Today’s reading is Mark 6.
Jesus has met with incredible success. Everywhere He goes people line up to see Him. In fact, in some places it has been so much He can’t even openly enter the town. He’s had to stay out in desolate places and still the people come.
That is, until He went back home. In small town, backwoods Nazareth, He enters the synagogue and begins to teach. These people are astonished just like the folks in other synagogues. Except, it isn’t just like the others, is it? In other places, they are astonished at His authority. They are astonished at His power. They are astonished at His ability. In Nazareth, they are astonished that one of their own would have the audacity to think He’s something special.
“We know this guy.” “He’s just a carpenter.” “I had tea with his mom last Saturday.” “I went to school with his brothers.” “He can’t be all that.”
And He gets rejected.
But what does He do with that? Does He go into despair? Does He lie awake at night wondering why He isn’t everybody’s favorite? Does He give up and quit? No. He marvels. He is surprised that the people won’t accept the evidence of His work. But He doesn’t quit. Neither does He get bent out of shape. He doesn’t harangue the people for their unbelief. He doesn’t attack them. He doesn’t belittle them. The next sentence after highlighting the Nazarenes’ unbelief says, “And he went about among the villages teaching.” Jesus simply kept on teaching. Those who would listen would listen, those who wouldn’t wouldn’t.
Jesus neither anchored His self worth in people’s responses, nor took their rejection personally. He taught. He worked. The response was up to the people. If they wouldn’t listen, He would shake the dust of His feet and move on. At least, that’s how He told the 12 to see it when He sent them out.
What a lesson for us to learn. How many times have I avoided talking about Jesus because I feared rejection? What do I fear about it? Do I fear what I think those people are saying about me? Do I fear what their rejection means about me personally? Do I fear what I will miss if the people don’t like me? Jesus didn’t let any of these questions hinder Him even after He was rejected. He simply kept on about His business.
May we learn to be this comfortable rejection. May we learn to simply keep on spreading the good news.
Tomorrow’s reading is Mark 6.
PODCAST!!!
PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family
How does Mark 6 prompt or improve your praise of God?
Read the Bible 