1 Then He went out from there and came to His own country, and His disciples followed Him. 2 And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, “Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands! 3 “Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” And they were offended at Him. 4 But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house.” 5 Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6 And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching.
Devotional
In this section of Mark's gospel, Mark here tells us of Jesus' return to his hometown of Nazareth. A place where Jesus having been baptized by John in the Jordan River, and being filled with the Holy Spirit by God the Father, Jesus after enduring His temptation in the wilderness, began His public ministry teaching in the synagogues and was glorified by all (Luke 4:14-15). That is until Jesus returned too Nazareth. For though they heard the words of the Scripture he read to them from Isaiah on the Sabbath, which He declared to be fulfilled in their hearing, they rejected Jesus’ Person as being the fulfillment of those Scriptures. Instead relegating Him to the standing of being merely Joesph's son. And with that, Jesus knowing their unbelief, also declared to them from the Scriptures two Gentiles as true people of God, because they believed the prophets message spoken to them, which the people of Nazareth didn't. And so when they heard Jesus say that to them, they tried to kill Him by throwing Him off a cliff. But Jesus walked away from them unscathed (See Luke 4:16-30). And with that Jesus “…went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and was teaching them on the Sabbaths. 32 And they were astonished at His teaching, for His word was with authority. Luke 4:31-32
And so Jesus leaves Nazareth, and goes out and teaches many people. Performing many miracles and healings in and around Capernaum, (a densely populated area), before He again returns to Nazareth. And so Jesus having returned begins again, by teaching on the Sabbath, in their synagogue. Now when Jesus did so the Scripture says: “And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, “Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands! 3 “Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” And they were offended at Him. Vs. 2-3
This then is the second time that Jesus reveals Himself as the Christ to the people of Nazareth. In the first instance, already briefly reviewed. Jesus did not teach, He simply read from Isaiah the prophet and declared to them that "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." which they rejected by relegating Jesus to being merely the son of Joseph (Luke 4:21-22). And so here Jesus is not said to be reading from the Scriptures on the Sabbath to declare to them as His coming as the fulfilment of the Messiah. Instead Jesus is teaching them directly, as the Messiah. And so when they hear Jesus speaking to them they are amazed at the Wisdom of Jesus Words, as well as the mighty works performed by His hands. Yet they remain incredulous about Him, and instead of believing in Him, they again relegate Jesus to just the “carpenter”, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon who lives amongst them (vs. 3). And so the Scripture says they were offended at Him. Now the word translated offended here is indicating that by both Jesus Words and deeds; though some would've marveled at Him; the majority just took great offense at Him. I imagine some of them were saying things like this: "How dare this carpenters son come into our synagogue and make such assertions about the "Kingdom of heaven", and do such things. Who does he think he is!" And so once again the people of Nazareth, whom Jesus had grown up with and lived amongst, did not see Jesus for who He really is. Though they were astonished by His teaching, and taken back by His mighty works amongst them, yet they remained incredulous towards Him. Not willing to believe that God's Son had come and had lived His early mortal life amongst them; not only in fulfillment of the Scriptures; but also for the rising, and fall of many in Israel (consider Luke 2:34-35). Therefore with their again relegating Jesus, to being just a carpenter, Jesus says to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house.” Vs. 4 Now see the progression that Jesus uses in His declaration. First his own country, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country…” Believers too, will share in Jesus Christ’s humiliation and too lessor and greater degrees His suffering (as it is all appointed to us from God) before we share in His inheritance. Consider Jesus was born a Jew, and was faithful to all of God's law. Yet He was largely rejected by His own countrymen, as it says in the Gospel of John of Him: 11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name. John 1:11-12
“…among his own relatives…” Than one’s own cousins, aunts, uncles etc. some or all may very well reject a person’s testimony of their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ's Person. Believers then should not be surprised when they having declared their loyalty to Jesus Christ, find themselves alienated from some of or all their own relatives. Even Jesus’ relatives in Nazareth after they began hearing of Jesus’ mighty works after He left Nazareth, started saying He was out of His mind, and sought to stop Him (Mark 3:21). Which then precipitated the scribes who came up from Jerusalem to seize on that, and then go on to say to the people, that Jesus was casting out demons by the ruler of demons; to even further undermine Jesus' reputation, and thus people following Him. Nonetheless the Lord Jesus immediately and thoroughly rebuked them for their blasphemous words about Him with His parable. Saying that those who say such things about Him are subject to eternal condemnation (See Mark 3:22-30). For as the Scripture says: 22 “For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, 23 “that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. John 5:22-23 Therefore those who presume upon knowing Jesus, or being in a relationship with God, but are incorrigible towards either Him or His own, can truly be said to not know neither God nor Him (consider 1 John 3:15; 4:20).
“…and in his own house…” That is those most closely related to them. The Lord Jesus said when one believes in Him a man’s enemies will be those of His own household, (See Matt. 10:34-36). Even at this point Jesus’ brothers did not yet believe in Him (John 7:1-5). Only Marry Jesus’ mother did; though James and Jude would later. James being chosen by the Lord Jesus Christ to be the first eyewitness Apostle to His resurrection (1 Cor. 15:7), and thus the Apostle James became a prominent Apostle in the early church in Jerusalem (Acts 15). Notice too Jesus is no longer being referred to as Joseph’s son, but Mary’s, which may be indicating that Joseph had died by this time (See Luke 4:22). As well notice that the people of Nazareth mentioned Jesus as having genealogical brothers by name, two are to be noted. The James previously mentioned is the Apostle James who wrote the Epistle (or letter in the N.T.) that bears His name; and Judas (or Jude) is the author of the N.T. Epistle that bears his name. Also there is the mention of some sisters; clearly indicating that Mary did not remain a “perpetual virgin” as the Catholics try to deify her being. None of which affects Jesus Christ’s Person as the Son of God. But it does affect Mary’s status, if one is holding to her as having a place before Jesus Christ the Lord as a means to God the Father. For the New Testament is clear, it is only the eternal Father Son relationship that is paramount (John 14:6). For there is neither a mother or queen in heaven. Now Marks Gospel concludes this section by saying that Jesus could do no mighty work there in Nazareth, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6 And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching.” Vs. 5-6
That Jesus could do no mighty work there is not that He Himself did not want too, rather He Himself has made faith in His Person the means or agency by which He comes into and works in people’s lives. Therefore the unbelief of the people of Nazareth assured that Jesus could do not mighty work there amongst them, or in them, or even through them. For that principal is inseparably linked to the gospel and ones reception or rejection of the Lord Jesus Christ as testified too in it. The passage then concludes that Jesus marveled at their unbelief. And how could He not. For if they won't believe God's Son and Word living and speaking amongst them, then what will they believe? And so with that the Scripture says Jesus went about the villages in a circuit, teaching. Notice Jesus never stayed long in a place where faith was absent. Though He always gives time for its seeds to be sown and too mature. Yet if He returns only to see nothing has taken root, He leaves. As should you and me.
All Scripture Quotations
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.
Devotional
In this section of Mark's gospel, Mark here tells us of Jesus' return to his hometown of Nazareth. A place where Jesus having been baptized by John in the Jordan River, and being filled with the Holy Spirit by God the Father, Jesus after enduring His temptation in the wilderness, began His public ministry teaching in the synagogues and was glorified by all (Luke 4:14-15). That is until Jesus returned too Nazareth. For though they heard the words of the Scripture he read to them from Isaiah on the Sabbath, which He declared to be fulfilled in their hearing, they rejected Jesus’ Person as being the fulfillment of those Scriptures. Instead relegating Him to the standing of being merely Joesph's son. And with that, Jesus knowing their unbelief, also declared to them from the Scriptures two Gentiles as true people of God, because they believed the prophets message spoken to them, which the people of Nazareth didn't. And so when they heard Jesus say that to them, they tried to kill Him by throwing Him off a cliff. But Jesus walked away from them unscathed (See Luke 4:16-30). And with that Jesus “…went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and was teaching them on the Sabbaths. 32 And they were astonished at His teaching, for His word was with authority. Luke 4:31-32
And so Jesus leaves Nazareth, and goes out and teaches many people. Performing many miracles and healings in and around Capernaum, (a densely populated area), before He again returns to Nazareth. And so Jesus having returned begins again, by teaching on the Sabbath, in their synagogue. Now when Jesus did so the Scripture says: “And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, “Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands! 3 “Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” And they were offended at Him. Vs. 2-3
This then is the second time that Jesus reveals Himself as the Christ to the people of Nazareth. In the first instance, already briefly reviewed. Jesus did not teach, He simply read from Isaiah the prophet and declared to them that "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." which they rejected by relegating Jesus to being merely the son of Joseph (Luke 4:21-22). And so here Jesus is not said to be reading from the Scriptures on the Sabbath to declare to them as His coming as the fulfilment of the Messiah. Instead Jesus is teaching them directly, as the Messiah. And so when they hear Jesus speaking to them they are amazed at the Wisdom of Jesus Words, as well as the mighty works performed by His hands. Yet they remain incredulous about Him, and instead of believing in Him, they again relegate Jesus to just the “carpenter”, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon who lives amongst them (vs. 3). And so the Scripture says they were offended at Him. Now the word translated offended here is indicating that by both Jesus Words and deeds; though some would've marveled at Him; the majority just took great offense at Him. I imagine some of them were saying things like this: "How dare this carpenters son come into our synagogue and make such assertions about the "Kingdom of heaven", and do such things. Who does he think he is!" And so once again the people of Nazareth, whom Jesus had grown up with and lived amongst, did not see Jesus for who He really is. Though they were astonished by His teaching, and taken back by His mighty works amongst them, yet they remained incredulous towards Him. Not willing to believe that God's Son had come and had lived His early mortal life amongst them; not only in fulfillment of the Scriptures; but also for the rising, and fall of many in Israel (consider Luke 2:34-35). Therefore with their again relegating Jesus, to being just a carpenter, Jesus says to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house.” Vs. 4 Now see the progression that Jesus uses in His declaration. First his own country, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country…” Believers too, will share in Jesus Christ’s humiliation and too lessor and greater degrees His suffering (as it is all appointed to us from God) before we share in His inheritance. Consider Jesus was born a Jew, and was faithful to all of God's law. Yet He was largely rejected by His own countrymen, as it says in the Gospel of John of Him: 11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name. John 1:11-12
“…among his own relatives…” Than one’s own cousins, aunts, uncles etc. some or all may very well reject a person’s testimony of their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ's Person. Believers then should not be surprised when they having declared their loyalty to Jesus Christ, find themselves alienated from some of or all their own relatives. Even Jesus’ relatives in Nazareth after they began hearing of Jesus’ mighty works after He left Nazareth, started saying He was out of His mind, and sought to stop Him (Mark 3:21). Which then precipitated the scribes who came up from Jerusalem to seize on that, and then go on to say to the people, that Jesus was casting out demons by the ruler of demons; to even further undermine Jesus' reputation, and thus people following Him. Nonetheless the Lord Jesus immediately and thoroughly rebuked them for their blasphemous words about Him with His parable. Saying that those who say such things about Him are subject to eternal condemnation (See Mark 3:22-30). For as the Scripture says: 22 “For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, 23 “that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. John 5:22-23 Therefore those who presume upon knowing Jesus, or being in a relationship with God, but are incorrigible towards either Him or His own, can truly be said to not know neither God nor Him (consider 1 John 3:15; 4:20).
“…and in his own house…” That is those most closely related to them. The Lord Jesus said when one believes in Him a man’s enemies will be those of His own household, (See Matt. 10:34-36). Even at this point Jesus’ brothers did not yet believe in Him (John 7:1-5). Only Marry Jesus’ mother did; though James and Jude would later. James being chosen by the Lord Jesus Christ to be the first eyewitness Apostle to His resurrection (1 Cor. 15:7), and thus the Apostle James became a prominent Apostle in the early church in Jerusalem (Acts 15). Notice too Jesus is no longer being referred to as Joseph’s son, but Mary’s, which may be indicating that Joseph had died by this time (See Luke 4:22). As well notice that the people of Nazareth mentioned Jesus as having genealogical brothers by name, two are to be noted. The James previously mentioned is the Apostle James who wrote the Epistle (or letter in the N.T.) that bears His name; and Judas (or Jude) is the author of the N.T. Epistle that bears his name. Also there is the mention of some sisters; clearly indicating that Mary did not remain a “perpetual virgin” as the Catholics try to deify her being. None of which affects Jesus Christ’s Person as the Son of God. But it does affect Mary’s status, if one is holding to her as having a place before Jesus Christ the Lord as a means to God the Father. For the New Testament is clear, it is only the eternal Father Son relationship that is paramount (John 14:6). For there is neither a mother or queen in heaven. Now Marks Gospel concludes this section by saying that Jesus could do no mighty work there in Nazareth, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6 And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching.” Vs. 5-6
That Jesus could do no mighty work there is not that He Himself did not want too, rather He Himself has made faith in His Person the means or agency by which He comes into and works in people’s lives. Therefore the unbelief of the people of Nazareth assured that Jesus could do not mighty work there amongst them, or in them, or even through them. For that principal is inseparably linked to the gospel and ones reception or rejection of the Lord Jesus Christ as testified too in it. The passage then concludes that Jesus marveled at their unbelief. And how could He not. For if they won't believe God's Son and Word living and speaking amongst them, then what will they believe? And so with that the Scripture says Jesus went about the villages in a circuit, teaching. Notice Jesus never stayed long in a place where faith was absent. Though He always gives time for its seeds to be sown and too mature. Yet if He returns only to see nothing has taken root, He leaves. As should you and me.
All Scripture Quotations
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.
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