The Gospel of Mark: Rejection in Nazareth

He left that place and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. On the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, “Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands! 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. Then Jesus said to them, “Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown, and among their own kin, and in their own house.” And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them. And he was amazed at their unbelief. ~ Mark 6:1-6


They say you can't go home again!

You'd think that the hometown would be proud of this boy made good. Look what has happened to him! Look where he's been, what he's done, where he's going.

But it's more, "who does he think he is."

What's most surprising to me with this passage is that we are told Jesus could do no deed of power there (of course, I think healing sick people is a deed of power)!

Something about the hometown that won't let him be who he's meant to be. Something about his hometown that surprised - saddened likely - him to the point where he found it difficult to live into his calling there.

Jesus has already made it clear who family is: family is born of faith and fellowship, not simply relationship. If the reaction to him by his relations didn't make that clear, the reaction of this place did.

That Jesus was amazed at their doubt tells me he was surprised by it. That he was saddened by it. It is difficult when we mature and discover that the place we came from isn't the place we are meant to be. I think of this acutely now as my own daughter has moved across the country and is pursuing a career in a way I'm fairly sure she wouldn't have been able to as successfully here.

And I did the same thing when I was her age.

Still it is difficult. It's hard for us when home is no longer home. And it was hard for Jesus.

And yet he went on. He continued.  There was no looking back. Home, family would never allude him. It would just not be the same as the family and home he grew up in.

Holy God, thank you for the gospel - the good news - of your Son. Open my mind and heart to this good news and enliven me with your Spirit of servanthood that I might share this good news with a world in need. Amen


Engagement Questions:


When was a time you broke with family or home to stretch out and mature? What "family" have you gained over the years that is not yours by blood?

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