Mark chapter 6, Our brother prayed with thankful for that.
But let's pray again, shall we? Heavenly Father.
You are our refuge our Shield, our strength.
Well, we ask that you would show Yourself Strong through this
passage, help us see the glories and the infinite beauty of your
son Jesus. Soften our hearts Lord you
alone, know the hearts of all men, you know, exactly what is
happening though, man. May not perceive it.
We pray that you would help us be the very people.
You have redeemed us to be law. We submit to you in reverence
and in awe of who you are and we trust Lord, that you will speak
to us, we hunger and thirst for righteousness.
And you promise that, for those who hunger for such things will
be filled and we ask that we would be filled today in Jesus
name, amen? Then Mark 6, are you there verse
1? Follow with me as we read the
words of almighty God. 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 brother of James and Joseph and Judas and Simon.
And are not his sister's 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 do no Mighty work there, except that
he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them.
And he marveled because of their unbelief and He went about Among
The Villages teaching. This new chapter in our journey
through the gospel of Mark, opens up to us with the
announcement that Jesus arrived at his home town and that is no
small detail concerning the Lord's itinerary.
The fact that we see that this is taking place in the setting
of Nazareth adds, a critical element to the dimension of the
exchange that Jesus will have with this particular audience
and it's also going to be the frame.
I work where you and I were are going to discover unique truths
that will indeed challenge us to disconnect Nazareth.
Jesus Hometown from this context would be a great disservice to
what it is that the Holy Spirit intends to teach us.
And so we must understand the geographical location of Jesus.
At this particular time. He is there visiting where he
grew up and you would expect that as Jesus arrives to his
friendly neighborhood that he Would be welcomed with unusual
Hospitality or extravagant warmth, but that is not the case
that will not be the case. Instead what you and I are going
to see is that the Holy Spirit testifies that the residents of
Nazareth are actually going to be among some of the most
hostile communities and people to resist the message and the
ministry of Jesus Christ. You are going to see something
that perhaps will also make you Marvel, maybe not but in deed
and made Jesus Marvel. We are not unfamiliar with the
concept that Christ during his days on Earth was this honor in
that Christ. Today is continually being
Dishonored. But what makes this hard
heartedness especially grieving, is that this kind of rejection
is coming from those who are the most familiar with him.
The most familiar with him. There is a danger with
familiarity. and I thought about how to title this message
because sometimes it helps to get a message within the title,
The Message. Growing up with Jesus.
It can be a blessing.
Sometimes it can be dangerous. When we examine this particular
case of rejection, unfortunately, one of many
during the Life of Christ, I want us to consider three simple
things. I want us to First, consider the
region of the rejection you. And I read it in verse 1.
He went away from there and came to his hometown.
Now this is important because it says here and his disciples
followed him. The fact that we were told the
disciples follow Jesus to his hometown.
Suggests and prepares us to know that this is not some private
visit, but it is for the purpose of public Ministry.
Jesus coming to Nazareth to preach and to teach.
And the fact that the Lord, our Lord is willing to go to a town
like this says, much about him as of servant of God, which Mark
wants to highlight. That's the theme of The Gospel
of Mark the perfect servant of God and I want your heart to be
ministered to as you realize what kind of Minister Jesus was
When Nathaniel heard from his friend Philip that apparently
the Messiah had been identified. We are told in John 146, can
anything good? Come out of Nazareth.
That question of content. Already tells us that Nazareth
was not a town of good repute. It was obscure, it was a poor
reputation. And though there isn't much said
about Nazareth, The Silence of the Old Testament concerning it
again. Might suggest that this was a
small irrelevant. Something on the Wayside, a
place held in low esteem. And when you add to that
silence, Nathaniel's comment, you get the impression that it
probably wasn't a very pleasant place to be either.
So, Jesus is going there. We are not told plainly why?
Nazareth was such a place. We don't know why exactly why I
was held in derision but it's enough for us to know from
whatever is told about Nazareth that it's not a place that you
would willingly want to be But Jesus goes there.
Jesus willingly takes the time to come to this community and to
preach the gospel to them. You see, when you look at the
Lord. You know, that our master was
the most captivating preacher, the most profound teacher, who
had unmatched Authority, concerning miracles.
But the same teacher, the same Minister, the same traveling
rabbi did not shun insignificant and meager places to serve.
We see here that this Jesus did not determine where he would be
based on how many people would be present.
He didn't look at opportunities to serve as a potential stepping
stone for a greater promotion or opportunity.
He loved people and when he saw that there was a need, he was
willing to be there. When he saw that.
They were Souls, that could be potentially saved, he would be
there. He did not disqualify, even
though of a place that was disqualified, he was not moved
by popularity. He was not moved by the
platform. He was not motivated by the
honorarium, He saw the value of a human soul and that was enough
for him to go where men would not go.
Your call to follow. Jesus.
Are you not? I'm called to follow Jesus and
this will minister to the ones who want to minister in any
capacity. Can I ask you this afternoon?
What is it, my brother? What is it?
My sister that motivates you to serve God's people or God's
purpose is on the Earth? What is it?
That inspires you? You have some people who will
not give their gifts. If the thing is too small, if
there isn't promised promotion, if there isn't recognition.
If there isn't potential. Fame, or any kind of
recognition. And yet Jesus could care less
about those things. If there is, anyone who should
have been very selective where where he would Minister it was
Jesus and yet you find him in neighborhoods like Nazareth.
I want to be like Jesus. I don't want to automatically
dismiss opportunities just because they're not flashy or
attractive or impressive. I don't want to come to a place
and see it barely attended but knowing that God had called me
there. Be discouraged because a fleshly
reasonings. If Jesus could have a following
of 12 and Jesus could come to a place like Nazareth to preach.
Then you and I should be more than willing to go where he
calls us to go though. You live and die, and no one
mentions your name as a man or a woman of God.
If you think that's inspiring, it only gets more inspiring why?
Because this is not the only time Jesus went to Nazareth.
This is, in fact, the second recorded time that Jesus made
his way to his hometown and you might be thinking.
Why is that important to know? Because we've been given the
detailed account when Jesus initially went to Nazareth.
And it's found in Luke chapter 4 shortly after his 40-day
Wilderness experience. And when you see what happened
to Jesus, when he went to Nazareth the first time, it will
make you wonder why he would ever go back again.
Can I show that to you will meet me in Luke chapter 4 quickly?
Matthew Mark, Luke. The right side of your book.
Luke 4. And notice this with me as we
just skip over some of these verses.
Verse 16. At the beginning of his
preaching Ministry, we were told and he came to Nazareth where he
had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went
to the synagogue on the Sabbath day and he stood up to read and
he reads out of Isaiah 61. And then you look at the initial
response of the people verse 22 and all spoke well of him and
marveled. At the gracious words that were
coming from his mouth and they said is not this Joseph's son.
One. So the people were impressed,
they were moved their hearts were ministered to but whatever
endearment that they enjoyed and that they shared to Jesus and
with Jesus was quickly intercepted by disdain It didn't
take very long for these people to have difficulty to reconcile
this. How can little Jesus Son of
Joseph. How can this Carpenter?
Claimed to be the Messiah that we've been waiting for.
And they couldn't grasp it. They couldn't fathom.
And they couldn't solve that equation.
And we don't have time to read how Jesus responds to their
unbelief, but let's summarize it with this.
He rebukes them. He rebukes them friends and
family that have known him since he was a little boy.
He was not afraid to confront them for their sin.
And when he does call them out for their lack of faith.
Despite so much evidence. What do you think they did to
him? We don't have to guess look down
at verse 29. And they rose up and drove him
out of the town and brought him to the brow of the hill on which
their town was built so that they could throw him down the
cliff. But passing through their midst,
he went away, you know, the people Jesus read their minds.
They wanted some kind of a show of a miracle and in some
indirect way he did, I would love to have known what that
look like for a crowd to push Jesus to the edge of a cliff.
And then we are told that he passed through their midst.
Perhaps they were just paralyzed in that place and he just
casually walked by with a grin on his face.
They wanted to kill him. The same Jesus that would be
playing and running around in their streets and be called home
for dinner from Mary, the same Jesus that was being trained by.
Joseph to know how to cut wood and fashion Stone.
That same Jesus was ready to be launched off a hill because of
his message. And according to Mark, despite
such deadly aggression, despite such Evil.
Jesus later on in his ministry, makes his way back to Nazareth.
To teach again. You might be thinking why that's
Unthinkable to me? Why would Jesus do such a thing?
And I could not get past one simple truth.
Perhaps it's the same truth that your Listening to in your own
heart. Concerning who Jesus is.
He's gracious. That's why he is Grace.
Doesn't make sense. It's abundant, it's overflowing,
it's scandalous. Yes, this Jesus is willing to go
back to the same place and give these people a second chance.
I think to myself Lord not only do I want to be like you in
terms of where I go and who I minister to but oh Lord this
kind of this kind of Mercy. This kind of Grace and
forgiveness and willingness this kind of throbbing of the heart
that's willing to continue to extend the hand, to those who
swatted away and not just want to swat it away.
Want to cut it off. I feel so small.
I feel so weak. I feel so powerless.
And that's what happens when you come to the gospels and you face
this Jesus, he humbles you. Any kind of boats that you would
have in your character, your consistency always just smashed
as it is under the weight of his glory.
Jesus, going back to Nazareth. You have some people who won't
come back to church of the pastor forgets to shake their
hand. And yet Jesus is willing to go
back to the people who wanted to kill him.
This is our Jesus, the region of the rejection says something
about the redeeming love. Of this rabbi.
But we go from the region of the rejection to the reason for the
rejection. Come back to Mark six and let's
read their questioning. Well, you would think maybe
something would change in the hearts of these nazarenes.
Since the first time Jesus came, you would think that between the
first and second visit that because Jesus message and power
spread like wildfire to the farthest parts of Israel that
the nazarenes would have heard the headlines.
This man is doing Miracles. He's cleansing lepers.
He's delivering from demons. He just he just raise little
girl from the dead. You would think that after all
of that, how they treated him and the reports about him that
they would be regretful, they would be humbled, maybe you
would think that they would hope to God that there would be a
second chance for Jesus to come back and to offer himself again
and we would be different in how we hear him.
And the fact that again, Jesus is willing to go back should
Inspire us and what way that it's possible, it's possible.
I'm not saying it happened but it's possible for people to
change. It's possible and we should be
open to the prospect that people who were once hardened soil can
become over time, fertile, ground.
That people who once rejected Christ and were indifferent to
Christ and were unmoved by the gospel.
Can at some point be fervent for Christ.
Faithful obedient loving surrendered to him.
And if you need biblical evidence of that, you know, the
different examples of the Bible that tell us of how even cities
and the most unlikely candidates can become the most glorious
trophies of his grace. Remember those Samaritans?
When Jesus wanted to go to Jerusalem and he wanted to pass
through. So he sends a couple of
disciples and they reject them, you're not even allowed to come
through these doors and they wanted to call fire down from
heaven and Jesus rebuked them because Jesus had something else
in mind, he want to send something else.
Us from Heaven on the Samaritans and you find that in Acts
chapter 8, when Philip the Evangelist goes and he preaches.
And when he preaches, there's Revival in Samaria.
What do you think about the classic example of Saul of
Tarsus who became the great Apostle Paul?
Yes, people can change. And I know that sounds like a
cliche. I know that's something that we
always here, but let it let it bless you and let it inspire you
to believe that people who have once resented.
The truth can accept the Savior at some point.
Is that the case for this story is that's going to happen with
the nazarenes. Unfortunately not.
The rejection will be the same and listen, the rejection will
be the same. The only difference is they're
not going to try to kill him because I realized I didn't work
the first time. Why did they reject him again?
Why did they reject them at all? Pay attention to this?
It comes down to one reason. Familiarity.
They were familiar with Jesus.
Bewildered by his unmatched delivery, they were astonished
by how he was preaching and what he was preaching.
But again, just like the first time something of an obstacle
arose in their hearts, And the rhetorical questions are clear.
And it's worth visiting again. Where did this man?
Get these things? They're not actually wondering,
they're kind of criticizing. What is the wisdom given to him?
How are such Mighty Works done by his hands.
Here's what they're essentially saying.
We know that Jesus was a carpenter from for many years of
his life. And so how is it that this man
with no theological training or background can come and teach in
such a way? And claimed to have truths to
give to us. And then they continued by
saying How is it that he is the son of Mary?
So they went from, we can't understand how our local
handyman can be the claim, the Messiah to them that I just
bothered them. They could not accept that.
That this is the anointed one. But then they said, here is not
this in verse 3, the carpenter the son of Mary, the son of Mary
That's not just to identify Jesus among different.
Jesus. This is a derogatory term.
This is a slur. This is them resurfacing and
retelling the Scandal Around Jesus birth.
The Jews even, the religious leaders, believe, he was an
illegitimate son. You read that in the Gospel of
John and so by bringing up Jesus, being the son of Mary.
they are trying to refer to his Strange history, and background.
And then they go on to say after naming his siblings are not his
sister's with us. Again, this is not just to
identify who he is, they're trying to make a statement.
And the statement is this, if this is really the profit, if
this is really the God sent then how is it that even his own
siblings? Don't believe in him.
Are not his sister's. They say our Nia sisters with
us. Why aren't they with him?
And so they think of all these reasons to disqualify Jesus
claims and identification. And here is the main Crux of the
matter. This is really the heart behind
what they're saying. Jesus, you can't fool us.
You can't fool us. Oh sure.
You can say what you're saying, and sure it's powerful, and
sure. There's some kind of evidence
behind your Miracles, but we know who you really are, we've
watched you with our own eyes. We've seen you grow up and so
don't don't pretend to be like you are something that came from
heaven and that you are the one that we've been awaiting.
You can fool the ones in Capernaum but not us from
Nazareth. There's no way.
You are who you say you are. What foolishness?
This confidence will be there condemnation and do you know why
they can be? So sure of their biographical
assessment of who Jesus is? You ready for this?
It's because the nazarenes had some history with Jesus.
They grew up around him, they observed him, they were over the
years, able to accumulate some database about his person and
they thought that they you ready for this.
They thought that they really knew him They didn't.
And here's the point for us to consider this Sunday, afternoon
and light of this having history growing up around.
Jesus does not mean you really know Jesus.
Having history growing up around?
Jesus does not mean sorry to sting you with this truth.
Does not mean you really know Jesus.
And I'm sure some of you can relate to that.
I'm sure many of you can recall, what it was like to have Jesus
in your home. I'm sure some of, you know, what
it's like to have Jesus in your car.
When your mother, or your father played songs about the savior
I'm sure some of you remember, visiting Jesus.
Like a distant relative once a week for a couple of hours.
Not because you were excited to see him but because he did some
good things for you and your family, you just want to pay
some respect. Some of you might be doing that
this very afternoon. And because of that kind of
environment, people develop a false sense of confidence, that
they know all that they need to know about this.
Jesus, when in fact, they don't really know him In reality, he
was everywhere around you, except in your heart.
Isn't that the testimony of so many in this place today?
I grew up around Jesus. I saw him from a distance.
I'm familiar with his words. I'm familiar what he has done.
But that doesn't mean, you know, him.
And I remember that being my testimony.
And I remember where it all changed, if you were to ask me
at 18, do you know Jesus, I wouldn't bat an eye and say, I
know Jesus. And all of that was altered when
my limited profile of his person was challenged by the true and
full presentation of who he really was and what he truly
demanded of me. And it could be very well that
some who are listening. Today, are under that accursed
confidence. Accursed confidence.
Why? Because it all feels right.
It feels right because Jesus was a neighbor to you for so long.
He lived in and through your mommy.
And your granddaddy. And maybe your older brother
your younger sister or you just happen to be in a Christian
household. So you have naturally believing
friends. And so, you're familiar with the
events that you have to go to on some weekends and the
conference's that you went to kicking and screaming and the
only comfort you had was that there would be some games or
food. And so you feel like you know,
him because you've been around him, you're accustomed to his
name, you're accustomed to his word, your custom maybe even
with some of his works but like the nazarenes of Jesus day, you
did not wholly Embrace him. You did not Embrace him.
He's something, but he's not everything.
He exists to you but he's not extravagant to you.
You don't have this perception of his Holiness and his other
worldliness, and his wonder and his power and his presence in
your life. Daily.
He's just ordinary. Jesus.
You need to be saved. Young person.
Listen to me. I can speak boldly to you
because I know what it's like to be in that pew.
And have the fragrance of Jesus around me, but not on me.
You don't have to wait till you get to college and mess up more
before you realize that the world is lying to you.
And that what you did hear from a distance was actually true all
along. Give up now.
You'll never regret it. These people had a strange
comfort in their analysis of Jesus, and they can judge him
though, it was Judge wrongly because they were familiar with
him. And I want to encourage parents
not to be afraid for your children to be accustomed to
Jesus from a young age. All I asked you to do is give
them the whole Jesus. Make sure that they are plugged
into a church. That preaches, the whole Jesus.
Remind them in sit with them and tell them the truth of what it
means to really follow Jesus. I think a lot of the mistakes
that people make concerning their children is that they are
confident in a little prayer that they prayed at one point
and there's no discipleship following disciple them.
Sit with them, have honest conversations with them and more
importantly by the grace of God through his holy spirit, live it
before them live it before them, and trust that their familiarity
with Jesus can actually be their rescue.
These people were familiar with Jesus but a limited Jesus.
Not the deified, Jesus. Not the son of God.
So they got themselves in trouble. and so we look at here,
the reason for The rejection and now we look at finally the
response. We looked at the region of the
rejection. We look that the reason for the
direct projection. Now, we come to the response of
the rejection or to the rejection verse 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. This is a this is a proverbial
expression, it's sad. It's something that we know.
But you can imagine Jesus saying this with some level of pain in
his heart. A prophet is not without honor,
except in three places, According To Jesus.
Number one, his hometown which can speak of his companions and
close friends. Number two, among his relatives,
with can speak primarily about distant relatives and lastly, in
his own household, your immediate loved ones and though
these are different spheres. They all have one thing in
common. They are accustomed to you.
And so Jesus is really confirming what we just finished
explaining. The way we can translate.
What Jesus is saying here is with the common adage that we
know familiarity breeds contempt that the more familiar you
become with something or someone.
The tendency there is for you to become relaxed and more than
just relax dishonoring. And Jesus saying that's what
happens to messengers of God. That's what happens generally
with messengers of God, that the ones who are closest to him,
tend to not appreciate and value them, or see them for who they
really are overtime. And when Jesus says this, we
have to understand that it applies beyond the unbeliever
not believing in the true Jesus because they grew up being
familiar with. Jesus know, there are those who
are saved and I pray that's all of you.
There are those who are saved who have to understand that we
as Christians who have made confession in Christ are not
immune to the Fatal danger of familiarity.
I don't have to do, I don't really have to spend the next 10
minutes explaining how that could be true.
I think you and I are fully convinced that our hearts are
susceptible of becoming indifferent and casual and
distracted concerning who Jesus is right?
But I want to offer you a solution that you can hold on to
for the rest of your days, one of the best, and most effective
things that you can do to assure that your feelings for Christ,
and your pursuit of Christ does not grow, stale and crusty and
sits on some shelf in your mind. We're just gathers dust while
you're playing with other things in life that are significantly
less important than Christ is to do this.
Can I tell you what to do? Would you ever keep this truth
before you for the rest of your life?
That no matter what kind of exposure you've had to the
glories of Jesus? There is yet more Beauty, more
wisdom, more power yet to be discovered.
If you have that conviction before you, you allow it to rest
on your heart day and night. It will be like, do that will
keep your faith fresh and alive. Everything that you have seen
everything that you've heard, everything that you think you
have mastered. is nothing in comparison to all that Christ is
I shared this on Friday. So forgive me.
Friday Bible students. If I repeat this reference.
But I read it earlier this week and I can't shake it off because
it inspired me in a new way. It woke me up in a new way and
the Book of Job will do that to you in many ways.
And the reference that I'm speaking of is in job 26, 14 job
finishes in that chapter rehearsing, the absolute power
and Majesty of God, the Grandeur of who he is and all of
creation, how he and his power, sustains the universe and all
the details there in At the end of the matter, when he gives
this wonderful speech of just, how Sovereign God is he ends up
saying this behold. These are, but the outskirt of
his ways, And how small a whisper, do we hear of him?
But the Thunder of his power who can understand.
This is what job is saying, after describing the glories of
God in all of creation, and all of his acts, all of the things
that you've perceived, all of the things that have taken your
breath away. All of the things that we get
updates on the news, about concerning the universe and
pictures and discoveries. All of those things, listen
carefully are, but a sigh of his might They're just a whisper.
His wisdom. It's just a peek at his power
and if we have just entertained the edges of his natural
Revelation, what awaits you and I, when we come into the power
of God unto salvation, what is ready to blow our minds when we
dig deeper concerning his incarnation?
Concerning his death, his burial, his resurrection, his
Ascension, his high Priestly ministry, right now, in heaven,
his return, and his restoration of all things his life as you.
And I are looking through, through the gospel of Mark, what
is it? That awaits us to know.
If we just, but pursue it. Someone massively said this that
one of the paradoxes of Christian growth is that the
more you grow in your knowledge of God and his word, the more
you realize how little grass you have of it. and so, when I, when
I thought about that, this is what I realized that your Wonder
of who God is, will cease the moment you stop pursuing it.
So what do you mean, brother? What I'm saying is this, if that
Paradox is true, that the more I discover, who Christ is the more
I see his promises, the more I see his acts, the more, I see
what he is capable of what he has done, what he will do, what
he can do today. The more I learned these things,
if it's true that the more I realized man, I don't even know.
It will humble you will cause you to worship it will cause you
realize your creature and that he's the Creator.
That kind of Amazement will stop due to one thing you stopped.
Pursuing him. That's the power of this thing.
This is why this is Supernatural.
It's amazing. The more I eat physically, the
more full I get is that not true?
But it's not true. Spiritually, what happened?
Spiritually is the more you eat spiritually, the hungrier you
get, And so if you've come to a place where you're just stale
and cool, and yeah, Jesus ordinary Jesus.
Yeah. I think I figured him out.
Can I tell you something? You obviously, at some point
stop pursuing him. Because that is not the attitude
of someone. Who's tilling, the ground of the
word of God and seeing greater gems and jewels of his glory.
But the person who is coming and does discipline themselves,
whether they feel like it or not, knowing what truth is, oh
the more they are stimulated and kept alive concerning their
praise and their astonishment of who he is.
So listen, God is not going to put on a show from you for you,
from time to time to get you to understand how good he is.
It's the glory of God to conceal a matter and the Glory of Kings
to search them out. God is too precious and
valuable. He has given us enough for us to
be invited to seek Him and know him.
And when you do he promises to give you samples of who he is.
That will keep you alive more than you can imagine.
And unfortunately for these nazarenes they could not see
past the carpenter Jesus. They could not see past teenager
Jesus. They could not see past the son
of Mary son of Joseph. So, they stayed exactly where
they were and unbelief and spiritual death.
And Jesus has a response more than what he had just said
because of that. There are three things that
happened would Jesus after this one has to do with Miracles.
The other one has to do with Marvel.
The last thing has to do with him moving about.
Look at the miracle aspect here in verse 5 and he could not do
Mighty work there. He could not do no Mighty work
there except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and
healed them. He could not do. don't think for
a moment that unbelief of people can limit Jesus from exercising,
his power Do not believe for a moment that Christ cannot move
about in full capacity because there is a lack of currency of
faith. Nothing nor anyone can tie Jesus
hands down. He Sovereign, he can do whatever
he pleases at any time, at any point with this, infers, the
context suggest this, though, that Jesus chose not to do
miracles, Jesus chose not to do Miracles because the miracles of
Jesus have a purpose, they are not vain stunts, they're not
empty presentations of his power.
The miracles of Jesus seek to validate his message and his
identity. But what do you have here?
You have a people who have already written off his message
and I've already written off his identity.
So here's the natural equation. Why do Miracles what's the
point? The verdict has already been
made and so, he refrains from doing the very thing.
That they have already concluded in their minds, we don't believe
in you. We don't want anything to do
with you then, fine. There will be no miracles for
you and if that is the case, it's good to understand that
Jesus chose not to. But here's the broader.
Meaning for this for us. When we put the pieces together,
here's what we conclude that Christ choice not to manifest
his power and might was in correlation to what the people's
lack of humility and hunger for him.
Jesus chose not to do these things.
For one main reason they didn't want it.
They didn't honor him, they didn't see their desperate need
of him. And so, he reserved it.
And if that is true, then let me say this Christ, then and Christ
today. He observes.
And he looks and he considers the honor that men give him or
refused to give him and that can in some way determine how we
experience him. Back in some way, determine how
we experience him. So, yeah, let the world be the
world, but let the church to be the church.
And here's what I have to say to you may we never lose our Wonder
or of who he is. I hope that every single time
you and I gather as Christians as the church, that we would be
absolutely stunned of who we are singing too.
Of who we are hearing from of who it is that is demanding a
commanding and revealing and that there would be this
trembling within because he's worthy of such honour and God
looks at the honor that we give him.
I'm sure you remind of Malachi chapter 1.
You call me this. Where is this?
If you refer to me as father if you where's my honor then.
So the Lord wants to see where is my honor and based on that
it's clearly lacking here. He says, well then you're not
going to have what I can give you.
Because he is worthy. And so here's what you and I
have to do, be aware of offending, the Lord of hosts.
And realize that you need him Moment by moment.
Second by second. And he will bless you for
recognizing him as such everything you need.
So he did not do Miracles there. But we see here, the marveling
verse six, and he marveled because of their unbelief.
there's a lot of marbling in the gospels, the, not much from
Jesus, you see a lot of marveling from people, you see a
lot of marveling from Miracles and teachings, But for Jesus to
Marvel, as someone said is a Marvel in itself.
In all of the gospels. We are explicitly told twice
only twice in all of the gospels were Jesus marveled.
Marvel to me to wonder at, The first is what we see here, but
in the other place is with the faith of the Centurion.
And Luke chapter 7 verse 9. When the Centurion said, you
don't need to come to my house. All you need to do is say the
word and my servant will be healed.
As says they, that Jesus marveled at him.
He marveled at him and he turned.
And he said to the rest that in all of Israel, he has not seen
such faith. And so the two places where we
are told that Jesus marveled both of them had to do with the
response of man concerning who he was. and according to these
two references, we learned something about the Lord.
Don't hear Jesus marveling. As though Jesus can be surprised
by something and taking it back by something.
He did not expect necessarily understand that it reveals that
man's response to the revelation of who he is, can stir the heart
of Christ and his sincere and striking way.
It's to reveal his personhood. And here's what I see.
Okay, Lord, if you marveled at someone's faith.
And the second and only places where you marveled as at someone
or some people's unbelief. Then what makes the Lord?
Marvel is one of two things. First is the absolute trust that
someone places in Jesus during very challenging times.
Or to the indifference that someone will show Jesus despite
all the exposure they had to him.
Let me say this way. When there was present faith.
Where it was least expected. Jesus was amazed And when there
was the absence of Faith where there should have been Faith,
Jesus was equally amazed. Wow.
That's faith. The other time.
Wow. You can't believe.
I thought to myself if it's possible for the Lord to wonder
at something from those that He created in his own image, may it
never be said of anyone. Here, look at all the Bible
teaching they receive. Look at the wonderful loving
Fellowship that I've provided him.
Look at all the Daily Grace has that I shower on his life and
yet still with all of these things, he still wants nothing
to do with me. That's amazing.
Instead, may it be said of us
despite the Temptations all around.
Despite the corruption and the lukewarmness that surrounds
despite the personal challenges that might exhaust.
And buff it. The soul he believes He believes
and like job who testified of his faithfulness to God despite
losing everything within a minute.
God could say, before the sons of God and the host of heaven,
and even demons, he still holds fast his integrity.
He still holds fast to his integrity.
And so, in some way, We can Amaze Jesus in one of two ways.
And I think what we are in danger of more than anything
else here in the west is having so much before us and yet,
giving so little of what Christ deserves to potentially cause
him to look down in 2023 on a specific population that is more
truth access than any time of History.
More Bible, teaching more Bible preaching, more local churches
on streets than any part of the world to say.
Wow, after all of that, still wants nothing to do with me.
Does not prioritize me. It's a scary truth and I hope to
move the heart of Christ not to gain his favor but to bless him
but that is not the way that I want him to be marveled.
For sure, Lord help us. Lastly, we see.
Jesus moving on the second part of verse 6 and he marveled
because of their unbelief and he went about Among The Villages
teaching like many times, the people said we want nothing to
do with you, they scorned him they'd belittled him.
And so the Lord said, okay I'm not welcome here so I'm moving
on so he does move on to other towns that were more receptive
to his message and his power and he moved there.
And there was some in Nazareth as we were told that were humble
enough. That weren't part of the
majority says, oh Lord. Please I believe in you.
Can you heal me? Can you touch me?
And he did just so gracious. But he moves on and when he
moves on from his hometown, I praise God that the Holy Spirit
included that statement before, moving on to the next scene, you
know why, because it presents a model for those who really want
to serve the Lord. and for those who experienced, the
Discouraging events and seasons of serving the lord.
Here's what happens. Your own friends and your own
family want. Nothing to do with you.
And it can be discouraging to stand alone in your family. to
be the only person in your family, who loves the Lord where
they all actually stand against the Lord, and for the world and,
and you, you want it so badly, were maybe just one sibling,
just one like, one, one of my brother, okay, I'll settle for a
cousin to just when I go to Thanksgiving, at least we can
talk of the Lord and they don't have to awkwardly, ask me to
pray only to laugh at me when I pray.
Some kind of Fellowship in Christ with someone from my
family. And yet Jesus, at this point did
not have such things. Can argue Mari, did sure.
But his brothers and his sisters, his relatives, his
school friends that he studied with such people.
Stood against him. That can be a very overwhelming
thing to live through. And it can also be disheartening
when you see unbelief and familiarity in a place where you
would think there would be passion and devotion and
seriousness for God. I can't tell you the amount of
messages I've gone from people in different local churches
Across the Nation. Talking about how miserable it
is to go to church because of the worldliness.
Because people have settled to barely make it through a sermon,
and call that Christianity when there is no evidence of
worshiping him serving him and loving him, apart from that hour
and a half on a Sunday, I can't tell you the grief.
That Christians feel because of so many in their context that
are overly familiar with Jesus. And they're fighting for their
life for a fervent faith. Jesus knows what that's like.
To expect a certain acknowledgement of God of
worship of God when it actually isn't there. and how painful is
it, that way, no matter what kind of example of
christlikeness you demonstrate before people, No matter what
kind of character and by God's grace, the consistency of your
convictions, being lived out before others, love and service,
and compassion, gentleness, kindness, they can still find a
way to despise you. And mock you.
And be offended at you, like Jesus was offended or offensive
to to them. Christ knows that's that's what
I take from this. He understands he he invites us
to Fellowship in that kind of a suffering.
He is fully aware. But look at his example.
As much as you can take those burdens to the Lord and say Lord
this is where I'm at with my family Lord.
This is where I'm at with my Ministry.
It's like pulling teeth to get people to serve the Lord.
Lord, this is where I'm at with my witness to the world, it's
like no matter what I do, no matter what I say, no matter how
much I give people still can't see what you have done and me
and how worthy you are. Jesus knows it.
Jesus experienced it, but Jesus didn't sulk.
They Don't Love Me. In sit down with the disciples
and have 10 counseling sessions about why the family didn't
receive him, and why Ministry is really, really, really
difficult. And in his hometown, none of
that, you know what he does. All right, fine, we're going
over here. See ya.
He continued to serve the father.
He did not skip a beat, I'm not downplaying opening your heart
and Brokenness. And in difficult times, I'm not
saying that, but you can't stay there, you can't afford to give
up. You can't hang up the towel,
why? Because when everything fails
before you, and when so many disappointments are there.
Despite your efforts. Remember why you're doing this?
It's for his glory. It's for his pleasure, as for
his Delight. It's for his honor.
And if you will be a flower that glistens in a swamp, just for
God, the Father to be pleased by that site.
So be it. So be it.
Jesus moves on and he continues to serve his father.
He stays the course, I'm sure this was a lesson for the
disciples. I'm sure Jesus was coming to
Nazareth anticipating what was going to happen and we heard
from verse 1, that the disciples followed him because he wants
his disciples to understand that lesson.
In preparation for Ministry saying really.
Yeah, really because look what happens in verse 7 quickly.
And he called the twelve and began to send them out, two by
two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.
In other words, he's about the commission, his disciples to
preach, and teach in different areas.
And I think it is purposefully done that before commissioning
them. He gives them a first-hand
experience of what you can expect.
If you're going to serve God, and one of the things you might
experience, it's rejection. The stain.
Mockery indifference. Familiarity.
And so, the disciples needed to hear and see.
All right? This is real.
It's not always Applause and big crowds.
It's not always praise and awesome testimonies.
There will be some kind of rejection and the Lord brings
them to get an example of that. And oftentimes that rejection
can come from those that you least expect it from.
Okay. Disciples.
Did you just see what happened to me?
I'm from Nazareth. The, you understand all of that?
Yeah, we saw it. Can't believe it happened.
Alright. Now go.
Believer. I'm talking to the True
Believer. I'm talking to the servant of
God. I'm talking to the person who's
serious about living their life for his glory, do not give up.
Don't throw in the towel. Your master as j.c.
Ryle said drank from the same cup that you're drinking from.
Don't throw your ministry away. Don't stop praying.
Don't stop serving. Honor him, love him and when it
gets really difficult to do so because of so much that's
happening before you that you don't want to see.
Remember that you can come to him and fellowship with him in
this suffering. I end with this. if you're
familiar with Jesus, do you really know him?
You can name off stats about Jesus, like the nazarenes did
and at the same time be offended by him.
When you hear the true gospel when you hear what it means to
follow him. Oh, I pray that this message
would have comforted the servant of God and would have shaken
those who have grown up with Jesus, but don't really know
Jesus. You can know him today.
Because just like he gave Nazareth a second chance.
He'll give you one. He'll give you one and maybe
today is that chance. Can we prepare our hearts as we
partake today? Lord, we thank you from the
bottom of our hearts. That you humbled yourself.
As not just Jesus. The God, man, but Jesus of
Nazareth. You were willing to identify
with such a lowly place and even minister to such a lowly people.
though, we are humbled because with all the lessons that we've
learned, we are reminded now of what you have done on the cross
for us that our performance Has no value to our Salvation.
Lord, we thank you that you came into this world to live
Perfection on our behalf. and then, to transfer that
perfection, And you die to death that we deserve, so that you can
transfer. That substitution.
And you set us free. Lord, we come to your table
today to be reminded that we are saved by your grace.
And to be also reminded that we are members of this body. and so
Lord we just pray that you would help us reflect if we are really
living under that lordship that you call us to live for And we
ask that you would help us analyze if our relationships,
truly testified, the Oneness of your church.
Well, we do not want to come informality or familiarity to
your table. We want to give you the honor
and the reverence that you deserve.
And so, Lord, open our eyes, open our hearts and help us
again. See the glories of your table
for. This is your Institution for us,
and we are glad that you invite us to it.
In Jesus name we pray. Amen.