February 17, 2010, Mark 6

Key Verse

"Jesus said to them, 'Only in his hometown, among his relatives and in his own house is a prophet without honor.'"

(Mark 6:4)

Central Truth 

We miss out if we don't honor those closest to us.


WELCOME HOME

Everywhere Jesus and his disciples went, people literally ran toward them. We read that they barely had time to eat or to rest because so many people wanted to be near them. Hurting people longed for just a touch of Jesus' cloak because they knew they would be healed. Thousands gathered to hear what Jesus had to say. Jesus was, by all accounts, a rockstar.

And what kind of a reception would you expect Jesus, the rockstar, to receive in his own hometown? Screaming fans greeting his entourage? Papyrus posters proclaiming their undying love for the Messiah? Tear-streaked faces of love-struck teenagers? Not so! The people of Nazareth "took offense" to him (v. 3). To them, Jesus was nothing special. He was just a person they had known for most of his life. They doubted he could be anything special. They lacked faith in him, the faith that drove hundreds of others to reach for just a touch of his cloak.

Why? I have no idea! Maybe it was jealousy that a guy that used to do their woodwork was now being followed around the countryside. Or maybe they didn't understand how God could exist in the form of such an average guy. He just didn't fit the image they had in mind of Messiah. For whatever the reason Nazarenes rejected Jesus, it was they who lost out. Jesus could not do any miracles there because of their lack of faith (v. 5-6). Of all the places, you'd think Jesus would be most honored in his own hometown, but it wasn't so.

It is easy to overlook the extraordinary accomplishments and abilities of the ordinary people around us, even in our own homes. In my own life, I want to make sure that our home is the place where my family feels the most loved and the most special of any other place on Earth. To do that, I need to honor my husband by recognizing his wisdom, bragging on his achievements, complimenting him on his incredible good-looks (it's true!), and thanking him for his hard work. For my children, I need to praise them for things they do well, give gentle instruction for the things they don't do well, nurture their talents, and provide unconditional love in all situations - even frustrating ones! And maybe, every now and then, I need to bust out with a papyrus poster in the driveway to welcome them home!