Monday Devotional: Jesus gets the cold shoulder in his hometown (Mark 6:1-6)
The green-eyed monster rears its ugly head.
He left that place and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. On the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, “Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands! 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. Then Jesus said to them, “Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown, and among their own kin, and in their own house.” And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them. And he was amazed at their unbelief.
Then he went about among the villages teaching (Mark 6:1-6).
Sometimes our familiarity with Jesus can prevent us from receiving all he has to offer. We think we know him, who he is, what he’s about. But Jesus will surprise us. He is always more than we think. Faith involves openness to surprise as we learn more about this one we call Lord, savior, Messiah, and Son of God.
In this passage, Jesus returns to Nazareth with his disciples. One might think he would be hailed as a hero in light of the crowds that follow him throughout Galilee. Though he has not sought out celebrity, it has caught up with him. His fellow Nazareans, however, are unimpressed.
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