Amongst Unbelief
Opening Prayer
Thank You that You are attentive to all my prayers. Thank You that it is only love that decides if the answer is yes, no or wait.
Read Mark 6:1-6a
[1] Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. [2] When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. “Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? [3] Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. [4] Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” [5] He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. [6] He was amazed at their lack of faith. Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Why are they rejecting Jesus?After reaching out to those on the margins, Jesus comes to his hometown, to those you might expect would know and love him best. But in stark contrast to the faith we’ve seen, Jesus is the outsider who runs into almost outright rejection (6). Earlier in Mark we’ve already seen Jesus’ family and near relatives struggling to know what to make of him – indeed they were so concerned at one point, they came to restrain him, thinking him out of his mind (3:21,31,32). “Isn’t this the carpenter?” people ask. How could someone with a menial trade be the Messiah? “Isn’t this Mary’s son?” The rumors of Jesus’ illegitimacy bubble up again. Once again we see the upside-down values of the kingdom of God. How could an ordinary itinerant preacher and his ragtag band of disciples change the world? And yet they will. And they – we – continue to do so. Again and again in the Bible we see that God is remarkably uninterested in the world’s definition of success. He is at work in unexpected places, if we have eyes to see, and he can use us wherever we are, with whatever gifts we have.
Apply
Bring to God an area of weakness and ask him to work through you and strengthen your faith.
Closing prayer
Father, regardless of how others see me, let me walk out my identity as a child of the Most High God.
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