Mark 6: Rejected!

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!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier.

PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family

How does Mark 6 prompt or improve your praise of God?

John 1: Come and See

Today’s reading is John 1.

Two of John’s disciples heard him announce:

Behold! The Lamb of God!

They started following Jesus. I don’t mean they started listening to His teaching (that comes later). I mean they literally started following Him. Like the private detective on some show, tailing a suspect, they just started walking behind Him. They didn’t go up to Him. They didn’t grab His attention. They just tagged along. Only when Jesus turned around did He start a conversation with them.

“What do you want?”

“Where do you live?”

Jesus said, “Come and see.” They did. But first, one of them, Andrew, found his brother Simon and brought him along.

The next day, in Galilee, Jesus found Philip and actually said to him, “Follow me.” He decided to. But first, Philip found Nathanael and said, “We found the One Moses and the prophets promised. It’s Jesus from Nazareth.”

“Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Nathanael asked.

Philip said, “Come and see.” He did.

Two things we need to see in these events. First, if we are going to follow Jesus, we need to invite others to join us. “Come and see” should be a mantra. “Come and see” my life in Christ. “Come and see” the Scriptures. “Come and see” the church Jesus built. “Come and see.” Test if for yourself. Experience it yourself. I have to tell you what I’ve found in Jesus. But don’t just take my word for it, “Come and see.”

Second, John is setting the stage for the rest of the book. Philip was talking to Nathanael, but John is talking to his reader. “Come and see” is an invitation to keep reading. Not already convinced Jesus is the fulfillment of Moses and the prophets? That’s okay. “Come and see.” See His signs and wonders. See how people respond. See what Jesus does. See where He goes. See how He acts. See His teaching. “Come and see.” Which prophet is Jesus? Come and see.

We are finishing the first chapter today, but we are starting an exciting journey. Keep reading. Come and see who Jesus really is.

Next week’s reading is John 2.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier sparked by this post.

PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family

What do you want to share with others from John 1?

Because of Their Unbelief

Today’s reading is Matthew 13.

Jesus came to Nazareth, the town in which He grew up. The people were astonished. However, not in the same way other towns had been. In other towns, they were amazed at His authority, His power, His ability. They thought He did all things well, and they came flocking to Him to experience His power. Here they are astonished at His uppitiness. That’s my word for it. Of course, Jesus wasn’t arrogant or prideful or uppity. However, the people from His hometown viewed Him that way.

Their question was who did this guy think He was coming back home and telling people how to live? Who did this guy think He was telling them to repent? How could this guy think He is the Messiah? They remembered His dad. They knew His mom and His siblings. They remembered His childhood. He can’t be all that.

Then Matthew writes, “And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief” (ESV). Matthew’s point is not that Jesus was trying really hard to heal people, but because they didn’t believe, He just couldn’t pull it off. Matthew’s point is that because they didn’t believe, they didn’t come to Jesus to be healed.

And this is really the way it works. So many people demand God perform signs before they will believe in Him. However, when folks don’t believe in Him, they don’t come to Him. When they don’t come to Him, they don’t get to experience the power of God working in their lives. It is just that simple. He has given the sign of Jesus dying on the cross, buried in the tomb, raised on the third day. If we won’t believe that sign and come to Him, we must not expect His work in our lives.

Which brings us to the question. Do you believe? If we can help you with that, please leave a comment below.

Next week’s reading is Matthew 14.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier sparked by this post.

Discuss the Following Questions with Your Family

1. What are your initial reactions to the chapter and the written devo above?
2. Why do you think the Nazarenes didn’t believe in Jesus?
3. What causes folks to disbelieve Jesus today?
4. What encouragement would you give folks today to help them believe?
5. What do you think we should pray for and about in light of this chapter and today’s post?

More Bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah

Today’s reading is Matthew 10.

I get it. It’s not usual for a daily devotional reading to be centered around a passage of judgment. Usually, we try to find something uplifting and encouraging. Usually, we try to find something that makes the reader feel good. Every once in a while, however, we have to remember what is at stake. Judgment is coming.

Please, understand what Jesus is saying. Do you recall what happened to Sodom and Gomorrah? Do you recall the intense judgment? Do you recall that only three people survived that judgment? Fire and brimstone rained down on Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot and his daughters were the only ones to make it to safety. How do you suppose the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah are going to fare in the final judgment? It is possible Jesus is actually saying, “Do you remember how awful it was for Sodom and Gomorrah on their day of judgment? That day was easier on them than the day of judgment on the towns of Israel who ignore My ambassadors will be when it comes.”

I have no doubt that was in part a reference to the coming judgment in 70 AD when God used Rome to bring judgment on the Jews and destroy Jerusalem. However, there is no doubt the ultimate fulfillment is for anyone who ignores the word of Jesus given through His apostles, the final judgment will be worse than it was or will be for those who were judged in Sodom and Gomorrah.

Please, understand what is at stake for us. Jesus isn’t saying, “I’m coming. If you don’t measure up, I’m going to judge you.” He is saying, “Judgment is coming. If you turn to Me, I’ll save you from it.”

Will you turn to Jesus? Can we help you do so?

Tomorrow’s reading is Matthew 10.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier sparked by this post.

Discuss the Following Questions with Your Family

1. What are your initial reactions to the chapter and the written devo above?
2. Why don’t we like to think about a coming judgment?
3. Why do we need to think about the coming judgment?
4. What advice would you give to others to encourage them to turn to Jesus before the coming judgment?
5. What do you think we should pray for and about in light of this chapter and today’s post?

When They Don’t Believe

Today’s reading is Mark 6.

Jesus did everything right, right? And yet, in Nazareth, He was rejected by those who should have known Him best. He came among them, and they didn’t believe. So strong was their disbelief almost no one even came out to be healed. Amazingly, He was able to lay His hands on a few sick people who were healed, but even that didn’t cause belief among the Nazarenes. I’m so glad this account is in the gospels because we can do things right and people still disbelieve. When someone rejects the gospel, don’t beat yourself up. It doesn’t mean you did it wrong. Many people simply reject for any number of reasons. They rejected Jesus, they’ll reject us. But there will be those who come and accept. So keep making disciples.

Tomorrow’s reading is Mark 7.