At Church With Jesus - Mark 6

Summary

In this sermon, the preacher delves into the Gospel of Mark chapter 6, focusing on Jesus's return to his hometown, Nazareth. The congregation is guided through the astonishment and subsequent offense of the locals upon hearing Jesus's teachings and witnessing his miracles. The sermon explores themes of discipleship, the normalcy of Jesus's early life, and the impact of unbelief on Jesus's ability to perform mighty works. It challenges listeners to consider their own faith and the barriers they may unknowingly place on God's work in their lives.

Takeaways

• 📖 Jesus returned to his hometown Nazareth after ministering in Galilee.
• 🔎 Nazareth was a small village with a limited water supply and no protective wall.
• 👥 Jesus was followed by his disciples as they went to Nazareth.
• 🕌 On the Sabbath, Jesus taught in the synagogue, highlighting his regular attendance at religious services.
• 😮 The people in Nazareth were astonished by Jesus' wisdom and the miracles he performed elsewhere.
• 🤔 Despite their astonishment, the locals were offended by Jesus, questioning how he, a familiar figure, could possess such wisdom and power.
• 🏠 Jesus' ordinary upbringing and occupation as a carpenter made it hard for the locals to accept his divine authority.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Jesus had a family, including four brothers and at least two sisters, who were present during his teaching.
• 💡 Unbelief hindered Jesus' ability to perform many miracles in Nazareth, illustrating the power of faith and the impact of skepticism.
• 🔄 Despite the rejection in Nazareth, Jesus continued his ministry, demonstrating that nothing can ultimately stop his work.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the sermon based on the Gospel of Mark chapter 6?

The main theme of the sermon is the astonishment and offense of Jesus' hometown, Nazareth, at his wisdom and works, and the importance of recognizing Jesus as both a normal man and divine.

Why did the people of Nazareth react with astonishment when Jesus began to teach in the synagogue?

The people of Nazareth were astonished because they knew Jesus as a local carpenter and were not expecting the wisdom and authority with which he taught.

What does the sermon suggest about the life of Jesus before his public ministry?

The sermon suggests that Jesus lived a normal life for about 30 years, working as a carpenter and being a part of his community before starting his public ministry.

How does the sermon interpret the reaction of Jesus' family and the people of Nazareth to his teachings?

The sermon interprets their reaction as being offended due to unbelief, despite knowing Jesus personally and witnessing his normal life among them.

What principle does Jesus express in verse 4 of Mark chapter 6?

Jesus expresses the principle that a prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house, indicating that honor and recognition often come from outside one's immediate circle.

Why was Jesus unable to perform many mighty works in Nazareth according to the sermon?

Jesus was unable to perform many mighty works in Nazareth due to the unbelief of the people there, which hindered his ability to work miracles.

What does the sermon suggest is the impact of unbelief on Jesus' ability to work?

The sermon suggests that unbelief can limit Jesus' ability to work on a personal level, but it does not stop his overall mission and work, as he continues to teach and heal elsewhere.

What does the sermon imply about the importance of having a complete understanding of Jesus?

The sermon implies that having a complete understanding of Jesus, recognizing both his humanity and divinity, is crucial for faith and avoiding the offense that comes from an incomplete view.

How does the sermon relate the story of Jesus in Nazareth to the importance of faith in everyday life?

The sermon relates the story by emphasizing that just as the people of Nazareth failed to recognize Jesus' true nature due to unbelief, individuals today should strive to have faith and trust in God in their everyday lives.

What is the final message of the sermon regarding the response to Jesus' teachings?

The final message is an encouragement for individuals to examine their hearts for any unbelief that may be hindering God's work in their lives and to seek God's guidance to overcome it.

Outlines

00:00

📖 Jesus Returns to Nazareth

In this section, the speaker recounts Jesus's return to Nazareth, his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. Despite performing miraculous deeds in Galilee, Jesus faces skepticism in Nazareth, a small village with a weak water supply and no protective walls. The emphasis is on Jesus's normalcy growing up in Nazareth, and the astonishment and eventual offense his teachings evoke among the locals.

05:00

😲 Astonishment and Offense at Jesus

The locals are astonished by Jesus's wisdom and the reports of his miracles but are also offended due to their familiarity with him. They question how someone they know so well could possess such wisdom and perform such works. The speaker highlights the skepticism rooted in knowing Jesus as a carpenter and the son of Mary, and explores how this familiarity breeds contempt.

10:01

🛠 Jesus the Carpenter and Builder

This part explores Jesus's life as a carpenter, emphasizing the significance of his normal, working-class background. Jesus's role as a builder symbolizes his work in the lives of believers, both in grand and everyday ways. The speaker discusses how Jesus's ordinary life elevates the mundane and encourages faithfulness in daily tasks. The mention of Jesus's career as 'the carpenter' and his family's presence in Nazareth underscores his humanity.

15:03

🏡 Jesus's Family and Familiarity

The speaker elaborates on Jesus's family, noting his siblings and the challenges of being Jesus's relative. Despite growing up with him, his family and neighbors fail to recognize his divinity. The discussion includes early Christian writings that attempted to fill gaps in Jesus's childhood and emphasizes the importance of understanding Jesus as both fully human and fully divine.

20:03

🏆 Rejection of Jesus in His Hometown

Jesus faces rejection in Nazareth, unlike the honor typically given to prophets elsewhere. The speaker compares this to local heroes in other towns, pointing out the difference in reception. Jesus's statement about a prophet's lack of honor in his hometown highlights the difficulty of being accepted by those who knew him well. The speaker reflects on the personal dynamics that might have influenced Jesus's siblings and community.

25:08

😞 Unbelief in Nazareth

Jesus's ministry in Nazareth is limited by the unbelief of its residents. Despite his miracles elsewhere, he can only heal a few sick people in Nazareth. The speaker emphasizes the impact of unbelief on Jesus's ability to perform miracles and reflects on how personal unbelief can hinder God's work in one's life. The astonishment of Jesus at their lack of faith serves as a pivotal point in understanding the relationship between faith and divine action.

30:10

🙏 Faith, Unbelief, and Continuing Ministry

The speaker concludes with reflections on what amazes Jesus: faith and unbelief. Jesus marvels at the centurion's faith and the unbelief in Nazareth. Despite rejection, Jesus continues his ministry elsewhere, illustrating that unbelief primarily harms the unbelievers themselves. The speaker encourages self-examination of one's faith and urges seeking God's guidance in overcoming unbelief to fully receive God's blessings.

Keywords

💡Disciples

Disciples in the context of the video refer to the followers of Jesus, who are characterized by their commitment to learning from and emulating their master. The term is central to the video's theme, as it underscores the idea of following Jesus not just in belief but in a deliberate and conscious manner. The script mentions 'his disciples followed him,' highlighting the active role of discipleship in the Christian journey.

💡Sabbath

Sabbath, in the script, represents a day of rest and religious observance in Judaism, which is analogous to attending church in Christianity. The video uses the Sabbath as an example of Jesus' commitment to religious practices, emphasizing that he 'went to the synagogue and he began to teach' on this day. This illustrates the importance of regular worship and adherence to religious traditions as part of following Jesus.

💡Nazareth

Nazareth is the hometown of Jesus, as mentioned in the script, and serves as a symbol of familiarity and the commonality of Jesus' human experience. The video discusses how Jesus returned to Nazareth, indicating a return to one's roots and the challenge of being recognized in one's place of origin. The astonishment and eventual offense of the people in Nazareth highlight the theme of perception and understanding of Jesus' true identity.

💡Wisdom

Wisdom, in the context of the video, is attributed to Jesus and is a quality that amazed those who heard him preach. The script notes that people were astonished by 'what wisdom is this which is given to him,' indicating the depth of understanding and insight that Jesus possessed. This wisdom is a key aspect of Jesus' teachings and is central to the message of the video.

💡Mighty Works

Mighty works refer to the extraordinary acts performed by Jesus, such as healing and miracles, which are mentioned in the script as evidence of his divine power. The term is used to contrast the limited miracles performed in Nazareth due to unbelief with the numerous works done in other places, emphasizing the power of faith and its role in the manifestation of Jesus' divine abilities.

💡Carpenter

The term 'carpenter' is used in the script to describe Jesus' earthly profession, which humanizes him and presents him as a man of ordinary means. The script mentions 'is not this the carpenter,' indicating the common perception of Jesus by those who knew him in Nazareth. This profession is also used to highlight the extraordinary nature of Jesus' wisdom and works, given his background.

💡Unbelief

Unbelief is a central theme in the video, referring to the lack of faith or trust in Jesus' divine nature and mission. The script states that Jesus 'marveled because of their unbelief,' showing that the lack of faith from those who knew him best limited the extent of his works in Nazareth. Unbelief is portrayed as a barrier to experiencing the fullness of Jesus' ministry.

💡Offense

Offense in the script is the reaction of the people in Nazareth to Jesus' teachings and claims, which they found difficult to reconcile with their knowledge of him as a local figure. The phrase 'they were offended at him' illustrates the resistance and rejection that Jesus faced, underscoring the video's theme of the complex dynamics of recognition and acceptance of spiritual truth.

💡Prophet

A prophet, as discussed in the video, is a figure who speaks on behalf of a divine entity, and the term is used to describe Jesus. The script includes the saying, 'a prophet is not without honor except in his own country,' highlighting the irony that Jesus, as a prophet, was not honored in his hometown. This concept ties into the video's exploration of the challenges prophets face in their own communities.

💡Honor

Honor in the script refers to the respect and recognition that Jesus did not receive in his hometown, despite his works and wisdom. The lack of honor is connected to the concept of unbelief, as the people of Nazareth were unable to see past their preconceived notions of Jesus to acknowledge his true identity. The video uses the lack of honor to illustrate the consequences of failing to recognize and respect spiritual authority.

Highlights

Introduction to the Gospel of Mark chapter 6, verse 1, discussing Jesus' return to his hometown of Nazareth.

Correlation of Mark 6 with other Gospels to identify 'his own country' as Nazareth, Jesus' place of upbringing.

Archaeological and historical context provided for Nazareth, describing its small size and limited water supply.

The concept of discipleship, emphasizing following Jesus as the central act of a disciple.

Jesus' practice of attending the synagogue on the Sabbath, illustrating his adherence to religious customs.

The astonishment of the people in the synagogue at Jesus' wisdom and the works performed by his hands.

The offense taken by the people of Nazareth due to their familiarity with Jesus and his family background.

The radical Christian belief in Jesus as both fully human and fully divine.

Jesus' normal life and work as a carpenter, challenging misconceptions about his extraordinary nature.

The importance of recognizing Jesus' dual nature, both as a man and as God, to understand him fully.

The impact of incomplete views of Jesus leading to offense and unbelief among his hometown people.

Jesus' statement about prophets not receiving honor in their own country, among relatives, and in their own house.

The limited miracles performed by Jesus in Nazareth due to the people's unbelief.

Jesus' amazement at both faith and unbelief, and the call for believers to amaze him with their faith.

The question of what hinders Jesus, with the answer being unbelief, and the encouragement to examine one's faith.

The unwavering commitment of Jesus to continue his work despite rejection and unbelief.

A prayer for God to reveal any areas of unbelief in listeners' lives and the desire for God to work in those areas.

Transcripts

[Music]

please open your Bibles to the Gospel of

Mark chapter 6 and let me repeat

beginning here at verse 1 mark chapter 6

verse 1 then he went out from there and

came to his own country and his

disciples followed him

you know we last left off in the gospel

mark chapter 5 when Pastor Tommy taught

the last couple weeks talking about how

Jesus was doing this ministry all over

Galilee and in meeting people's needs in

a very personal individual way bringing

healing bringing wholeness restoring

people from the brokenness we saw this

just remarkable work that Jesus did and

in the course of all that chapter six

verse one tells us that he came and did

you notice the phrase here in verse 1 he

came to his own country you say well

what's that well we know from

correlating mark chapter 6 with the

other Gospels that what that means is he

came to Nazareth Nazareth the place

where he grew up Nazareth not a very

special place kind of a small town we

would probably call it a village we know

that the population of Nazareth was

never very big for two reasons

archaeologically we know that it never

had a wall around it and that would

indicate a smaller place but then also

we know that the water supply to the

city wasn't that great there was one

well in Nazareth and it was fairly weak

and so you just couldn't support I mean

they don't do the things we do in

California here building aqueducts that

go over you know hundreds of miles stuff

the Romans did that in other places but

they couldn't do it every place in any

regard Nazareth was a relatively small

village Jesus comes to his own country

there is he's coming back into Nazareth

coming back to his hometown the place

where he grew up and notice it says

there in verse one and his disciples

followed him you know sometimes we read

the Bible so fast we just kind of read

it on automatic pilot we don't think

about the words don't you love that

phrase his disciples did what they

followed him

isn't that what disciples do disciples

follow their master if Jesus is your

master if Jesus is your rabbi so to

speak because you should know that in

Jesus's day it was not unusual to have

a rabbi a master a teacher who collected

around him disciples and he would go

from place to place and they would come

with him and he would teach them and

they would learn from him that was Jesus

was not the only guy doing that in that

day they followed him that's what

disciples do and it should just tell us

that if there's no conscious deliberate

way in our life that we are actually

following Jesus then you got a question

whether or not you're a disciple now I

got good news for you I can say

everybody here this morning that at

least in one way you're following Jesus

at least we want it I'll get to that in

just a moment but that encourages me now

there may be other ways in which you

need to follow Jesus more or better but

I can guarantee you there's at least one

way in which everybody here this morning

is following Jesus let's look now at

verse 2 and when the Sabbath had come he

began to teach in the synagogue okay

let's stop right there we'll get back to

the first two in a minute but Sabbath

came he went to the synagogue and he

began to teach can I tell what this

tells us that Jesus went to church so to

speak Sabbath had come and he was at the

synagogue Jesus was and I know I'm

transferring the idea of the church to

the synagogue in that but it's a

relatively the same thing Jesus was a

church-going man and in that every one

of you here is following Jesus here this

morning you're here if you're not here

you're not listening to me well we are

out on the great wide internet and I can

say this Jesus never saw a sermon via

livestream well I don't know he watches

from heaven is that but forget about all

that you're here yeah it says something

good about you that you're here this

morning at least if not right now there

may be a dozen other ways that God is

speaking to your heart in which you need

to follow Jesus and listen to what God

says you about that but I just want to

encourage you it's good that you're here

this morning it's good that you're

following Jesus went to church and here

he is this particular morning he's going

to be the speaker at the synagogue in

Nazareth and as he stands in front of

him and he looks out across me it's all

the people you grew up with oh there's

this guy over there the neighborhood all

that's family man they had the bad kid

in their family and look at that family

over there man they were always sick we

always felt bad for them

and this one man this guy could never

hold down a job I mean she's looking out

there he knows everybody and they know

him verse 2 when the Sabbath had come he

began to preach in the synagogue and

many hearing him were astonished saying

well I got to stop I can't get more than

three or three lengths is that good

something I notice here did you notice

that many hearing him were astonished

you know blows my mind about that not

everybody many it didn't say all it said

many in other words there were people

who could listen to Jesus preach and

then go yeah whatever you don't know

what comfort that gives to me as a

preacher I just like thank you lord

thank you thank you that there were

people who listened to Jesus and they

were like yeah well you know what

whatever I mean I love that word many

that's underlined now in my Bible many

many were sir not all of them he began

to teach in the synagogue and many

hearing him were astonished saying where

did this man get these things and what

wisdom is this which is given to him but

such mighty works are performed by his

hands is this not the carpenter the son

of Mary and brother of James Jones's

Judas and Simon are not his sister's

here with us and they were offended at

him whoa did you read those last few

lines they were offended at him do you

understand the situation Jesus goes to

his hometown he's preaching in his home

synagogue this is local boy makes good

and he comes home and he preaches in the

synagogue and do they like it they're

astonished but but they end up being

offended what's going on here first

let's understand the astonishment they

were astonished because they said notice

here in verse 2 where did this man get

these things I think the emphasis there

is on this man this man him we know him

we grew up with him

we're up shoulders with them we could

understand as some fancy-pants guest

speaker came in from out of town and

look since I do some guests speaking

different places you know what a

conference there's people always think

that you're smarter just cuz you come

from out of town it's not true but

they're always willing to give you more

credit or something like that but they

this man where did this we know him we

know his family we could understand if

somebody from the outside that we didn't

know impress us but this man we don't

get it and they said notice what wisdom

is this they're astonished at the wisdom

of Jesus made this guy he really knows

what he's talking about and notice verse

two that such mighty works are performed

by his hands now they're not talking

about mighty works that Jesus did on

that day because we're gonna read in the

following verses that he did not do many

mighty works on that day they're talking

about what they heard about Jesus doing

other places they think about what he's

done other places they're hearing the

wisdom of their words and that phrase

just comes back to me again and again

this man we could understand if a

stranger came and astonished us but this

man grew up right here among us

how could he have such wisdom that's the

whole sense of the very next line look

at it here in verse three is this not

the carpenter the son of Mary the

brother of James Jose is Judas and Simon

are not his sister's here with us this

is why they were astonished this was a

contributing reason why they were

offended at him I don't think it was the

only reason we'll get out that later but

it was because Jesus grew up and lived

and worked for decades right there among

them and he seemed so normal

do you understand that we as Christians

we believe something that's really

radical here's what we believe we

believe that a man walked this earth

named Jesus of Nazareth the guy we're

talking about right here in this book we

believe that this man Jesus of Nazareth

by all

word appearance appeared to be a normal

man he did not walk this earth elevated

about six inches he did not have a

golden or butt behind his head you know

like a halo he did not speak in a James

Earl Jones super you know Darth Vader

kind of voice he he was by looking at

him speaking with him that he was a

normal man and this is what Christians

believe we believe that this particular

man Jesus of Nazareth he was in fact God

that he was God and man he was a normal

man but he was also God - together one

humanity in deity

now I just want to say if we had never

learned that from the Bible we would

think what are you talking about but

this is what the Bible says and it

teaches and it demonstrates us through

the crucifixion and resurrection of

Jesus that this is in fact true but

don't miss it

Jesus was so normal

Jesus was not a spectacular child or a

young man but when Jesus preached in the

synagogue now this man why does he they

didn't all know we saw it this in him

ever since he was a little boy oh no we

could have predicted this you know that

there are these writings that come from

the first few centuries of Christianity

not from the Apostles but from the first

few centuries who created 200 300 400

they called them the infancy Gospels and

they were written because it drove

people crazy that the Bible doesn't give

us more information about Jesus's

childhood you know come on but let's add

some stuff so people just made up

stories about him here's some of the

stories they made up about Jesus they

said for example one time Jesus was

playing with a friend and the friend was

mean to him so Jesus turned the friend

into a donkey here's another story

Jesus was playing with a friend and the

friend was making clay birds and Jesus

clapped his hands and the clay birds

became real birds and flew away you know

this is like the you know Houdini Jesus

you know the David Copperfield Jesus

that kind of thing weirdness it but it

wasn't like that at all Jesus lived the

first 30 or so year

his life in utter normalcy all his young

years all his teen years his growing

appears well I mean what what time do

you think it what year do you think he

probably started working a train I don't

know let's let's be jealous say maybe 15

16 something like that so for some 15

years he worked as did you see that

phrase there

the carpenter he worked for some 15

years as a carpenter 15 years he only

spent about 3 years now some people

debate and say 4 but let's just say 3

there were three years in Jesus earthly

ministry Jesus spent five times that

just working a normal job loving his

family paying his taxes supporting

things being a good godly man let me

tell you that brings nobility to every

one of us living a normal life every one

of us living a normal life serving God

in the little things every day being

faithful to God in the little things

every day God puts his stamp of approval

and he said you know what you're being

just like my son for 30 years of his

life sometimes we think that being like

Jesus means we got to go out and like

you know I don't know tell the hurricane

to stop and it stops or something like

that and listen we believe God does

wonderful beautiful powerful miraculous

things but don't miss it your

faithfulness in the everyday day to day

day in honoring God loving your family

honoring the Lord everything that you do

that is being like Jesus as well

and God spent he did not waste 30 years

of jesus's life doing that it was all

important in the life of Jesus second

thing it shows us it shows that Jesus

had a career what was his career look at

the phrase there in verse 3 they called

him the carpenter now I looked it up cuz

I saw I never saw that before I never

noticed it until this time really

studying and preparing for this message

and I checked in the original Greek in

the original Greek the article is there

it was not a carpenter

it was the carpenter as far as those

people are concerned there was one

carpenter in town and that and that was

Jesus now I can imagine that wasn't good

for the other carpenters in town Jesus

had a pretty good

market share but look if there were a

couple guys doing carpentry in in

Nazareth wouldn't you go to Jesus

absolutely

he was the carpenter and I think this is

amazing

he built things with his hands out of

wood and stone because actually the

ancient Greek word that we translate

carpenter there really just means a

builder it can be somebody who builds

out of wood but they also built a lot of

times out of stone and so Jesus did his

work with his hands but then notice this

it also says that mighty works were

performed by his hands it's also true

there now throughout the century some

people have thought that Jesus's

employment as the carpenter kind of

compromised who he was I mean shouldn't

a Savior be like a great philosopher

shouldn't he be like a lecturer

shouldn't he be some you know Kings

shouldn't be some general something like

that not not some lowly position just as

a carpenter

I remember reading something from church

history about in the first few centuries

of Christianity there was a terrible

persecution under the Emperor Julian the

Roman Emperor Julian and at that time a

philosopher mocked a Christian and this

one he said to the Christian he said

what do you think the carpenter is doing

now and the Christian replied he's

building a coffin for Emperor Julian I

don't know if Jesus ever built coffins

but I tell you what he built and he

still builds it's not a beautiful thing

don't you need Jesus to build in your

life and as I imagine Jesus's enterprise

in building I think that he was not a

specialist but he was a general

contractor and this what I mean

I think Jesus could go and build things

from the ground up and sometimes don't

we need that everything is just blown

away in our life and we just come to

Jesus and complete emptiness and say

Jesus build us up build us up but I

think Jesus will also take on the

remodel we need that too don't we

you know Jesus the general structure in

my life is okay but man this room and

that room it really needs your attention

can you come in and remodel this

do you say you better believe it I'll

take on that job Jesus is a builder

he loves to build and I just want you to

think that Nazareth High School on

career day Jesus could have gone to any

table he wanted to

I mean God could have had his pick of

any profession at all that he could

choose to be but she said no I'm gonna

be a builder because I build I build in

the lives of my people

it's a beautiful it's such a powerful

thing that Jesus is and he does now not

only does it show us Jesus was not

spectacular as we might think it not as

Jesus was a carpenter but it also shows

us that Jesus had a family that Jesus

was never married single people can take

heart from that but Jesus had a mother

Mary he had at least four brothers four

are listed here

James Joseph's Judas and Simon and then

he had at least two sisters because none

of his sisters are named but they're in

the plural and apparently two of those

sisters were right there at the

synagogue on the Sabbath day it doesn't

specifically say that Mary or the

brothers were there maybe they were

maybe they weren't but it does

specifically say that the sisters were

there did you see that line it says the

sisters are here with us it says right

there so the sisters were there that

they were listening to the message and

then out and all day they rejected it

they were offended why look this draws

to a very very important principle it's

simply this if you were to ask any of

those people did you ask one of his

sisters one of his brothers do you know

Jesus yes of course I know Jesus I grew

up with him how can you apply that I

don't know Jesus I know him I'll tell

you if you're offended at Jesus if you

reject him you don't really know him

here's the thing they knew something of

Jesus for sure but they didn't know the

whole truth about Jesus and usually the

problem that people have I'm not saying

this is the only problem but usually

this is the problem it's not so much

that people have a false view of Jesus

although sometimes that

a problem but it's more commonly that

people have an incomplete view of Jesus

and this is what they said they said

Jesus you're just one of us they said

Jesus there's nothing special about you

and that was utterly false see because

ladies gentlemen there's there's there's

two aspects here the one is was Jesus a

normal man was he truly human absolutely

he was but he's also God a very God now

I know some people who err on the other

side they make the opposite mistake that

these people in Nazareth me instead of

not being able to comprehend that Jesus

is God and more than a man they can't

comprehend that Jesus was a man and they

try to make him something he wasn't the

bottom line is simply this we need to

not make up our own idea about who Jesus

is but we need to be in our Bibles all

the time to learn who Jesus is look I

feel for you as congregants because

pastors like me we stand before you and

we have a way of kind of nagging you to

read your Bible nag nag nag nag nag nag

read your Bible read your Bible but I'm

gonna tell you in the most unnatural the

Bible tells you who Jesus is in the

fullness of how you need to know him and

it's possible that you only have one

aspect of who Jesus is down in your

heart in your mind it's possible that

there are important things about who

Jesus is and what he came to do that

aren't even in your mind it's not what

the people in Nazareth knew about Jesus

was false that he was a normal guy that

was true but what was false was that

what was incomplete I should say is that

they didn't understand the fullness of

who Jesus is and I just want to know

what what holds what's missing in your

understanding of Jesus the more you read

the Bible thoughtfully I'm not talking

about reading it in drone mode I'm

talking about reading it and really

thinking about what it says you will

learn who Jesus is more and more as you

read the Bible and so at the end of it

all at the end of verse 3 we see that

they were offended at him

how strange that is why weren't they

proud of the local boy that made good

now here we are in this Sunday afternoon

in beautiful Santa Barbara California

but I want you know I didn't grow up in

Santa Barbara I grew up in the jewel of

the Inland Empire known as Rialto

California and many of you don't really

know much about Rialto but I'll tell you

this if you watch the television show

cops about every fourth time you see it

they will be in Rialto because there's

lots in Rialto for them to film now

Rialto is not a very distinguished City

for many things but Rialto does have a

local hero and I don't expect everybody

to connect to this but some people in

this room are going to connect with this

local here this man who came from Rialto

California the football player Ronnie

Lott came from Cal Rialto he went to the

same high school my brothers and sisters

went to the same high school I went to

as a sophomore after my sophomore year

we moved to Ventura Eisenhower High

School in Rialto California ronnie Lott

Pro Football Hall of Fame four Super

Bowl rings such an awesome defensive

backfield guy free safety strong safety

cornerback the man was such a stud that

one time he tackled a guy and he injured

his pinky you know kind of broke it and

it was like such a hassle that you know

it he said amputate my pinky that's a

man that's just like that's like whoa

whoa just cut it off I don't want to

mess around with this thing

now what did Rialto do for Ronnie Lott

well they they built a football stadium

there at the high school Eisenhower High

and it's named Ronnie Lott Stadium how

come Nazareth High School never built a

stadium for Jesus called Jesus Stadium

because because Jesus can explain we

think a lot more of our sports heroes

than we do our prophets notice what

Jesus says next year right here in verse

4 but jesus said to the

a prophet is not without honor except in

his own country among his own relatives

and in his own house that Jesus

explaining a principle here I believe

probably he was quoting a proverb that

was along in the day people just kind of

quote this and you know how proverb is

the proper isn't an absolute law but

it's a general principle and here's the

principle prophets get honor everywhere

except at home now sports heroes get

honor everywhere but but not prophets

prophets get honor everywhere except

home and notice how Jesus phrases is a

prophet is not without honor except in

his own country if you look back at

verse one it says that Jesus came into

his own country he's there at Nazareth

and he's not getting honor and then I

can't believe he said this a prophet is

not without honor except in his own

country among his own relatives and in

his own house don't you think that he

had to be looking at his own sisters

there in the congregation when he said

those words you you guys don't honor me

as she should but what a bold and

difficult thing that was to say now let

me say this in fairness to the sisters

of Jesus it couldn't have been always

easy to have Jesus as your older brother

you know I don't know how family

structures go you know they talk about

the oldest is often being like a high

achiever you know kind of a

perfectionist could you imagine him

Jesus as your older brother why can't

you clean your room you know Jesus

cleans his room ever the time why can't

you mind me the way you should Jesus

always Minds me why can't you get good

grades at school Jesus always gets good

grades at school it could be a little

tough there's probably some dynamics

there there were a little bit difficult

but nevertheless they should have known

I'll tell you this Mary the mother of

Jesus and Joseph the adoptive father of

Jesus they knew who he was they knew it

from his birth they knew it when he was

12 years old and he said I had to be

about my father's business they know who

he was and I don't know if Mary and

Joseph failed to pass that

to the kids there are other kids

siblings of Jesus

maybe they failed to do it maybe they

tried to do it and the kids just

wouldn't receive it sometimes kids are

knuckleheads but but for whatever reason

Mary and Joseph knew it those brothers

and sisters didn't know it

now why let's look at verses five and

six now he could do no mighty work there

except that he laid his hands on a few

sick people and healed them and he

marveled because of their unbelief then

he went about the villages in a circuit

teaching at this phase in Jesus's

ministry when he goes other places he's

doing a mate he's healing scores of

people demons are being cast out the

blind are seeing the lame are walking

the diseased or heal over and over again

it's just an amazing but when he comes

to Nazareth was it he lays his hands on

a few sit and a few people are healed

that's it it the contrast is amazing

what he was doing in other places and

what he did there why why was the work

hindered in Nazareth the bottom line is

unbelief he marveled verse 6 says

because of their unbelief that was the

real reason they were offended that was

the real reason why they did not honor

Jesus it was because of their unbelief I

know what we've heard from Mary and

Joseph about you being more than a man

about how your birth was divine about

how Mary did not have any relations man

but this was a virgin birth we know what

we've heard about you having to be about

your father's business about you being

fulfilling for it we know that but we

don't believe it

it was unbelief and Jesus marveled at

their unbelief now let me let me finish

this message by asking three questions

the first question is what makes Jesus

marvel

now we don't use the word marvel very

much in our everyday language it means

to be amazed what amazes Jesus and I'd

say two things amazes Jesus faith and

unbelief in Luke chapter 7 verse 9

Jesus has an interaction with a Roman

centurion a Rome and not a Jew a man who

should not have believed in Jesus it

says there that he marveled at the

Centurions faith when Jesus finds faith

in an unexpected place

he's like amazed wouldn't you love to

amaze Jesus with your faith say Lord I

I'm just gonna believe I'm gonna stop

trying to believe and I'm just gonna put

my trust in you

now that's one thing faith in an

unexpected place made Jesus amazed or

marvel but here's the other thing we

find it right here in our text verse 6

tells us that he marveled because of

their unbelief

Jesus was amazed that those who should

have faith did not it would take an

extended conversation one-on-one with me

and you to probe this out but I bet that

in every individual life here God has

given you many reasons to believe in him

and trust in him many not just from his

word not just from his truth but from

the circumstances of your life I think

that sometimes when I'm in a funk of

unbelief I wonder if God doesn't look

down for him and say David why haven't I

given you so many reasons to trust me

haven't I come through time and time

again it's as if God could say from

heaven David how many times did you

think I was too late in answering that

prayer and it turns out it was perfect

timing

I mean again and again and again and

that's just not me is it it's you the

brothers and sisters if we're gonna

amaze Jesus let's amaze him with our

faith and not with our unbelief second

question what hinders Jesus well it's

our unbelief look at what it says here

in verse 6 he could do no

mighty work there Jesus's work was

limited in that climate of unbelief in

that sense Jesus's power was limited by

the belief or the unbelief I should say

of his countrymen and so by us you know

it's a curious thing to think of Jesus

being hindered by anything but I'd say

Jesus chooses to hold back his activity

sometimes where there's unbelief now I

need to be very careful about this

because there is sort of a teaching or a

current out there in the Christian world

some people call it the health and

wealth gospel some people call it the

prosperity gospel but its idea that

every Christian should be rich and

should be in perfect health and if

you're not rich and if you're not in

perfect health then you're just not

believing God because God has that for

every believer

and so the problem is you just don't if

you had faith you'd have all those

things button sisters that that and I

don't mean to get into all that but that

is a lie from hell now I do believe that

God has ultimate healing for every

believer but sometimes that's in the

resurrection in heaven God God has

ultimate wealth for every believer but

man sometimes that might be in heaven

when we walk the streets of gold so so

I'm not talking about but what I am

saying is simply this and please

understand me surely there are times in

my Christian life where God wants to

give me something but I don't have it

because I'm not believing him for it I

don't mean that to throw a guilt trip on

people Oh everything would be bad for

you just believe no no that's not it

this what I want you to do I want you to

take some time please make a note put in

a reminder do something for yourself you

just take some time before the Lord and

you say Lord is there anything that you

want to work in my life do in my life

provide in my life right now that I am

hindering because of unbelief I think if

you just ask God that question with a

sincere heart in earnest prayer before

him if there is he'll show you because

if there was something like that in your

life would

you want to know wouldn't you want God

to show you so just pray Lord I want

everything you have for me right now in

my life and if I'm hindering something

that you want to do in my life right now

because of my unbelief then just show me

make that your prayer and I think God

will speak to you in a beautiful way

okay so the first question was what

makes Jesus marvel the second question

was what hinders Jesus now here's the

third question what stops Jesus well

look at the very last phrase in verse 6

then he went about in the villages in a

circuit teaching what stops Jesus

absolutely nothing nothing he's gonna

continue his work can you imagine Jesus

like going into a shell after his

rejection at Nazareth well brothers and

sisters don't believe in me I don't know

what I'm gonna do they didn't like me at

Nazareth I don't know I'm having all

these self doubts Jesus was like look if

you guys don't receive this bad for you

but I got work to do I'm moving on

isn't that beautiful there's a sense in

which my unbelief hurts me it doesn't

hinder God's great plan gods like David

you're not gonna trust me to do this no

Lord I'm not gonna okay I'll do it some

other way no no wait Lord wait wait wait

but you see Jesus will not stop his work

and so there is a sense in which our

unbelief hinders him on a personal level

but not on the big scale because nothing

can stop the work of Jesus any unbelief

we have hurts us more than it does the

work of Jesus Jesus can and work we can

and will work in another way he doesn't

give up he continues to work among

anybody who will receive him in faith

and I pray that that is each and every

one of us today father that's my prayer

lord I pray that in particular you would

speak to every individual heart here

this morning Lord we just don't want

this word of God to be out there we want

to up

fly it to our life and Lord we apply it

to our life by saying father if there is

something that is hindered in my life

right now because of unbelief would you

show it to us

show it to us Lord we want to know and

we want the gracious loving Lord Jesus

to deal with it so father work in our

hearts stir us we pray in Jesus name

Amen

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