Mark 6:1-6
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.
Jesus rejected…
In the midst of great teaching by Jesus and the signs and wonders He did in his hometown, the people rejected Him. The reason for the rejection was his background.
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.
In many ways, this is the way the world works. They check your background before they believe in you. They would see if you are credible by looking at your past. Your lineage, ancestors and your past actions define you. They did not just reject him, they took offense at him.
Though the past might have made us who we are now in some ways, it should not define us. Many in Jesus’ hometown did not believe in Him because he was just from Nazareth. Nothing good comes out of Nazareth -it’s a small town with no significant people to boast of.
Maybe, you feel the same way. God has given you the abilities and the talents to do things for His kingdom but you feel that you are not worthy because of your background, your social status or the sins of your past has held you back from doing things for Him. I do hope this verse reminds you that even Jesus experienced rejection from his own hometown. And because there is no honor in his hometown, He did a few miracles in their village.
How about you? Has this stopped you from doing God’s work? Has this kind of thinking made you look down on God and yourself? Has unbelief stopped you in the past?
I pray that this year, you would step out in faith and let God empower you to do His work no matter what your background or past is!