COMMENTARY ON MARK
LESSON NUMBER 59
“ Mark 6:1 And He went out from thence, and came into His own country; and His disciples follow Him. 2 And when the sabbath day was come, He began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing Him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto Him, that even such mighty works are wrought by His hands? 3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not His sisters here with us? And they were offended at Him.”
(Mark 6:1-3; Matthew 13:54-57; Luke 4:16-22; John 6:42)
JESUS CONFRONTS UNBELIEF
INTRODUCTION
Thusfar in the Gospel of Mark, following His baptism and return from forty days of temptation, He has been several places. He “came into Galilee preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God” (1:14). He “walked by the Sea of Galilee,” calling Peter, Andrew, James, and John (1:16-20). He ministered in Capernaum (1:21), desert places (1:45), by the seaside (2:13), in a mountain (3:13), and the country of the Gadarenes (5:1). Luke also records that He went into the city of Nain (Lk 7:11). He has astounded the multitudes with His doctrine (1:22), by raising the dead (5:42), the casting out of demons (1:27), and miracles of healing (2:12). People observed the superiority of His teaching over that of the scribes, for He spoke as one having authority (1:22). He even confirmed that He had power on earth to forgive sins (2:10). He had ordained twelve men and given them power “to heal sickness, and to cast out demons” (3:15). There was really nothing ordinary about Jesus. When He spoke, it was with great power. When He worked, it was also with great power. One might imagine that it would not be possible to associate Jesus with the normal. Yet, in this text, that is precisely what the citizens of His home town do. The home town group have great difficulty believing that He was anything more than a familiar neighbor. He will actually be offensive to them!
JESUS RETURNS TO HIS OWN COUNTRY
“ Mk 6:1 And He went out from thence, and came into His own country; and His disciples follow Him.”
HE WENT OUT FROM THENCE. Jesus has just left the house of Jairus, where He had raised his young daughter from the dead. Matthew records that “as they went out” a dumb man that was possessed of a demon was brought to Him. Jesus cast out the demon, and the dumb man spake. It is written that “the multitude marveled, saying, it was never so seen in Israel” (Matt 9:32-33). Thus, the extraordinary ministry of Jesus is again highlighted. His fame was spreading everywhere, as the people associated Him with great things. Many of the people did not hesitate to bring impossible cases to Him, persuaded that He was able to do what other men could not do.
It appears to me that our day could well do with a fresh impression of the Lord Jesus Christ. There is altogether too much association of Him with the mundane, or everyday things, and the ordinary. A sense of the presence of Jesus is unusually rare, which accounts for the hesitancy of people to cast their care upon Him. But it was not so in this case. The people knew when Jesus was moving, and many took advantage of any access to Him that was made available to them.
HE CAME INTO HIS OWN COUNTRY. Other versions read, “He came into His home town,” NASB and “went to His hometown.” NIV “His native place.” NAB This is elsewhere identified as Nazareth (Lk 2:38). Luke refers to Nazareth as “where He had been brought up” (Lk 4:16). Matthew says that after the death of Herod, Joseph took Jesus and Mary and “came into the land of Israel,” “and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called as Nazarene” (Matt 2:20-23). This precise statement is not found in any of the Prophets. It appears that the meaning is that Jesus would be derided – like “a root out of dry ground” in whom no comeliness was perceived (Isa 53:2). You may recall that when Nathaniel heard of Jesus of Nazareth, he replied, “Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?” (John 1:46). In this case, Jesus’ identity with Nazareth seemed to contradict any notion that He was the Messiah. In fact, some objected to saying Jesus was the Christ because of where He had lived. It is written, “But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee? Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?” (John 7:41-42). The people had reasoned that because the Messiah was “the rod out of the stem of Jesse” (Isa 11:1), a “Bethlemhite” (1 Sam 16:1,18; 17:58), David was from Bethlehem (1 Sam 20:6), Bethlehem was “the city of David” (Lk 2:4), and Micah prophesied the Messiah would “come forth” from Bethlehem (Mic 5:2), the “Christ” could not possibly have come from Nazareth.
It is my understanding that Jesus was deliberately raised in the mean city of Nazareth in order to fulfill those prophesies concerning any lack of comeliness in the Savior. It was not that He had an ugly or uncomely appearance. Surely children would not be attracted to such a Person, and disposed to sing His praise (Matt 21:15). One of the reasons for His uncomeliness was the area in which He was raised – a place of contempt from which religious men thought nothing good could come.
This is now the second time Jesus has come to His home town, Nazareth. He also came there at the very beginning of His ministry. It was there that He announced His manifesto, reading from the prophet Isaiah, and announcing that the words of the sixty-first chapter of Isaiah had been fulfilled in the ears of the people (Lk 4:16-21). The people all took note of His “gracious words,” declaring, “Is not this Joseph’s son?” Jesus then told them they would ultimately say to Him, “Physician, heal thyself” (Lk 4:22). He then told them of God’s discreet historical blessings upon certain Gentiles – blessings that transcended those that were being experienced by the Jews of that time. Upon hearing these words, everyone in the synagogue was “filled with wrath.” They got up, cast Jesus out of the city, and led Him to the brow of the hill where they intended to “throw Him down the cliff.” However, Jesus passed through the midst of them and “went on His way”(Lk 4:28-30).
Now Jesus comes to His home town again. It is as though He was giving them a second chance to receive His gracious words. He will be received no better this time, although they will make no attempt to take His life. He was a citizen of whom they did not boast.
HIS DISCIPLES FOLLOWED HIM. This is a trait of all true disciples – Christ’s “sheep.” They follow Him! Jesus said of His people, “they follow Me” (John 10:27). Jesus further declared that if anyone wished to be His disciple, they had to “follow” Him, going where He goes (Matt 16:24; 19:21; Lk 9:23; John 12:26). For example, if Jesus says, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Mat 18:20), then that is where His disciples are to be – among those who gather together in His name. Men are to pursue Jesus, not seek to merely involve Jesus in their personal affairs.
THE HOME TOWN PEOPLE ARE ASTOUNDED
“ 2 And when the sabbath day was come, He began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing Him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto Him, that even such mighty works are wrought by His hands?”
WHEN THE SABBATH DAY WAS COME. Whatever you may think about honoring days, Jesus honored the Sabbath. It was His “custom” to be in the synagogue on the Sabbath day (Lk 4:16). He is frequently said to have been in the synagogue on the Sabbath day (Mk 1:21; 3:1-2; Lk 4:16,31; 6:6; 13:10).
TEACHING IN THE SYNAGOGUE. Jesus was noted for His teaching – something for which He is not noted in our time. Nicodemus referred to Him as a “Teacher come from God” (John 3:2). The term “Rabbi” was ascribed to great teachers, and thus Jesus was so called (John 1:38,49; 3:2; 6:25). Seven times it is said of Jesus, “He taught them” (Matt 5:2; 7:29; 13:54; Mk 1:22; 2:13; 4:2; 10:1). Once, upon seeing a great multitude, Jesus “taught them many things” (Mk 6:34). During the last phase of His ministry, Jesus “taught” His disciples extensively concerning His death (Mk 8:31). Eight times, Jesus is described as “teaching” (Matt 4:23; 9:35; 21:23; Mk 6:6; Lk 5:17; 13:10,22; 23:5). He taught in the Temple every day (Matt 26:55; Mk 14:49; Lk 21:37).
What is “teaching?” In many “church” circles, “teaching” is not fashionable. There is more of a bent to entertainment-type activities that require less thoughtful involvement by the people. I have often wondered how Jesus would respond to some of the trivial type gatherings that are convened in His name – or if any time would even be allotted to Him for “teaching.”
The word “teach” comes from a word than means “to hold discourse with others in order to instruct them . . . Impart instruction, instill doctrine into one,” THAYER and “to cause to learn or cause to know.” LOUW-NIDA In teaching, Jesus was acquainting people with the “kingdom of God,” the “mind of the Lord,” and “the will of the Lord.” He “taught” His disciples regarding His death (Mk 9:31), acquainting them with the circumstances that would surround it. He “taught” the people concerning the purpose of the Temple, which as intended to be “the house of prayer” (Mk 11:17). In all of this activity, Jesus was acquainting the people with a different order of things – an eternal order. It was a means of orienting people for salvation, and preparing them for the blessing of the Lord. Generally, His teaching was not a mere discussion.
Proper teaching has the same ministry today. It serves to neutralize the contamination of the mind that is caused by being in this world. It assists in placing the mind within the circumference of blessing, and removing it from the futile climes of this present evil world. This is to be one of the chief facets of the singing of the church – “teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs” (Col 3:16). It would be revolutionary if the modern church insisted that its song writers deliver songs aimed at “teaching.”
ASTONISHED HEARERS. The teaching of Jesus was not like that which was common. He did not deliver normal Sabbath discourses, or traditional synagogue jargon. To be “astonished” is to be amazed, astounded, overwhelmed, and bewildered. FRIBERG The idea is that what Jesus said sharply contrasted with what other teachers were saying, and with the ordinary manner of thought. Jesus never made any inquiry about what the people wanted to hear, or what were the political, social, or domestic issues of the day. He operated by a heavenly agenda, and therefore His teaching did not blend with what the people were accustomed to hearing. There was also a note of authority in His words (Matt 7:29). That is, people sensed they had to do something with the words of Jesus. They could not hear them with indifference, regard them as inconsequential, or treat them as though they did not matter.
WHERE DID IT COME FROM? The people questioned the source of Jesus wisdom, and where He had obtained knowledge concerning the things of which He spoke. It certainly was not in any of the scribal schools, or from local rulers of the synagogue. His words were actually from another world, and they sensed it. What He was delivering could not have been obtained from their teachers or leaders. He had true wisdom, and thus could “handle” the word of God with spiritual expertise (2 Tim 2:15). And, the works He wrought with His hands were unparalleled. No one among them had ever seen lepers cleansed with a touch (Matt 8:3), or blind men touched and healed (Matt 9:29), or the deaf and dumb touched and healed (Mk 7:33). Once he touched the hand of Peter’s mother-in-law, and she was healed (Matt 8:15). He had even raised the dead son of a widow by touching the pallet on which the body was being carried (Lk 7:14). The people knew that what Jesus possessed was not received from men – in the synagogue, in the Temple, or any other place known to them.
What Jesus gives is totally unlike anything from this world. If He feeds people with bread and fish, it is quite different from what is procured at the market place. If He teaches, t is not like the scribes. If He works, it is not like the religious merchants of the day.
FAMILIARITY BREEDS CONTEMPT
“ 3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not His sisters here with us? And they were offended at Him.”
Having witnessed the absolute uniqueness of Jesus, how will the people react to Him – the people among whom He was raised? Will they be grateful and make further inquiry concerning His wisdom? Here we will behold the unimaginable power of unbelief.
IS NOT THIS THE CARPENTER? This is the only place where Jesus is referred to as “the carpenter” – a craftsmen in wood. The term itself suggests that He was an excellent carpenter, which we should expect Him to be. It also infers that Joseph had passed away. He was, of course, the ultimate spiritual Craftsman, able to shape men who were hard by nature. He was also a builder with wood, like Noah, fashioning a habitation for the people of God. I have often thought how appropriate His pre-ministerial vocation was.
Matthew says the people responded, “Is not this the carpenter’s son?” (Matt 13:55). Luke also says that it was commonly “supposed” that Jesus was Joseph’s Son (Luke 3:23) – something that Jesus nor His parents apparently ever sought to refute. That would be like casting pearls to swine. The first time Jesus preached in His home town, the people said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?” (Luke 4:22).
THE SON OF MARY? This assessment was technically true – but they did not know the whole of the matter. This is also the only place where Jesus is referred to as “the son of Mary” – and the statement did not come from heaven, but from unbelieving men. The true assessment of Jesus is that He is “the Son of God”(Mk 1:1; John 1:34). Frequently the Spirit refers to Mary as Jesus’ “mother” (Matt 1:18; 2:11; John 2:1; 19:25; Acts 1:14). Never, however, does the Spirit teach us to think of Jesus as Mary’s son! We are expressly and consistently taught to think of Him as God’s Son (Acts 8:37; 9:20; Rom 1:3,4 2 Cor 1:19; Gal 2:20). The use of the word “Son” in regards to His earthly lineage is doctrinally “the Son of man” (Acts 7:56). The Gospels contain 83 references to this term – all statements of Jesus Himself.
THE BROTHER OF? Matthew presents the people as making the same observation (Matt 13:55-56). The people were astounded that someone common to them had such unequaled wisdom and power. They thought of Him as one of five brothers, the others being James (Greek form of Jacob), Joses (Greek form of Joseph), Judah (Jude), and Simon. They were, of course, Christ’s half-brothers. It is generally thought that Jesus’ half brother James is the author of the book of James, and Jude the author of the book bearing his name. It is interesting that the people did not view them as Jesus’ brothers, but Jesus as their brother, making them more significant than Jesus in their minds. What a miserable assessment of the Son of God!
HIS SISTERS. These “sisters,” or half-sisters, are not named in Scripture. Jewish tradition says there were two sisters, and their names were Esther and Tamar. NICEPHORUS
Thus the peoples’ minds were blinded by their familiarity with Jesus “after the flesh.” It is no wonder that it is written, “Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we Him no more” (2 Cor 5:16). There are still those who tend to think of Jesus “after the flesh.” Such things as “the baby Jesus,” how Mary must have viewed Him when He was young, and other such considerations only tend to obscure the Lord Jesus. They bring nothing to the table of edification.
THEY WERE OFFENDED AT HIM. Other versions read, “bitter against Him,” BBE “stumbled at Him,” YLT “ashamed of Jesus,” LIVING “turned angrily away,” WEYMOUTH and “found a cause for stumbling over Him.” WILLIAMS The word “offended” means “to put a stumbling-block or impediment in the way; cause or make to stumble.” THAYER That is, their familiarity with Jesus according to the flesh caused them to stumble over Him instead of being advantaged by Him. Higher and lower views are mutually exclusive. By this I mean that if a person considers Jesus from the lower point of view, He cannot see Him from the higher view. If, on the other hand, He is seen from the higher view, there is not even a desire to see Him from the lower view. Another thing to consider is this: the lower view of Jesus (according to the flesh) has no redemptive value. There is no salvation in the lower view – no remission, no empowerment, and no reconciliation. Here is the truth of the matter. If men insist on viewing Jesus as the answer to the political, social, and domestic challenges of life in the world, they will not be able to see Him as Lord and Savior. He will become a “stumbling-block” to them, so that they will gain absolutely no advantage from Him, even though they think they know Him. Erroneous views of Jesus cannot yield genuine benefit!
Jesus once said, “And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in Me” (Matt 11:6; Lk 7:23). One version reads, “And blessed is he who keeps from stumbling over Me” (Luke 7:23). The person who stumbles over Jesus fails to see Him as He really is, and thus is not a partaker of the benefit He brings. Jesus is both a Foundation stone and a Stumbling-block. For those who insist on tailoring Jesus to meet their self-perceived needs, He becomes “a Stone of stumbling and a Rock of offense” – and such a Stone is put in place by God Himself (1 Pet 2:7-8).