Mark 6:1–13

[Jesus] went away from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. ²And 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? ³Is 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. ⁴And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.” ⁵And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. ⁶And he marveled because of their unbelief. And he went about among the villages teaching.

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⁷And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. ⁸He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts— ⁹but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics. ¹⁰And he said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there. ¹¹And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.” ¹²So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. ¹³And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.

Our text directs our attention to the central argument of answering the question of who Jesus is. In the town of Nazareth where Jesus grew up, the town’s folk could only see Him as “the carpenter, the son of Mary” (3) and not the Son of God. Our Old Adam, our inherited sinful nature, is exceptionally good at creating a Jesus we like according to our needs and especially according to our preferences. Throughout history people have denied the Holy Scriptures as the pure Word of God, viewing the Bible according to human reason and substituting the truth for current cultural viewpoints. Praise God, for all those who preach “Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2).

Thankfully, Jesus did not and does not retaliate against those who rejected Him and even those who acted upon their unbelief. What Jesus experienced in His hometown was only a foreshadowing of what would take place in Jerusalem. There Jesus did what He had come from heaven to earth to do; bear the sin of all people to the cross. Jesus was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities and by taking our chastisement upon Himself, Jesus reconciled us to God (cf. Isaiah 53:5). Instead of retaliation, Jesussent His apostles to proclaim that His sacrificial death has reconciled all who believe on Him to God the Father. Until the end of the age, Jesus’ ministry continues through the pastors He sends. Men who preach the Word of God to you, who administer the Lord’s Means of Grace to you in Holy Baptism, absolution, and the Holy Supper where we eat and drink for the forgiveness of sin.

Our Lord and Savior continues to serve us here through the Word of God, where He gives us His peace in a world which refuses to welcome and embrace Him as Savior. Living in this world that rebels against the Lord, His Word, and His people, we are weak. But the Lord is abundantly merciful and through St. Paul He promises: “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

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