A Prophet Without Honor - Mark 6:1-5
A Prophet Without Honor
6 Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. 2 When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. “Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? 3 Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. 4 Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” 5 He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6 He was amazed at their lack of faith.
Reflection:
We know from Matthew, that Jesus' hometown was in Nazareth, where he grew up and was educated. As such it was considered out in the country, and not the same education as the Rabbis and teachers of the Law would have in Jerusalem. The leaders were torn because they saw him teaching with authority, and doing the things which were promised of the Messiah from their prophecies, but they couldn't get past their pride of position and education.
So they were offended by his lack of education, where he grew up, and his family. Notice they were prejudiced against him because of the humble estate he grew up in. This reminds us of the humanity of Jesus, and how in the weakness in worldly terms, afforded greater opportunity for him to show the strength that can only come from God. Notice too they took offense at him. Although it doesn't appear Jesus sought to offend him, the mere fact that Jesus was preaching and teaching with authority, and doing the things to bring in the kingdom which showed him to be the Messiah, threatened their position and power. It seems as though their offense was rooted in an inordinately elevated view of self and not God!
Finally, and probably most importantly the text tells us Jesus left the synagogue, and went on because he found no faith there. He could not do miracles, except for a few people because of their lack of faith. Unfortunately the
So what can this mean for us? Before we are tempted to throw stones at the Pharisees, don't we all get in the trap of position and power. Don't we all at times seek the praise of the people, rather than having an "audience of one"? Don't we at times feel threatened because someone criticizes something we have done? Also we realized that Jesus came to the understanding that he couldn't help these people for their lack of faith. We are reminded that we can't orchestrate someone's faith life. God alone gives faith as a gift. We can preach and teach the Word/Jesus, and do the works he sent us to do, but we need to leave God's job in God's hands. Amen.
6 Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. 2 When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. “Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? 3 Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. 4 Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” 5 He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6 He was amazed at their lack of faith.
Reflection:
We know from Matthew, that Jesus' hometown was in Nazareth, where he grew up and was educated. As such it was considered out in the country, and not the same education as the Rabbis and teachers of the Law would have in Jerusalem. The leaders were torn because they saw him teaching with authority, and doing the things which were promised of the Messiah from their prophecies, but they couldn't get past their pride of position and education.
So they were offended by his lack of education, where he grew up, and his family. Notice they were prejudiced against him because of the humble estate he grew up in. This reminds us of the humanity of Jesus, and how in the weakness in worldly terms, afforded greater opportunity for him to show the strength that can only come from God. Notice too they took offense at him. Although it doesn't appear Jesus sought to offend him, the mere fact that Jesus was preaching and teaching with authority, and doing the things to bring in the kingdom which showed him to be the Messiah, threatened their position and power. It seems as though their offense was rooted in an inordinately elevated view of self and not God!
Finally, and probably most importantly the text tells us Jesus left the synagogue, and went on because he found no faith there. He could not do miracles, except for a few people because of their lack of faith. Unfortunately the
So what can this mean for us? Before we are tempted to throw stones at the Pharisees, don't we all get in the trap of position and power. Don't we all at times seek the praise of the people, rather than having an "audience of one"? Don't we at times feel threatened because someone criticizes something we have done? Also we realized that Jesus came to the understanding that he couldn't help these people for their lack of faith. We are reminded that we can't orchestrate someone's faith life. God alone gives faith as a gift. We can preach and teach the Word/Jesus, and do the works he sent us to do, but we need to leave God's job in God's hands. Amen.
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