We tend to dismiss advice and calls to righteousness from “our own.” Our attitude is, “Who are you to tell me what to do?” It is far easier to accept instruction from someone on the outside than it is from someone we know.
Jesus ran into this phenomenon when He visited the village where He lived as a child. In chapter 6, verses 1 through 6 of the Gospel which bears his name, Mark writes, “He went out from there. He came into his own country, and his disciples followed him. When the Sabbath had come, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many hearing him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things?” and, “What is the wisdom that is given to this man, that such mighty works come about by his hands? Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judah, and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” So they were offended at him. Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, and among his own relatives, and in his own house.” He could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people, and healed them. He marveled because of their unbelief. He went around the villages teaching.”
It is worth observing that very few people remained indifferent to Jesus. Few could encounter Him and remain unchanged. Some became His followers. Others rejected His teaching and became His enemies. At first, the people of Jesus’ home town of Nazareth were amazed. Their amazement turned into incredulity and disbelief. Then, they took offense at Him.
What was the basis for their amazement and offense? We can infer the reasons from the questions they asked. “Where did this man get these things?” This implies that the people of Nazareth thought Jesus was putting on airs and pretending to be something more than He really was. They may also have felt that Jesus was trying to say that He was better than everyone else.
“What is the wisdom that is given to this man …?” Not only did the people question Jesus’ motives, they questioned the source of His wisdom. They could not deny that Jesus had the power to perform miracles, but they doubted whether this power came from God.
“Isn’t this the carpenter…?” In other words they were saying that, surely, God would not select a working man to be His prophet! This not only shows contempt for manual labor, it also shows the ignorance of the people regarding their own history. The truth is that God has often chosen working men to speak to His people. Gideon was a farmer before God delivered the nation of Israel from its oppressors through him. King David was a shepherd before God chose him to lead the nation. Amos tended fig trees before God called him to become a prophet. Even today many look down on those who work with their hands as if they were less worthy or less important in God’s sight. However, this attitude has no place among the followers of Christ. Whatever our occupation, it is a high calling as long as we are serving the Lord. The Apostle Paul writes, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,” (Colossians 3:23 NIV)
“Isn’t this Mary’s son…?” In the Jewish culture this was an insult because people identified one another by their father’s name, not their mother’s. By using His mother’s name the people were implying that Jesus was illegitimate. It is true that Jesus did not have a physical father – he was born through the power of the Holy Spirit while His mother was still a virgin. Perhaps the people of Nazareth were ignorant of this or did not believe it. In any case, the people of Nazareth condemned Jesus for what they thought his parents had done rather than judging Him by His own character and actions.
“Aren’t his brothers and sisters here with us?” By asking this the people of Nazareth were saying that Jesus could not be extra-ordinary because He came from an ordinary family. As the saying is, “Familiarity breeds contempt.” In response, Jesus pointed out that it is outsiders who honor prophets – not their own relatives and neighbors.
Because of the lack of faith and the ill-will of the people whom He had grown up with, Jesus could not do much for them. We like to think of Jesus as being all-powerful – that He could do anything. But there were some things He could not do. One of them was to help people against their will. Their unbelief kept them from experiencing God’s power. That being the case, Jesus had no alternative but to leave Nazareth and teach and minister in other villages.
Jesus not only served, He taught His disciples to serve as well. In verses 7 through 13 Mark writes, “He called to himself the twelve, and began to send them out two by two; and he gave them authority over the unclean spirits. He commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, except a staff only: no bread, no wallet, no money in their purse, but to wear sandals, and not put on two tunics. He said to them, “Wherever you enter into a house, stay there until you depart from there. Whoever will not receive you nor hear you, as you depart from there, shake off the dust that is under your feet for a testimony against them. Assuredly, I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!” They went out and preached that people should repent. They cast out many demons, and anointed many with oil who were sick, and healed them.”
In this incident Jesus provides a model for effective leadership. 1) Jesus did not ask the disciples to do something which He, Himself, was not willing to do. The disciples had already witnessed Jesus’ example of service many times. 2) Jesus gave them clear instructions. There could be no question about what He wanted the disciples to do or what they were to preach. The message was the same as John the Baptist and Jesus, Himself, preached – that people should repent. 3) Jesus gave the disciples the authority and ability to carry out His instructions. 4) Jesus gave the disciples the support they needed. He sent them out in pairs – no doubt so they could encourage and help each other. Going in pairs also satisfied the provision in the Law of Moses that facts should be established by two or three witnesses. 5) Jesus trusted the disciples to do the task – He did not accompany them. Further, the disciples also had to have trust and confidence that their needs would be supplied.
As a result of this careful preparation, the disciples had great success in preaching, driving out demons and healing people.