Hometown Unbelief
TRANSLATION
(1) And he left that place and returned to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. (2) And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. They asked, “Where did this man get these things? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What is the meaning of these mighty works done by his hands? (3) Is this not the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon? Are not his sisters here with us?” And they were offended because of him. (4) And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and among his own relatives and in his own household.” (5) And he could not do any miracles there except to lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. (6) And he marveled at their unbelief.
And he went about teaching in the villages. (7) And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits. (8) He instructed them, “Take nothing for your journey apart from a staff…no bread, no bag, no money in your purse. (9) Wear sandals but not an extra tunic.” (10) And he also said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that area. (11) And if any place will not welcome you nor listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.” (12) And they went out preaching that people should repent. (13) And they cast out many demons and anointed many that were sick with oil and healed them.
OBSERVATIONS
Jesus had just demonstrated his divine power in two of the greatest healings in his earthly ministry, the woman with the issue of blood and the raising of Jairus’ daughter. Both had been possible because of the faith of those who were seeking his help. However, when he returned to Nazareth where he had grown up, he was limited in what he could do by their “unbelief” (vs. 6).
In contrast, Jesus demonstrated his commitment to training the twelve whom he had called to be his disciples by sending them out to minister on their own for the first time. After giving them instructions, he sent them out two by two to proclaim a message of repentance as well as to heal the sick and deliver the demon possessed. This represented an important step in the process of preparing these men to be his witnesses to the ends of the earth after his ascension into heaven.
OUTLINE
I. Unbelief in Nazareth hindered Jesus’ ability to minister in his hometown. (1-6)
II. Jesus sent the twelve out in pairs to extend his ministry of proclamation and healing. (7-11)
IDEA STATEMENT
In response to the unbelief he encountered in his hometown, Jesus sent his disciples out in pairs to minister throughout the area.
APPLICATION
Mark used an unusual word to describe Jesus’ response to the people in Nazareth, his hometown: “And he marveled because of their unbelief” (vs. 6). Other translations employ the term “amazed.” We encounter this same word in the other Synoptic Gospels where we read that Jesus marveled at the faith of the centurion who had come to ask him to heal his servant (Mt. 8:10 & Lk. 7:9). On the one hand he marveled at the unbelief of those who should have believed while, on the other hand, he marveled at the faith of a Roman soldier, a Gentile, who had very little on which to base such trust. This juxtaposition should put us in mind of the irony expressed in John’s Gospel: “He came to those who were his own (relatives and fellow Jews), but his own did not receive him. Yet, to all who received him (including Gentiles), to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God” (Jn. 1:11-13).
Paul would later describe the Jews as those to whom God gave a “spirit of stupor” with eyes that did not see and ears that did not hear (Rom. 11:8). He ultimately explained the reason for this in the following terms: “I want you to understand this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And in this way all Israel will be saved” (Rom. 11:25 & 26). While we may not fully grasp the mysterious ways of God, we can at least praise him for his mercy shown to us in opening our hearts to the Gospel message when we did not deserve such grace!