MARK 6:1-6

📝 “He came to that which was his own, but his own did not RECEIVE HIM” John 1:11
After raising the 12 years old girl from the dead and healing the woman with an issue of blood for 12 years, Jesus went to his home town. But his people – the Nazarenes once again rejected him ( Mk 6:1-6 ). He was rejected earlier when he began his ministry ( Luke 4:28-30 ). Let us find out the reason of His rejection..

👣 HIS FIRST VISIT ( Luke 4:14-30 )
✅ After his baptism and temptation, Jesus began his ministry in Galilee in the power of the Spirit. He became a popular preacher and healer of people with various sicknesses.
✅ On his first visit to Nazareth, Jesus visited synagogue , and took the scroll of Isaiah and read Isaiah 61:1-2 . People were amazed at the way Jesus read these words. Later he cited two OT stories ( Widow of Zarephath and Naaman ) and reminded them how the Gentiles had received mercy from the God of Israel ( Luke 4 : 24-27 ) . After hearing that all the people were very angry . 📌 So they drove him out of the town and were about to kill him by throwing him off the cliff ( v 28-30 ).

✝️ JESUS WAS REJECTED :
~ Because he was the local boy ( Isn’t this Joseph’s son ? )
~ Because they were offended by his message ( ” God’s mercy upon Gentiles” )

👣 HIS SECOND VISIT ( Mark 6:1-6 )
We do not know why Jesus returned to Nazareth.
✅ Was it a second chance given to the Nazarenes to hear God’s message ?
✅ Was it a family visit ? His mother , brothers and sisters were still residing there .
✅ On the Sabbath day he visited the synagogue, and He began to teach the gathering. People were amazed ( as before ) at His Wisdom and at His Works ( miracles ) . But a series of questions had cropped up in their minds and finally it leads them to unbelief ( v 2b–3 )

✝️ JESUS WAS REJECTED:
✔ They refused to accept him as a teacher .
✔ They were too familiar with him in a human way ( ..His mother, brothers and sisters are with them..)
✔ They took offense at him ( v3b ). They saw no reason to believe that he was different from them .
✔ They were not prepared to have faith in Him.

🎯 Jesus was amazed at their lack of faith ( v 6 ) . And because of this he did no miracle there . Jesus’ power knows no limit. However he will not do any work among people who do not believe.

🎯 Jesus of Nazareth was rejected twice by his people in his home town, and each time he quoted ” A prophet is not honoured in his home town ” ( Luke 4:24; Mark 6:4 )

✝ Jesus said , “The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone ; the Lord has done this..” ( Mat 21:42 )

💕 Beloved Church, the REJECTION OF JESUS CHRIST is the greatest blunder / sin in our PILGRIMAGE.
REJECTION does not define mission ; persistence and perseverance are the hallmarks of mission.

Glory to God 🙏
✍🏽 Mark Boje
Arunachal Pradesh, India 🇮🇳

🔸UNFORGIVABLE SIN
Many Christians fear they have done or said something that is beyond forgiveness. The only unforgivable sin is to continually and willfully reject the witness of the Holy Spirit that Jesus is the Savior. God graciously forgives all who come to Him. There are no sins that can’t be pardoned, all were paid on the cross for me. It’s only when the heart is hardened that I choose eternal loss.
Truth is: Christ’s cleansing power can remove the deepest stain of sin.
🔸EARS THAT HEAR
It’s easy to tell my requests to God, but much more difficult to receive His messages to me. My focus is on what I want to say rather than what I need to hear. If I allow the “resistance” of sin and the “noise” of the cares of life to build up, they disrupt my attention as I read the Bible, hear a sermon, or remain silent in prayer. Today is a fresh opportunity to clean up the line of communication with God. Let me give Him my undivided attention and listen carefully to Him in His Word.
Truth is: Worldly cares disrupts our communication with God.
All Glory to Lord Jesus Christ.
Br. John Rajan/Admin.,
GCO. Shanthi Samuel,
Chennai.

Jesus deliberately chose all twelve disciples . He didn’t call for a vote. He made the personal decisions Himself. What we learn about team building from Jesus selection of the twelve.

Jesus handpicked them. He prayed all night about it.(Luke6:12). He selected the ones He personally wanted. There was chemistry. He chose them to be with Him. He modeled life in close proximity. Jesus released them and gave them specific assignments. He empowered them and gave them authority to do their job. Jesus Gave Authority to His Team. (Mark3:13—19).

Who is the sower in Jesus parable? The sower is a person of influence, a leader, anyone who declares God’s Word. The sower scatters a lot of seed, and only later determines the Character of the soil. We need to know about sowing seed.

We will reap in proportion to what we have sown. We cannot do anything about last year’s harvest, but we can about this year’s. We must believe in the seed we sow, knowing that some will produce fruit. Once we see fruit, all our effort seems worthwhile.(Mark4:2-20).

When a terrifying storm convinced the disciples they were about to die, they forgot one important factor; Jesus was in the boat and had told them they were going to the other side of the Lake(Mark4:35). His word always come to pass.

When they finally awakened Jesus, He got up and rebuked the wind and the sea, and everything became completely calm. So long as the disciples assumed control of their situation, Jesus rested. But when they cast their care on Him and released control to Him. He cared for everything and they could rest.

This remains true for every child of God today. While we must take responsibility, we are never to take control. ONLY GOD is big enough to take Control.

When we ourselves take care without allowing God to take care then He will rest and will allow us to mess up our situation. Whereas when we allow God to take care of ourselves and our Matters, Jesus allows us to Rest when we release Control to Him and we find Great Peace.(Mark4:35–41).God’s Principle of Resting and Caring.

As one of Jesus most privileged and beloved Apostle Peter saw some astonishing things, things that others—– not even most of the other twelve— ever had a chance to witness. Jesus along with three disciples James, John and Peter went to Jairus, a synagogue ruler and brought his daughter who died brought back to life. Peter had witnessed Jesus casting out demons and perform miracles of healing, and he had heard Jesus teach with God-given authority. Jesus also gave peter privilege of seeing He held power over Life and Death itself.

All who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ for their Salvation have access to Him at any time. But at certain times, Jesus specifically calls His leaders—-those with a unique call of service in ministry—to see and hear special things, things they alone have the privilege to witness. IT IS A SPECIAL TRUST WITH UNIQUE RESPONSIBILITIES. Peter James and John was Privileged to see what Most Others Couldn’t. (Mark5:35—43).

JESUS HEALED PEOPLE BY HIS COMPASSION AND LOVE. Jesus leadership was empowered not by a Sense of duty or obligation, or by a desire to build an image, but by COMPASSION. Great Leaders for God like Jesus, BUILD A DEEP LOVE FOR PEOPLE THAT MOVES THEM TO DO FAR MORE THAN OBLIGATION COULD EVER INDUCE .

DO YOU DEEPLY LOVE THOSE YOU LEAD? (MARK.6:34).

Dear Daddy God, help us as Your Children to be filled with Your Compassion and Love towards others to lead them to Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen and Amen.

GOD BLESS.

YOURS IN CHRIST,
MERCY JOY, BANGALORE ✝️🛐.