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Not welcomed in his hometown (Mk 6:1-6)
Jesus “came into his own country” (v1), probably the region around the town of Nazareth. He kept his usual practice of teaching in the synagogue on the Sabbath day. The response is: “many people hearing him were astonished” (v2). What are they astonished about? Two things: his teaching (“what wisdom is this”) and his miraculous power (“even such mighty works are wrought by his hands”).(v2) However, their attitude toward Jesus is entirely different from people in other regions. What is the difference then?
In Mark 1:22, we are told that Jesus also taught in a synagogue in Capernaum, not far from Nazareth. The response is about the same: “they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.” After Jesus drove the unclean spirit out of a man, they said, “What thing is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.” The result is: “And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee.” (Mark 1:27-28)
Now in his own country, his own people also marveled at Jesus’ authority in teaching and healing. However, their attitude toward Jesus is totally different. They not only refuse to believe and obey him, but “they were offended at him” (v3). They give him no respect and honour at all, nor do they welcome him to keep on his ministry there. As Jesus exclaimed, a prophet like him has no honour “in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house” (v4). He is so popular in other regions but is totally rejected by his own countrymen.
Why were they so unfriendly and hostile to him? We can see something from the questions they have in mind: “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Judah, and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” (v3) The people who posed these questions are obviously his neighbors, since Jesus’ sisters are together with them. Why do they raise such questions? It is just because they know Jesus so well since childhood! They are not only acquainted with him but also with each of his family members. This is the difference between these countrymen and those in other regions. They are so deeply impressed by Jesus’ family background as “the carpenter” that they cannot accept the fact that a carpenter can become such a famous and godly person sent by God. The dramatic change that took place on Jesus is hardly acceptable to them.
As they found out, this Jesus is no longer the Jesus they used to have contact with. Some Christians, like Jesus, are rejected by their friends and relatives once they are converted due to their behavioral change or the dramatic change in their lives. Now that this carpenter that they knew from childhood is claimed to be the Messiah (Christ) sent by God to save people from sin, a serious conflict naturally arises in their minds. Therefore, no matter how great his teachings and miracles are, they might despise him as no more than a swindler. They are even uncomfortable with his “godly” character.
Just imagine that a person you are very familiar with one day becomes a movie or singing star. I can assure you that all his/her fans admire and honour this star except you. No matter how famous and popular that star is, you won’t have that kind of excited feeling like his/her fans do.
Jesus was also astonished! “He marveled because of their unbelief.” (v6) How would he feel when his people in his hometown rejected him just because he taught them with authority and showed them mighty works? Of course, he must be very frustrated. He desired that they trust him to be their savior by virtue of the gospel he preached and the miracles he did among them. Just like us, Jesus had greater desire to see his own family, neighbors and relatives receive God’s salvation. Their hostiliity toward him disallowed him from serving them more. “And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.” (v5). The more mighty work he did, the more they became offended at him.
When we try to bring our friends and relatives to Christ, chances are that we need more patience and love. Hopefully, they will one day be touched by our life changes and not become so offended against us and the gospel. John 7:2-5 recorded the unbelief of Jesus’ brothers: “Now the Jew's feast of tabernacles was at hand. His brethren therefore said unto him, ‘Depart hence, and go into Judea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest. For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world.’ For neither did his brethren believe in him.” They thought that Jesus loved personal fame; on the contrary, he asked people not to spread out the miracles he performed on them.
It was not until Jesus was raised from the dead did his family come to believe him as the Messiah prophesied by the prophets. After Jesus rose to heaven, his eleven disciples gathered in an upper room of a house in Jerusalem. “These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.” (Acts 1:14) In the meantime, they waited for the descension of the Holy Spirit. James and Judah, two of Jesus’ brothers, later wrote the Books of James and Jude, which proved that Jesus has wasted no effort in his work done on his own family.