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THIS WEEK’S BIBLE INSIGHTS ARE BY:
Celia Bowring and are based on Mark 6 (NIV)
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO READ MORE ON THIS WEEK’S MAJOR THEME:
Mark 6:1-56
2 When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. “Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? 3 Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offence at him.
Jesus went around teaching from village to village. 7 Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits.
4 Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honour except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.“ 5 He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few6 people who were ill and heal them. He was amazed at their lack of faith. Then
8 These were his instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff – no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. 9 Wear sandals but not an extra shirt. 10 Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. 11 And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.”
Sunday June 22 - Who is he?
“Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James,
Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” Mark 6:3
Mark is racing through his gospel, whose content was almost certainly related to him by Peter. Previous chapters describe how ‘everybody was amazed’ at Jesus’ teaching and parables, that many people were healed and freed from demons, that Jesus calmed a raging storm, sent evil spirits into a herd of pigs, and raised a little girl from the dead. He infuriated the religious leaders by claiming to forgive sins and calling himself “the Son of Man, Lord of the Sabbath” – “an outrageous claim!” they said. Crowds flocked to him. Everyone was talking about this intriguing wandering preacher and the wonders he performed. They all asked an important question – “Who is he?”
So when Jesus arrives with his disciples to teach at the synagogue in Nazareth, his hometown, people ask (v 2), “Where did this man get these things? What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing?” Perhaps they think Jesus is a conjuror, that his power is coming from a dark source. Indignantly they ask who this person they’ve known from childhood thinks he is? Mark simply and sadly observes, ‘they took offence at him’ (v 3).
People still do. Our human pride tells us to keep our distance, but if Jesus is the Son of God, it is foolish to ignore or reject him. Let us come humbly to listen with open minds.
Holy Spirit, please reveal to me more of who Jesus is, through Scripture, the wisdom of other Christians and times of prayer. Amen.
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12 They went out and preached that people should repent. 13 They drove out many demons and anointed with oil many people who were ill and healed them.
PRAYER FOR TODAY