failed to do them good.
Failed to do them good – V.5 - “He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick
people and heal them.” Mark 6:5
Notice the cold irony and tragedy. He was rejected by
“His own country.” His very own country – Nazareth – rejected Him. Nazareth. Where
He had grown up. Nazareth.
Where He worked as a carpenter. Nazareth. Where His
relatives and family lived. Such a tragedy! His home folks rejected Him. He
could not do any miracles there, except to lay His hands on a few sick people
to heal them.
“He came to His
own, and His own received Him not!”
His immediate family called Him crazy. His hometown rejected Him.
Leaders if His religion pronounced Him “possessed” of the devil. His nation
cried out, “Crucify Him!”
Yet in this rejection, He offers you a great exchange
– your sins for His righteousness. Because a people rejected Him, the Father
offered His grace to any who would receive Him by faith. That’s why we call the
leniency of God a gift. God’s mercy. His
underserved kindness. His compassion and
grace.
How shall you react to Jesus? He comes to you this
day. Does He receive the same cold shoulder? What is your reaction? To this
Jesus? Spurn Him not – rather trust in Him. Receive His gifts. With great
rejoicing and thanksgiving.
Words –1,035
Passive Sentences -3%
Readability – 79.2%
Reading Level – 4.1
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