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Mark 6:1-30

Theme: The unbelief of the Nazarenes and Herod is contrasted with the faithful sending, teaching, and reliance on God of the Twelve.

Aim: Take God’s teaching to heard and act upon it in repentance.

Notes

What responses have we seen to Jesus so far?

Messages and Responses

Jesus’ Home Town

Jesus returns to his home town, Nazareth, and is quickly rejected by them - they respond in unbelief and take offence at him. (v3) They claim to know him and focus only on his human identity - a carpenter, Mary’s son, who his brothers are. (v3) The Nazarenes refuse to acknowledge Jesus’ wisdom and power. (v2)

As a result, Jesus “could not do any miracles there”, (v5) and we are told that he marvelled (first time this happens in Mark) at their unbelief. (v6)

Sending of the Twelve

Jesus commands his disciples to go out and preach, giving them authority to cast out demons. (v7) He prepares them for the responses they will face, both acceptance and rejection - just as Jesus was rejected, so too will his disciples face rejection. (v10 - 11) They obey Jesus faithfully (think back to 1:16-20, 2:13-17, 3:13-19 where they obey Jesus’ command to follow him), and we see in v30 they return and report to him all they did.

The Twelve appear to have a degree of success in their ministry, having healed many and cast out many demons. (v13) Those who reject their teaching, and do not welcome them deny themselves any further opportunity to hear the good news. (v11)

Herod and John the Baptist

John the Baptist delivers a message of rebuke to Herod, telling him to obey God’s commands that it is unlawful to take his brother’s wife for himself - reminiscent of the kind of things OT prophets would say. (v18) Herod, though he enjoys listening to JTB (v21), did not change his behaviour - he had fear (v20) but no repentance.

The exposing of sin can incur an extreme response, Herodias hates JTB and wants to kill him! (v19) Herod’s opportunity to hear the gospel ended when he executed JTB.

Jesus’ Followers

What does all this tell us about Jesus’ followers?

Jesus’ followers depend on God completely (v8) and it is not our responsibility if we are rejected (v11) - think back to the parables in 4:1-34.

When (if even at all) are we to ‘shake the dust off [our] feet’ at someone?

Surely Jesus wants everyone to come to faith and accept him, right? Key in this is that we are not Apostles, and that people still do harden their hearts against Jesus and his gospel. It is not up to us if people treat the gospel with contempt and faith is not forced upon anyone, and true faith is done voluntarily.

How does the potential for rejection make us feel?

It’s quite daunting! Some people are yet to experience rejection, making it all the more daunting! Sometimes we let ourselves think that our friends will reject us and dramatically sever all ties if we try and tell them gospel - especially for shyer people, this can make us reluctant to tell them about Jesus and salvation. But it’s worth it! Jesus has power over everything, creation, sickness, even death so we don’t need to be afraid. And it is a matter of life and death - further, eternal life and death! Let’s be motivated out of love rather than fear, trusting God to do his work in people’s hearts!

How will we know when somebody is rejecting the gospel?

What are we to do in face of rejection?

Remembering we’re not Apostles, we are to tread carefully and with long-suffering patience - it is not for us to discern the heart of a person. Rejection is normal, no servant is greater than his master and so we are to persevere with the gospel unashamedly - we are going to be uniquely hated but trust that God will grow his Kingdom into the largest in all eternity. Have confidence - God is with us!

Are we guilty of rejecting Jesus’ teaching? What are the signs?