Mark 6:1-13 (NIV)
So far in Mark’s Gospel the character and power of Jesus is being painted before us. The original readers would have found themselves responding out of all of their own assumptions about Messiah just like the people in the stories. With each new scene our awe and understanding of Jesus increases and deepens. He is one with authority, he has power not only to cast out demons and to heal, but he speaks to the waves and they listen, and he shows no partiality. Who is this man?
With all the crowds and wonders you would assume that Jesus' popularity is about to take off, as soon as Jesus has the momentum to make it big as a religious figure, the narrative slams on the breaks and takes a corner. The story brings us to Jesus in his hometown. He’s being questioned and ridiculed. As soon as we might assume a person to influence my accumulated power, he begins to give it away to his disciples as he sends them out ahead of him. The people who should see Jesus accurately don’t and the people who shouldn’t do.
As you listen today, consider what crowd you’re posture towards Jesus in the past year would land you in.
----------REFLECT----------
1. Which group do you identify with the most—the hometown crowd that’s kind of skeptical, or the disciples who are being sent?
2. If you heard the words that the disciples heard from Jesus about being sent, how would you react?
3. In this story you have two groups that have different levels of faith—the hometown crowd that lacks faith, and the disciples who have much faith. Ask the LORD to give you increased faith today.
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