No Honor In His Own Country

One day Jesus came back to His old neighborhood where as a child and young adult He learned to work as a carpenter with His mother's husband Joseph.  In fact He was often called the carpenter's son, a label which people often used when speaking about Him in public conversation. 

Both Matthew and Mark wrote about this return trip back home to Nazareth where He was educated, where He grew up and made friends, and where His younger half brothers and sisters most likely still lived.

I want to look at both portions of scripture together since they are basically the same.  I will add to Matthew's account with a couple details that Mark adds to his story ... hoping they will still flow smoothly together.

Matthew 13:54-58 and Mark 6:1-6 (edited together for clarity) ...

"And when Jesus came into His own country (Nazareth in Galilee) ... when the sabbath day came, He taught in the synagogue.  Many hearing Him were astonished and said ... 'Where did this man get such wisdom that even mighty works are performed by His hands?  Is not this the carpenter's son?  Is not Mary His mother?  Are not His brothers ... James, Joses, Simon and Judas?  And are not His sisters here with us?'      

And they took offense at Him.  (They were repelled and hindered from acknowledging His authority, which caused them to stumble.)

But Jesus said to them, 'A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house.'

And He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief ... except that He laid His hands upon a few sick folk and healed them.  And Jesus wondered at their unbelief."

A prophet is not without honor ... This expression is generally true, although there might be some exceptions to it; but Jesus was not an exception.  Everywhere He went He had been honored much more than here in His home town.  Why?  Because they knew Him.  They knew His family ... He was one of them.

They took offense at Him ... Jesus came from humble beginnings.  And now, according to Luke 4:14-16 ...

"Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of Him through all the region round about.  He taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.  And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up ..."

Jesus was a humble, kind and loving man.  But He was on a mission from God.  The words He spoke were given Him from God the Father.  No doubt He didn't sound like the young carpenter they remembered.  Jesus spoke with grace and wisdom with the power of God ... and now He healed the sick, and had power over devils.  He was becoming famous, and now He was back.  What would they make of Him?

Were His old companions and friends envious?  They could not imagine that Jesus was a prophet like the rumors said.  The educated and important people were indignant ... He was only the son of a carpenter ... they were too proud to be taught by Him.

What did Matthew say was the reason that Jesus, "did not many mighty works" there?

Because of their unbelief.  It wasn't because He lacked the power in and of Himself.  Wasn't He God, just wrapped in flesh? 

When I edited the two stories from Matthew and Mark together, I purposely left out what Mark wrote concerning why Jesus only healed a few people.  Honestly ... I didn't like the words Mark chose to use.

Mark said that Jesus ... "could do no mighty work there ..."

I just do not like this translation.  I really don't believe Mark was saying that Jesus was somehow limited in His ability.  Was there something greater here that Jesus couldn't conquer?

One day God asked Jeremiah this question ... "Is there any thing too hard for me?"  Well ... is there?  I would hope you would answer no to that question.

The fact is ... it's not that Jesus couldn't do what He was willing to do ... it's just that He wouldn't go beyond their belief in Him; whether it was faith or faithlessness, or as both Matthew and Mark put it ... their unbelief.

Unbelief ... is just doubt all grown up.  

It does need to be noted however, that there must have been, as Mark put it ... "a few sick folk" ... that had faith in Jesus, because He healed them.


Comments welcome.