Mark - Lesson 9

Lesson 9

Rejection, Training, and Murder

Mark 6:1–29

Son of Man, Son of God

Studies in Mark’s Gospel

LAST WEEK IN REVIEW

In Mark 5 we read of how Jesus brought hope to those who were completely hopeless.  Lesson 8 covered the second half of Chapter 5.  Jesus was first approached by a begging father, Jairus, whose daughter was completely beyond hope of recovery, literally at death’s door.  Second on the way was the account of the healing of a begging, desperate woman who had no hope of a cure, had spent all she had seeking a healing, and just got worse.  When the woman touched Jesus, she risked her life literally but knew by faith that if she could do so, she would be healed.  We saw a healing, loving Savior minister to her out of grace, bringing her a spiritual as well as physical new beginning.  However, during that time, Jairus’ daughter had died, and they were met by messengers who indignantly told him to not bother with Jesus.  Yet Jesus took control of this disastrous and discouraging situation, kicked out the hired mourners, took the parents and Peter, James and John into the girl’s room.  The parents had prayed for a healing for their precious girl; Jesus had planned something far better:  a resurrection!  He touched and called out to her, and she came back to life, and was completely healed of her prior condition!  What a way to end the chapter.  Of course you’d think that these glorious events would continue on in Mark 6.  From the beginning of the chapter we’ll see quite the opposite. 

Mark 6 records several main events:  The rejection of Jesus by His own family and hometown; the training mission of the twelve to equip them in growing by faith; the murder (execution) of John the Baptist; the feeding of the 5,000; Jesus walking on the water; and His ministry at Gennesaret.  We’ll examine the first three events in this lesson, and complete the rest of Mark 6 in Lesson 10.

DAY ONE:  An Unbelievable Rejection

Please carefully read Mark 6:1-6 and answer the following questions.

1.  Jesus went out from Capernaum where He had ministered and done great works, and returned to His hometown.  Nazareth was about 20 miles southwest of Capernaum.  Jesus had lived there since His parents returned from Egypt to Palestine.[i]  On a Sabbath, Jesus taught those He had grown up with.  How did they react to Jesus, what He said, and what He did (v. 2, 3)?

2.  The response of these people was very derogatory.  They said that He was just a commoner like them, and questioned His birth as well by using the phrase “the Son of Mary.” This was an insult, for no Jew would use this statement even if one’s mother was a widow.[ii]  These people were first astonished (a strong Greek expression Mark uses often, meaning that they were struck by amazement), but then this turned to being offended, which comes from the Greek skandalon, from which we get our word scandal, here meaning being tripped up or caught in a trap.[iii]  How do Romans 9:30-33 and 1 Peter 2:4-10 further define this concept and how the Jews reacted to Jesus?

3.  What did Jesus say in response to these people, and how did it impact His ministry in Nazareth (v. 4, 5)? What else did Mark record about Jesus’ feelings about this, and what He did instead (v. 6)?

4.  There are only two places in the Gospels that say Jesus marveled or wondered in amazement Himself:  About the faith of the Roman centurion, a Gentile, where we would never expect to see it(Matthew 8, Luke 7); and here among Jews, His own people nonetheless, where one would have expected to find it![iv]  God looks not at our heritage, but at our hearts, and He will receive all who come to Him by faith in His Son.  What are some things that Paul later wrote about how the Gentiles were included in the plan of salvation (Ephesians 2:11-22)?

Scripture Memory:  This week we will be memorizing a passage which should teach us what not to do: Mark 6:26.  Review the passage several times throughout the day each day this week, and by the end of the week, you should have it memorized completely.

And the king was exceedingly sorry; yet, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he did not want to refuse her.  Mark 6:26, nkjv