The Life of Christ

Mk. 6:2 And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue; and the many listeners were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things, and what is this wisdom given to Him, and such miracles as these performed by His hands?”

On His last visit, He read only a brief scripture and made a few comments; this time the local rabbi has asked Him to give the Sabbath message.

• Previously only a few sick people were healed; this time special notice is given to “ such miracles performed by His hands,” though still only a few (Mk. 6:5) in comparison to His normal mode of operation (Mt. 8:16).

And when evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed; and He cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were ill (Mt. 8:16).

• However, as He spoke, the reaction became identical; at first, they were astonished at the gracious words preceding from His mouth; they had never heard such wisdom before.

• But within minutes the blatant contradiction was too strong to ignore.

Mk. 6:3 “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James, and Joses, and Judas, and Simon? Are not His sisters here with us?” And they took offense at Him.

Again, the citizens of Nazareth were unable to reconcile the Man in front of them with 30 years of familiarity.

“Is this not Joseph’ s son? ”

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• There was common Mary, the daughter of Eli, certainly not the Blessed Virgin!

• Jesus grew up a carpenter, not a scholar; He assumed His father’s business shortly after Joseph died.

• It appears that Jesus’ mother and brothers had left Nazareth at some point; only His sisters had remained, each having married and now busy raising families.

• The countless memories and thousands of visual images would not allow Nazareth to embrace a very different reality.

There were just too many reasons not to believe.

• One of the less known secrets of faith is learning how to “ purposely ignore any legitimate reason not to believe ,” and there are often many reasons!

• “We are not to overthink what God has called us to overlook!” (Pastor Matt Lacey, Fountain Church, Pleasanton, CA). • Such an action requires strong concentration upon Jesus, while deliberately choosing not to lean upon our own understanding (Prov. 3:5-6)!

Knowing Nazareth would take offense as Him, we question why He even came back a second time.

• Could it be that divine order offers two chances: Titus 3:10?

• "Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition" (Titus 3:10).

• After two chances and two rejections, Jesus never returns to Nazareth again.

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