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Mark 6:1-6
Who Does He Think He is!

Jesus was raised in a little town called Nazareth. His earthly father Joseph was a carpenter there, and it's likely that Jesus learned and practiced His father's trade. One result was that the people of Nazareth thought of Him as a carpenter, a simple workingman.

By the time of the narrative before us, Mary and, if still living, Joseph, along with Jesus and His brothers, had moved from Nazareth to Capernaum. Jesus' sisters were probably married, possibly with children of their own, and apparently they still lived in Nazareth. Because of this, the synagogue ruler, the elders and many others felt that, since they already knew this Man, they couldn't believe what they were seeing Him do and hearing Him say. Jesus' brothers and sisters were ordinary people, Mary and Joseph had been ordinary people, and Jesus Himself had probably been quiet, unassuming, and hardly noticeable in His days in Nazareth.  So what business did He have to come now and teach in the synagogue and to assume the role of a rabbi and miracle worker?

As Jesus Himself points out, there's never much honor given to a man by people who are convinced they already know him. Never mind what He says. Never mind what He does. Don't confuse them with the facts: they know Him - so of course He can't be anything more than what they know Him to be.

We're often like that! We often have people "pegged" only to find out later that they were much more than we originally thought! But perish the thought that we might be wrong, or that we might need to readjust our thinking! We already know that we know that we know! We'd trust our own thinking before any other source of information! But such pride of mind is dangerous, and if that's the attitude we have toward Jesus, we'll eternally perish in it.

It's not an attitude restricted to a few Jews in Jesus' day. It's still with us. People look at the Christians of our day as poor, weak individuals who are succumbing to a kind of mob psychology, putting on an air of righteousness for the sake of "fitting in" to their "group." The people who "know" us just can't believe that something real has happened in our hearts - that a real, living Savior has actually begun a good work in us. After all, we weren't that way until we got involved with those Christians! Unbelief and prejudice don't change easily.

But Jesus was a bit amazed at the extreme depth of their unbelief. Mark tells us that "He wondered on account of their lack of faith." In His heart of hearts, He was saying to His Father, "Father, it's amazing how unbelieving these people are! I understand that a prophet isn't honored much in his own country - but this is too much!" He was amazed at how far man had fallen, at the immensity of their unbelief, at the utter density they displayed. After all, He knew how wonderfully they were made!  To Him, their unbelief was one of the tragic wonders of the world into which He had come. He understood, but He was amazed.

And not only was such unbelief amazing, but it was also immovable. Jesus pointed out the principle in His illustrative story about Lazarus and the rich man (Luke 16:19-31). The rich man in Jesus' story, "being in torment in Hades," begged "Father Abraham" to send Lazarus to his brothers to warn them, "lest they also come to this place of torment." The rich man tells "Father Abraham" that "if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!" But "Father Abraham," says, "If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded - even if someone rises from the dead!" The most overwhelmingly persuasive facts will not convince unbelief.

Is it any wonder that John recorded Jesus as saying, "Do not grumble among yourselves. No one can come to Me, unless the Father Who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall all be taught of God.' Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me." (John 6:43-45) If the Holy Spirit of God does not open our hearts, they must remain forever closed.

How is it with you? Do you ridicule those who believe in Jesus? Do you remember what they were like before they were Christians, and so now do you think that they're just trying to "fit in" with their Christian crowd? In other words, do you think that they're merely using Christianity as a "prop?" Is it possible that you're already convinced that Christianity isn't reality, and that you're prejudiced against any and all facts to the contrary?

Paul spoke about such unbelief, an unbelief we all have until God takes it away. He said, "And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins . . ." (Eph. 2:1) You can't change a dead person's mind! You have to bring him to life first! The Holy Spirit, through Paul, is plainly telling us that it's that way with every one of us. And only God can bring us to life.

If you're an unbeliever, if you're prejudiced, but if you are even now wondering whether there's a slight chance you've been wrong in your prejudice, then God may already be bringing you to life. Please realize that coming to life can't harm you! It can only give you a whole new life! What do you have to lose (other than your present dread of eternity)? If that's you, then why not simply say to God, "God, if You're really there, show me the truth, and keep me from stubborn prejudice!"

And how about the rest of us? How about those who, through the grace of God, do believe? How does this all apply to us? I think it just once again teaches us how totally dependent upon Him we really are. We may believe, but do we believe enough to really trust Him in all situations, even in situations that sorely try us? O how we need to go to our Father in prayer to supply us the faith we so much need, the faith that can only come by the work of His Spirit in our hearts!

oh, dear Al,

What a powerful message.!!

I know we are suppose to pray for "unbelievers"--but some of them are so hurtful in there display of utter disobedience to HIS word that it is hard.

But, I have to admit that every time an unbeliever questions me; I go back to the basics and learn more  and more of how the good LORD wants me to respond to them.

I don't like to feel uncomfortable ; but know that the good LORD uses my discomfort in their questions to go to HIM and find more and more answers and with that I grow more in my spirituality.

So, the unbelievers have helped me so much in growing and strengthening my faith that now I just "praise the Lord " for their questions and pray that the good Lord will reach themand open their eyes the way HE has done for me..

Take care,

Love in Christ,
Joyce

Nothing can harm us, because He is Lord of all.  In fact, "All things work together for good to them that love God, to the ones called according to His purpose."  So praise the Lord for their hard quesionts, Joyce - you're His child, so you're going to do nothing but grow!

I must admit that when He captured me, my family, friends and neighbours thought that I had  experienced some kind of nervous breakdown!
That's how big the change was, I was spouting scripture to them every chance I got!
And I dont think one of them were saved to this day!
It was just "CHRIS"
If only they had looked beyond "ME"!

Chris:  They might be thinking that you are crazy or just spouting off.   Rest assured that something is getting through.

Ruth