Rejected or Accepted
Mark 6:1-2
[1] He went away from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. [2] And 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?
Rejection – pushed away
Acceptance – brought close
“To know and to be known.”
What would it look like if you went back home? Maybe you already live there/here?
I can tell you that many of my friends would have no idea who I am. I don’t mean they won’t recognize me (maybe so, maybe not)
Most of my extended family doesn’t know me. They know my name and who I belong to, but they don’t know me.
But, it hurts to feel rejected, doesn’t it?
————-
Here we are right after Jesus heals the woman with the issue of blood and Jairus’ daughter. Jesus has traveled back to His hometown. Jesus’ hometown (where he spent his childhood years) was Nazareth, about 20 miles southwest of Capernaum. He’s got the disciples with Him and like a Rabbi would do, He goes to teach/preach in the synagogue.
Mark 6:1-6
[1] He went away from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. [2] And 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? [3] 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. [4] And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.” [5] And 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.
And he went about among the villages teaching.
————————
Here’s what they say……..
He’s just a carpenter. (A common laborer like us)
He’s no better than we are.
Mary’s son? – derogatory term instead of being referred to by His father/Jewish tradition (only this way if the father is unknown)
What is He saying?
Where did He get these ideas?
Who does He think He is? – They took offense.
We know His family. …familiarity breeds contempt
The reaction of the people in this synagogue contrasts with that of Jairus, the ruler of another synagogue (5:22). Mark recorded three questions the observers in Nazareth raised. They wondered where Jesus got the teaching and the authority that He demonstrated. They asked each other who had given Him the wisdom He manifested, and they questioned where Jesus had obtained His ability to do miracles. Obviously they had not concluded that they came from God. Their questions manifested unbelief and hostility. Their personal acquaintance with Jesus’ family and Jesus’ former manner of life among them made it hard for them to think of Him as anything more than a mere man.
Mark 6:5
[5] And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them.
Why couldn’t He do mighty work there? – God won’t force you, Mark is telling about miracles in response to faith. Remember the lady with the issue of blood? (your faith has made you whole) and Jairus (don’t fear, only believe)
Acts 14:8-10
[8] Now at Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet. He was crippled from birth and had never walked. [9] He listened to Paul speaking. And Paul, looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be made well, [10] said in a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And he sprang up and began walking.
NOTE: This doesn’t mean every time that you don’t get your wishes or prayers answered, that you have no faith. It means that if you have no faith, why would God be your genie in a bottle?
Back to Jesus
He’s rejected. He’s used to it. He gets the ultimate rejection for our acceptance on the Cross. “By his stripes we are healed” “he bore our sins, he was bruised for our iniquity”
Again, Jesus is God, so He isn’t surprised at the rejection…but look at where he marveled (he is amazed). He’s performed miracles elsewhere and they have to know this, He’s also teaching with power and wisdom, but He’s too ordinary for them. They have God (acceptance) right in front of them and they reject Him. As far as is known He neve returns to Nazareth.
The people here are reflective of Israel…they’ve rejected God. They are reflective today of those who reject God. It doesn’t matter how many miracles God performs, a hard heart will explain it away. Y’all get this don’t you? God is about changing us from the inside out, not convincing us every time we turn around that He is God. He already knows that He’s God, He doesn’t have to convince himself or anyone else. It’s our gift to be called His children.
Whose acceptance or approval are you seeking? Unless it’s Jesus, you won’t be satisfied. It’s not fulfilling. It won’t fill up the hole that’s empty. The hole that you’ve tried to fill with other stuff. You see most of us know that feeling. We’ve tried different things to be accepted or approved of by the world, family or even ourselves. It won’t work. Some of it might have temporary happiness, but it fades.
Does rejection mean anything if it’s nonsense? The question here is about rejection. I mean what’s it matter who rejects you if you know you’re doing the right thing? You see this is a sad part here. We could think vindictively and say… “you’ll get what’s coming to ya” but that won’t fill up any hole either. Reality is none of that stuff, those lies can really hurt you. I see so many people playing the “respect card” or “I’ve been disrespected” to “motivate” them. Really? I’m doing something just to prove something to someone whose opinion I don’t really covet?
Jesus weeps over Jerusalem as He enters later in the Gospel. He weeps because He knows they will reject Him and He’s exactly the one they need.
What is self-worth?
“Self-esteem is what we think and feel and believe about ourselves. Self-worth is recognizing ‘I am greater than all of those things.’ It is a deep knowing that I am of value, that I am loveable, necessary to this life, and of incomprehensible worth.” (2013). Dr. Christina Hibbert
Self-worth is defined by Merriam-Webster as:
“a feeling that you are a good person who deserves to be treated with respect”.
You can’t be good enough.
I looked up the words to the song RESPECT to see if they might help. They don’t, it’s mostly just Aretha singing great, but the lyrics don’t make a lot of sense. (Otis Redding). How about this…
……Tim Keller explains it this way.
The Christian Gospel is that I am so flawed that Jesus had to die for me, yet I am so loved and valued that Jesus was glad to die for me. This leads to deep humility and deep confidence at the same time. It undermines both swaggering and sniveling. I cannot feel superior to anyone, and yet I have nothing to prove to anyone. I do not think more of myself nor less of myself. Instead, I think of myself less.
Turn to Jesus for acceptance. This incomprehensible worth is only provided by the Lord of the Universe, not some positive thinking or 1000 good deeds. God sent His Son to die for you and me….that is incomprehensible worth. Rejected, or accepted.
