They Take Offence At Him (Mark 6:1-6b)

The story goes, that a high school teacher who was a Christian was accused of forcing her own beliefs on the students she taught. She was teaching about using non-violence against the violence of the world and the outcome of such non-violent actions. A student asked her a question about Jesus and what he meant when he said, “love your enemies”. The teacher, responding according to what she knew, quoted words spoken by Jesus, “You have heard it said, love your neighbour, hate your enemy. But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Found in Mt 5:43-44. Another student took offence at the use of biblical words in the class and informed his parents who complained to the authorities, who, in turn, took the teacher to court.

Although a film story, it is not far from the truth. Today even in this country, Christian teachers in non-faith schools are not allowed to share their faith with students. Just this past week two of my Post 16 Physics students asked me about my faith, Easter and Christmas and brought it back to the Big Bang and creation. I shared my beliefs with them, but had to include a disclaimer that I am not trying to enforce my faith upon them. I had to make it clear to them that what I was saying is what I believe and they are entitled to disagree.

Several years ago when we lived in Nottinghamshire, my GP would often close his consultation with me by saying, “God Bless”. It made me feel good as I left the surgery. Sadly, however, he received a disciplinary when a patient complained they were offended by that term, he had to stop saying it which clearly made him sad.

It seems today, people are easily offended. The LGBT group in Northern Ireland were offended by the Asher’s decision not to bake a cake that would go against their beliefs. A Muslim surgeon took offence when the senior surgeon stopped her from wearing her head scarf in theatre. A British Airways Clerk took BA to court for not allowing her to wear a cross at work for fear of offending non-religious passengers. A Baptist Preacher who has been preaching for many years in Workington was arrested when he was allegedly overheard saying ‘same-sex relationships are a sin in the eyes of God’, the PCSO had taken offence at the statement and arrested him for breaching the peace.

We can take some encouragement therefore, that this is not a new thing and indeed happened in Jesus’ time and in fact to Jesus himself.

V1-3

Here Jesus returns to his home town and begins to teach in the synagogue. The people who listen initially are amazed at his wisdom and words and begin asking questions. They find it difficult to understand how this man who they have known since childhood could speak with such conviction, such wisdom.

It is very likely these men would have heard about the acts of Jesus, the miracles he had performed and so to come to this place and act as if he is above them clearly offended them. You see, these listeners knew who Jesus was. They knew him as a child. They knew he was a carpenter and who his family was (v3). They clearly knew him very well to list his brothers and mother. They were familiar with this man before them. So familiar, they could not come to terms with his power and authority. They could not see past their own prejudice to hear his words.

I have seen this today. I have been in churches and Salvation Army meetings where Christ is not preached. The words they say are there, yes, by the meaning is not. Their faith is dried up like a shriveled ball of something hard. They fear change, they fear doing things differently, they fear because it not what they are familiar with. So when someone new, with fresh ideas starts preaching Christ, they take offence and in some cases to the point of pushing them out. They are stuck in a rut. They have bred contempt for the word of God, they don’t want it. They have become the false teachers Paul often wrote about in his letters.

This is exactly what we are seeing here in verse 1-3, the people are familiar with Jesus, and they refuse to see passed his past. They refuse to elevate him above their station, they completely misunderstand what Jesus is trying to do and who he stands for. Their own prejudice and familiarity of Jesus breeds contempt for the words he speaks. They do not hear them because they are too bothered about asking questions. Who does he think he is preaching to us like that? He’s nothing more than a carpenter’s son. His mother, brothers and sisters live down the road, he’s not some god. What right does he have to come here and change the way we do things?

In short, they saw no reason to say he was any different to them, let alone anointed by God. This corroborates what Mark says in 3:21. His own family believed he was crazy, so why would the townsfolk think any different?

Why was this important? Why has Mark included this short passage here? What significance could this passage be in relation to the whole message of Christ?

Christ had one message about the Kingdom of God, one driving focus for believers. It is very likely this one message was what he was preaching in the synagogue in verse 2 that led to the amazement of the listeners. In order to understand this message, we need to turn back a few chapters and re-read the stories again.

4:35-41

 The disciples asked, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” They asked Jesus who he was, what authority he had to control forces of nature that only God should be able to control. In stating, “Do you still have no faith?” Jesus points the disciples towards himself. His very action of calming the storm make the disciples focus upon him.

5:1-20 – the healing of the demon-possessed man

The demon negotiated with Jesus who cast out Legion in the swine which jumped off the cliff, leaving the man fully dressed and in his right mind. In verse 17, we heard how the townsfolk pleaded for Jesus to leave because they could not deal with him. He was asking too much of them. He was saying that he must be the first and foremost in everyone’s life. By casting out the demons, Jesus points the people to himself. Mark is wanting us to see that God is present in both mercy (having mercy on Legion) and power (to command Legion) in Christ Jesus.

5:21-43 – the sick woman and Jairus’ daughter.

In verse 30-34, Jesus insisted on facing the woman who touched him to be healed. By asking, “Who touched my clothes?” Jesus points the woman to himself.

And then verse 35 and 36.

Jairus came to Jesus to help heal his daughter, but she died whilst Jesus was talking with the ill woman. Jesus took the opportunity to refocus Jairus upon himself. “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”

So, what is the one message that Mark is trying to make us understand?

We must focus on Christ. Christ’s message is Christ-centred. Our faith must be in Christ and Christ alone. Isn’t that what Christ said in John 14:6-7: I am the way, the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well?

Returning to our passage, hopefully you now realise why the townsfolk of Christ’s home town fail to listen and accept him after hearing him preach in the synagogue. Christ preaches himself. He focuses them upon him. Yet they chose to ignore him and instead question his authority, blinded by prejudice and resentment. They were offended by his seemingly obvious god-complex. How dare he put himself above us, type thing. They acted like the school student, his parents and their lawyer in the film trailer. They were offended by the Word of God.

What response did Jesus give to this unbelief? He does no miracles (apart from the odd one or two to those desperately in need). Clearly the performance of miracles and signs in the absence of faith could result in the aggravation of human guilt and the hardening of men’s hearts against God. Their unbelief excludes them from the freely offered grace.

What did Jesus do to those who laughed at him in 5: 40? He put them out – likewise he showed no signs or miracles to his kinsmen. They just would not get them.

Jesus was amazed (6:6) at the lack of faith in these people. He was amazed their prejudice had blinded them to the things of God, they were without spiritual understanding. This is likely what Jesus means Mark 6:11 when he tells his twelve: “And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you shake the dust off your feet when you leave.”

So, in conclusion there two things we can take from this message:

1: If we chose to believe – we must turn our focus on Christ daily. Our faith must be genuine, refined and pure. No Sunday-faith! It must be daily faith. As we see from the passage, unbelief in Christ, a focus not on Christ or an unwillingness to see Christ for who he is, leads to total exclusion – TOTAL EXCLUSION - from God’s Grace. This is why it is so important to share Christ’s message today so others can turn their focus on Christ and hear his message and receive God’s Grace.

2: There will be some who just don’t get it despite the effort we put in. Just like those in the passage, they will question your authority on the subject, they will question Christ and refuse to accept his message. Maybe some unbelieving family members, unbelieving friends, unbelieving co-workers, neighbours, however often you try they will shoot you down or ignore you. It is certain, we will face rejection. We will be ridiculed and laughed at. We will offend people but, take heart this also happened to Jesus and did he give up?