Mark 6:1-6, Jesus Rejected at Nazareth

1 He went away from there [going inland and uphill] and came to his hometown [Nazareth], and his disciples followed him. 2 And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished [being startled by his authority], saying, “Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands? [They seem more interested in the mechanical than in the theological—more interested in how than the why and what God is doing in Jesus. From 1:22 onward, Jesus’ authority is recognized by all except those blinded by their theological prejudice. The Nazarenes question the source of his amazing ministry in word and deed.] 3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary [with Joseph now out of the picture] and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” [Clearly his human background is not the source, so can it be divine? A question arises about the brothers and sisters of Jesus: were they the biological children of Mary and Joseph? Or, did they come into the family as the children of Joseph the widower? There is absolutely no indication that Joseph was a widower in the Bible. Neither is there biblical evidence of Mary as a perpetual virgin. Many in the early Church claimed she was, but this could be an ancient misunderstanding. Matthew 1:25 states that Joseph “knew her not until she had given birth to a son.” This verse seems to indicate that Joseph “knew her” after the birth of Jesus. The question remains unresolved, but the plain meaning and reading of scripture says that Joseph and Mary had other children.] And they took offense at him. [They knew all the answers about Jesus, so they left no room for fresh, divine revelation.] 4 And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household [sibling problems?].” 5 And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. [Apparently, some were so ill and desperate that they “gave Jesus a try.”] 6 And he marveled because of their unbelief. [They could not believe Jesus, and he in return could not believe in them!]

And he went about among the villages teaching. [He moved on where he would be accepted.]