The Pilgrim Path---Mark 6: 1—6 

He went away from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. 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? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.” And he could not do mighty works there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. And he marveled because of their unbelief.

---v. 1—His own country: His disciples follow Him to the land of His upbringing. This will be simply wonderful---or will it? Well, no great homecoming after all…

---v. 2—He began to teach in the synagogue on the Sabbath: The response was astonishment. The crowd cannot understand. Jesus is not a member of the religious establishment---what is He doing? Yet, what wisdom? What amazing works they had heard He had done elsewhere? What is going on?

---v. 3—He is the carpenter, the son of Mary---Brothers? Sisters? We know them all. How can He be doing these things He is doing---and “talking” like this? This---should not be happening. They resented Him…

---v. 4— “Honor is not given a prophet in his backyard” ---that’s Jesus’ testimony to his hometown listeners. This familiarity was “one” problem that lead to hardness of heart…

---v. 5—He could do no mighty works there: Just a few sick people healed (very few).

---v. 6—He was wonder struck at their lack of faith. A damning word about them. An awesome word about Him: so attentive to the spiritual state of people---especially when it has to do with “trusting” Him…relying upon Him…humbling oneself before Him…

----Oh, the losses, the opportunities missed---by unbelief

----Oh, the missed benefits---by unbelief

----Oh, the showers of blessing missed---by unbelief

----Oh, the visits of Victory missed---by unbelief

----Oh, the times of refreshing never known---by unbelief

From J. C. Ryle: Never had any place on earth such privileges as Nazareth. For thirty years the Son of God resided in this town and went to and fro in its streets. For thirty years He walked with God before the eyes of its inhabitants, living a blameless, perfect life. But it was all lost upon them. They were not ready to believe the Gospel when the Lord came among them and taught in their synagogue. They would not believe that one whose face they knew so well, and who had lived so long, eating, and drinking, and dressing like one of themselves, had any right to claim their attention. They were “offended at Him.”

UNBELIEF in reference to Jesus Christ / Dr. Charles Hodge:

---refusing to recognize Jesus as God manifest in the flesh

---refusing to recognize Jesus as the messenger & teacher sent from God

---refusing to recognize Jesus as our atoning sacrifice

---refusing to recognize Jesus as having absolute authority over us

---It is the deliberate preference of the kingdom of Satan before that of Christ

Heaven and earth may pass away,

God’s free grace shall not decay;

He has promised to fulfill

All the pleasure of his will.

Rowland Hill’s Psalms and Hymns, 1783; mod.

“Among many marks that we are on the journey, and under sail towards heaven, this is one, when the love of God so filleth our hearts that we forget to love and care too much for the having or wanting of other things; as one extreme heat burneth out another.” Samuel Rutherford

Dear LORD, we do not wish to miss your best by unbelief. Help us cast off arrogance and fear, so we may take You and Your Truth---just as they arrive. To even consider “passing” You by, is an awful consideration. Open our hearts and our eyes each day---so we receive You with delight and joy. Amen

Grace and Peace in Jesus Christ Our LORD, Pastor Jason