THE TRUTH REJECTED

For this message, preached on Sunday, June 15th, I made an effort to apply it to myself; and the main application SO WHAT's? came from my own thoughts of how I should apply it. I found that one of the things I struggle with, is being so familiar with Chrisianity, the Bible, God, and the church, that I can stop pursuing Him in an intimate way; and focusing on growing. It is easy to become complacent and comfortable, even in the midst of the active Word of God and the Holy Spirit that uses it to convict, challenge and change us. My prayer is that I will continually be sensitiv to God's Word and Spirit, and always growing in Him. That is my prayer for you as well.

THE TRUTH REJECTED
Mark 6:1-29

Please turn in your Bible to Mark 6.
Mark 6:1 – “He went away from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him.”

After Jesus had just performed incredible miracles: He cast out a legion of demons out of a man; He allowed the power to heal to flow through His body and clothing to heal a woman that had a 12 year blood disease; and He raised a 12 year old girl from the dead! He then traveled from Capernaum about 20 miles southwest to Nazareth, his hometown.

I started to daydream about what that might have looked like if it happened today. In a small town like Nazareth, I’m sure the local reporter would have interviewed the homecoming of this, by now, famous healer – Jesus Christ. I wonder what that would have been like?

Drama 1: The reporter and Jesus
Jenn: Well, Good morning Jesus. As I explained through messenger: I am Jenn Johnson, the famous entertainment reporter for our hometown paper: The Nazareth Neighborhood. I’m sure you’ve heard of me or have read some of my prize winning work? Anyway, thanks for being willing to let me interview you for our cover story tomorrow.

There’s been a lot of buzz, here in Nazareth anyway, about you returning to your hometown. We have conducted our own opinion poll. Let me get right to it. Jesus, what is your response to the fact that your approval rating has dropped 25% since you returned to Nazareth? It is currently an alarming low rating of 27%? What do you say to that?

Brian: Jenn, I’m not concerned about my approval rating. I’m only interested in pleasing my Father.

Jenn: Yes, your father. And I think we all know you are not talking about Joseph, but about Almighty God, right?

Brian: Yes Jenn.
Jenn: You may have heard that since you became famous for your miracles in Capernaum, you have been a pretty hot topic here in Nazareth. And the issue of your birth has come up again. Do you still claim that your mother, Mary, didn’t have relations with your dad, and that it was the Holy Spirit that conceived you?

Brian: Yes Jenn.

Jenn: You do realize that no one is really buying that. The opinion polls say about 2% of the people think that might be true. So…we have heard all the talk about how you calm stormy seas, heal people through your clothing, and raise people from the dead. So, why don’t you do some incredible miracles for us down at town hall?

Brian: Jenn, that is not why I am here. I am here to preach the good news of the Kingdom. But, because I am not finding faith here, I will not be doing many miracles.

Jenn: So, you’re too good for us are you? Why should we believe all the things we have heard then?

Brian: The lame walk, the blind see, and people’s lives are changes. That is living proof.

Jenn: Well, that’s fine for you to say. But, 68% of the people in the opinion poll think you use some type of trickery: slight of hand, planted people who pretended to be sick, black magic, or something like it.

One last question Jesus.: Now that you are back in your hometown, can you tell us how much you love it here, how great the people are and how much you want to stay?

Brian: Well, Jenn… Actually, it breaks my heart to be here. There are people everywhere else who respect my teaching; but here, I only find opposition. Because Nazareth has rejected me, I will not only withhold much of my power; but I will also not becoming back. They have rejected me and the message I have delivered. They have brought condemnation upon themselves.

Jenn: Well, isn’t that sweet? Uh, thank you Jesus for your time, I think. Let’s see: what is my headline for the paper tomorrow? [take a few seconds to think]

[either put your hand up to signal a headline or pretend to write it down]
JESUS CONDEMNS HOMETOWN AS OPINION POLL POPULARITY DIPS TO 13%

[THE END]

Jesus returned to his hometown, with his disciples, the Master teacher with his students. And He went right to teaching the truth about Himself and the need for people to repent (the message He preached everywhere – Mark 1:15).

Mark 6:2 – “And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands?

Again, this was not like any teaching they had ever heard. This was not just a rabbi, reading the Scriptures and giving the same old speeches they always heard. This was a man speaking with authority. So much so, they were astonished, amazed, overwhelmed, the word means, at Jesus and His teaching.

They were asking: Where did He get this stuff from? They had never heard this before. Where did He get all this wisdom? He is the local carpenter’s boy for goodness sake! How is He performing all of these amazing miracles, that we have heard about and that we have seen? This was unbelievable to them. They knew there were only two options, as to how he received his power: it was either from God or from Satan. And that is exactly what the religious leaders had accused Jesus of, back in chapter 3. To your outline now:

Jesus, as the prophet of truth, was rejected in his hometown

Mark 6:3 – “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us? And they took offense at him.”

You are just a carpenter, a regular, common guy, like the rest of us. And we despise that. You are nothing special. People sometimes expect those who become prominent leaders to have a certain background in order to be accepted.

“One of the leaders of the Labour movement in London was Will Crooks. He was born into a home where one of his earliest recollections was seeing his mother crying because she had no idea where the next meal was to come from. He started work in a blacksmith’s shop at 5 shillings a week. He became a fine craftsman and one of the bravest and straightest men who ever lived. He entered municipal politics and became the first Labour Mayor of any London borough. There were people who were offended when Will Crooks became Mayor of poplar. In a crowd one day a lady said with great disgust, They’ve made that common fellow, Crooks, mayor, and he’s no better than a working man. A man in the crowd – Will Crooks himself – turned round and raised his hat. Quite right, madam, he said. I am not better than a working man.”

This was Jesus – God in the flesh – but fully man – relating to the common people – here to save common man. And they hated him for it! He was not the Messiah they expected.

Biblical scholars say that in that day, Jews would not call someone “the son of their mother” (they called Him: the son of Mary), except to use it as an insult. They were all from Nazareth. They probably knew the rumors surrounding his birth 30 years prior. Mary, reportedly, had not had sex with her husband to be, Joseph, and yet was pregnant with Jesus – “uh-huh. You are the son of Mary.”

“We know your family. Here are brothers James and Joses and Judas and Simon. We know all your sisters.” Since Mary was a virgin when she had Jesus, these were the brothers and sisters born to Mary and Joseph after Jesus’ birth.

Their point was: “We know your family, and we know you. So, how in the world are you saying what you are saying and doing what you are doing? We don’t like it. The text says: “they took offense at him.” Most likely, because they didn’t understand and couldn’t get it right in their minds, and so they responded in fear.

They took offense, seemingly for no reason. But, all of us have experienced this, to one degree or another, right? People took offense at you, rejected you, and you’re still not sure why? But, it happens. The words “took offense” mean it “caused them to stumble” or “to be repelled.” They just decided they didn’t like him and they wanted nothing to do with him.

The truth was rejected. And what was Jesus’ response?

Mark 6:4- “And Jesus said to them, A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.”

Jesus gave this proverb, that a prophet is not accepted in his own home; but is respected everywhere else he goes. They should have known the stories of the Old Testament prophets who were rejected by the people that knew them the best.

Mark 6:5 – “And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them.”

This does not mean that Jesus somehow lost His power, that there was some spell over Him. It means that since He did His work in the midst of and in response to great faith (we saw that several times last week), He couldn’t do much here, where there was complete opposition. He did, however, heal some of the sick: those who had come in faith; but they were very few. He still had the power to do miracles, but He wasn’t going to do it in the midst of rejection.

Margot Asquith tells the story of the death of Neville Chamberlain, who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1937-1940… Margot met the doctor of Mr. Chamberlain. She said to him: “You can’t be much of a doctor, as Neville Chamberlain was only a few years older than Winston Churchill, and I should have said he was a strong man. Were you fond of him?” Doctor Horder replied: “I was very fond of him. I like all unlovable men. I have seen too many of the other kind. Chamberlain suffered from shyness. He did not want to live; and when a man says that, no doctor can save him.”

Barclay said: “That is what you can call faith – the will to live – without it, no one can survive.” And without the faith of the people in Nazareth, they would not become well spiritually and they would not see Jesus do much at all in their midst.

In fact, we get another hint of Jesus’ human side here:

Mark 6:6 – “And he marveled because of their unbelief. And he went about among the villages teaching.”

He marveled: He was amazed, astonished, because of their unbelief. This was the one thing that could cause Jesus’ power to do the miraculous cease: blatant unbelief. On the human side of things, Jesus couldn’t believe that His hometown people just wouldn’t accept the truth: that He was the Son of God, here to save them. And so, Jesus went to the neighboring villages, and continued to teach the truth to them, looking for those what had “ears to hear”, those who be receptive and respond in faith.

You would think that the people in Jesus’ hometown would be excited about Him being there. They would throw parties and talk about how they remember him running around in diapers. But, instead, they flat out rejected Him, because He didn’t fit what they were looking for. He couldn’t possibly be the Messiah. He couldn’t be the only way to God!

I have met many, many religious people, who do not fully accept Christ for who He said he was; and they are not willing to only trust in Him. They still want to trust in themselves, and their religious efforts, to get to God. They don’t want to believe that the way to God is a narrow way (as Jesus described it); but that there are many ways to God. We don’t want to be preferential you know!

I think we just need to know that most people in our world will reject the full truth about Christ and how they need to respond to Him. So, don’t be surprised. Don’t be discouraged. Don’t be fooled. You may even find that those closest to you are your greatest critics and toughest crowd. Some followers of Christ have found that their own very religious families, reject them once they become true followers of Christ. It may happen. Be ready for it. But, don’t let yourself become one of those who reject Him.

There are different ways God’s Spirit may use this passage to comfort or challenge you; but let me just share the main thing God brought to my mind.

SO WHAT? Do not allow your familiarity, with the truth of Christ, to harden your heart.

We could talk about how religious people can even reject the real truth. But, let’s not forget how easy it is for you and I to do the same thing. Even those of us who are believers tend to be so familiar with the stories and teachings of the Bible, that we get bored by it. We think we already know it, so we have stopped listening. Sometimes, we can find ourselves not accepting the truth of God’s Word with open, humble hearts, ready to apply it to every-day life.

The people knew Jesus when he was a boy, and they should have accepted and loved him. We have all experienced that in our families, at one time or another. We live together and we do love one another; but sometimes we are more rude and hurtful to our family members than to strangers. Many of us have known Jesus for quite a long time; and many of us have trusted in him for salvation. But, we can get so familiar with the truth that it no longer penetrates our hearts, and we become cold, ceasing to listen, ceasing to grow. This is the main thing that jumped out to me from this passage.

That bring us, now, to this next passage in Mark chapter 6.
Pay close attention here. Jesus is going to send out His followers. But, we must keep in mind that, He also wants to send us out to spread the truth.

Kourtney: “Yes, that’s me” [gets out of the pew and quickly comes to the front with her backpack] “I’ve been waiting for this” [addressing Greg] “I just knew God was calling me to follow Him, and spread His truth wherever He sends me! I am really… [Brian interrupts]

Brian: [from the balcony wireless microphone] “Kourtney”

Kourtney: “Greg, did you say something?”

Greg: “No, I think that came from above.”

Brian: “Kourtney” [trying to get her attention] “It’s me: God”

Kourtney: [looking up to the ceiling, back not back to the balcony] “Yes God?”

Brian: “I do want you, as one of my followers, to go and spread the truth about me.”

Kourtney: “I knew it, I knew it. Thank you Lord. I have been waiting for this. I am prepared and ready to do what you have asked. In fact, I came prepared today.” [opens backpack and takes things out one by one]

“I knew I would need a few things, in order to serve you effectively, as I travel to tell people about you. I am so excited. Let me show you what I have to take with me!”

[pull out one item at a time, calling it by name, and placing them on the communion table. Some suggested items might be: cell phone, make up items, hairbrush, a large atlas, a compass, a watch, credit cards, a sweatshirt or jacket, a large Bible (I would suggest the one that normally sits on the communion table), etc. Feel free to make some extra comments after some of the items, such as “an atlas – I know you wouldn’t want me getting lost in some dangerous neighborhood”, or “a sweatshirt- for those cold nights” or “make-up – I’ve got to look my best, representing you!”, or “a credit card, in case no one gives us housing” or “cell phone – in case someone doesn’t offer us food, and I need to order pizza really quick” etc.]

[when bag is empty, looking up to ceiling, but somewhat facing the congregation] “I’m ready Lord – What do you think?”

Brian: “Kourtney, listen to me. I don’t want you to take any of those things”

Kourtney: “What, not even my hairbrush?”

Brian: “No. I don’t want you to have all the comforts of home. I don’t want you to have anything you can personally rely on. All you need is your outer garment, your sandals and a staff: no backpack, no food, no money.”

Kourtney: [in shock] “REALLY?”

Brian: “Really! I will provide everything you need. You can trust in me.”

[THE END]

Would God really say this to His followers who were willing to go and tell people about Him? Let’s find out, as Jesus is now ready to give His disciples a taste of what it is like to confront people with the truth:

Mark 6:7-9 – “And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff – no bread, no bag, no money in their belts – but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics.”

Jesus put them in pairs, and gave them authority to cast out demons and, as we will see in a few moments, to heal people (these abilities, from the power of God, would authenticate their message); and then He told them to empty their backpacks. Now…Jesus was not necessarily setting a precedent that all future followers, also sent out by Him, couldn’t take anything with them. But, for this particular mission, they were not to take these things. God would provide for them through the generosity of the Jewish people they would meet along the way.
And then they would later return and report (which we will see next week) about this mission.

Here is one of the major truths they were about to learn. And I believe Jesus did this for a real purpose. He wanted them to experience what He experienced. He wanted to prepare them for the life mission He had called them to:

Jesus’ followers, sent out to spread the truth about Him, would be rejected

Mark 6:10,11 – “And he said to them, Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there. And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.”

It is interesting, that the recorded words here in these verses, have to do with the fact that many would reject His disciples and their message. Just as people in his hometown had rejected him, so many, most, would reject his followers as well. There would be some who would show hospitality and give them a place to stay. But, that would not always be the case.

And once they shared the truth, whether it was at a home, a synagogue, or a in a village; and it was rejected, shaking the dust off their feet would be a symbol of judgment against them. They had rejected the truth. Walvoord and Zuck wrote: “Devout Jews did this when they left gentile (alien) territory to show that they were dissociating themselves from it. This would tell Jewish hearers they were acting like pagans in rejecting the disciples’ message.”

Mark 6:12,13 – So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.”

The disciples were learning something else as well. Even though Jesus was not personally with them at that time, His power was. They were preaching repentance, just like Jesus had; and to authenticate that message, they were able to cast out demons in Jesus’ name; and to anoint the sick with oil, seeing them then healed by God.

They faithfully did what Jesus had asked them to do: tell people they needed to turn (repent) from what they had been trusting in; and turn to Jesus Christ alone, in order to get to Heaven and God the Father.

Again, the Holy Spirit may use this passage to guide your mind to a variety of things; but for me, there is one main application that sticks out:
SO WHAT? As God leads, share the truth, trusting in Him for the results

If you are a follower of Christ, God will guide you to people, with whom you are to share your faith. We are all in full-time ministry and are full-time missionaries in this respect: We have a commission by God, to spread His truth to the world. And that means, that He will lead you to share this truth with people in your life. Your responsibility is to share the truth. God will provide what you need, just as He did for His disciples; and He will do the work on people’s hearts. If people reject you and your message, and they will; then you must put them in God’s hands, and be prepared to share with the next person God leads you to.

The final passage for this morning gives a particular example of someone who prepared the path for Jesus, and at times, was thought to be Him; but was rejected, along with the truth that He spoke. Back in Mark 1:14, we read this:

Mark 1:14 – “Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God.”

We are now going to find out why he was arrested, and what happened to him.

John the Baptist, Jesus’ forerunner, spoke the truth, and lost his life

Mark 6:14-16 – “King Herod heard of it, for Jesus’ name had become known. Some said, John the Baptist has been raised from the dead. That is why these miraculous powers are at work in him. But others said, he is Elijah. And others said, he is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old. But when Herod heard of it, he said, John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.”

Although not officially a king, Herod Antipas was the son of Herod the Great (who had killed all the male boys when Jesus was born) and ruled a part of his father’s kingdom. Walvoord and Zuck explain: “Mark’s use of the title probably reflected local custom in view of Herod’s covetous ambitions.” He ruled a part of Galilee and Perea from 4 B.C. to 39 A.D. Herod had heard about Jesus and His followers; and all the things they had been doing.

Of course, the main question was: who is this Jesus? Everyone seemed to have a hard time figuring that one out. So, here, we are giving 3 options, based on what people were saying. They were probably reporting these things to Herod. One option is that Jesus was John the Baptist, risen from the dead, and that is why He was able to perform miracles. Others said it was the prophet Elijah risen from the dead, one in whom God also performed miracles. Still others said Jesus was a prophet, continuing the line of the Old Testament prophets.

Herod decided he liked option 1 the most. He believed that Jesus was actually John the Baptist, risen from the dead! This was most likely due to His guilty conscience, based on what we are about to read. We now find out why John the Baptist was dead, in the first place. It was Herod, himself, who had first put John in prison, which we read about in chapter 1.

Mark 6:17-20 – “For it was Herod who had sent and seized John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because he had married her. For John had been saying to Herod, it is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife. And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not, for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly.”

Ancient texts back up what Mark is saying here. According to Josephus, the first Century historian, “Herod put John in prison because of Herodias, an ambitious woman was his second wife. Herod had first married a daughter of the Arabian king, Aretas IV. Then he became enamored with hi half-niece Herodias (daughter of his half-brother, Aristobulus) who was married to Herod’s half-brother Philip. They had a daughter Salome. Herod divorced his wife in order to marry Herodias who had divorced Philip. John the Baptist had repeatedly denounced this marriage as unlawful.”

John didn’t just confront Herod once about this – it was continual. Commentator Barclay thought about what that might have been like. Can you imagine John coming into ruler Herod’s home and making this accusation, calling it sinful? Then, perhaps, while Herod was riding in his chariot downtown, there comes John the Baptist, running alongside, denouncing his adultery as sin. Maybe later, as Herod was shopping for his wife, John stood in the middle of the crowd and announced that Herod was living in sin. Herod made sure he was at least put in prison.

As you can imagine, Herodias (Herod’s wife) held a grudge against John and basically wanted him dead. Prison was not enough, as far as she was concerned. But, her husband protected John from death, because he was too superstitious and afraid to get rid of such a godly man. Trying to appease his wife, however, he did keep John in prison. But, he liked to listen to John. He received him into his presence and was puzzled by his teachings. He superstitiously wanted to protect John, but his wife wanted him dead. So what happened?

Mark 6:21-29 – “But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. For when Herodias’s daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. And the king said to the girl, Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you. And he vowed to her, Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom. And she went out and said to her mother, For what should I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist. And she came in immediately with haste to the king asked, saying, I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter. And the king was exceedingly sorry; but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.”

The opportunity for Herodias to have her revenge finally came. At Herod’s birthday party, with all the prominent citizens in attendance (the Who’s Who of Galilee), Herodias made sure that her (probably teenage) daughter, went to dance at the banquet in a way that would get the attention and approval of Herod. She was good and she was provocative in her dancing; and everybody noticed it and liked it.

So, Herod used a proverbial saying, and arrogantly offered up to half his kingdom (although he didn’t really have a kingdom to give) to her for her entertaining them so well. Salome asked her mom what to do, and without missing a beat, she said: “ask for John the Baptist’s head on a platter”. So, Salome rushed back in and made her request: “and do it right now, she said (before Herod could find an escape out of this) Herod could not stop it any longer. He was saddened because he really didn’t want to do that; but he knew he had to now. He had promised in front of all of these witnesses to give her whatever she wanted. He was stuck… and spineless.

So, he ordered for the executioner to take off the head of John the Baptist. And he did. And it was brought to Salome, and she in turn gave it to her mother. It was done. And when the followers of John and his message heard what had happened, they went to get the body and put it in a tomb.

So, this explains what we read in verse 14. Herod heard about Jesus, and what he had been doing, and he also could not accept Jesus for who He was. He must be someone else. He must be John the Baptist risen from the dead.

Here as well, there are different things that may come to your mind when you read this story; but there is one specific application that comes to mine:

SO WHAT? When you speak and live the truth of Christ, you are taking risks

Most of the people you speak to about Christ will reject you and the truth you are telling them. Jesus was rejected and you will be as well. It is a part of what Jesus has called us to. John the Baptist was a great example of that. He spoke the truth, at great risk. When God lays it on your heart to speak the truth to someone, it is not easy. There are risks. You may lose your friendship. You may lose a higher spot on the corporate ladder. You may lose a lot more than that.

But, the follower of Christ trusts that God will make all things right in the end. Our job is to joyfully obey Him, even facing the risks and making the sacrifice. This is something we all face, to one degree or another. When God’s Spirit touches our hearts to talk to someone about truth, what will you do? This is a great time to make the commitment to take the risk and follow Christ.

Will you take a few moments and silently pray about the truth of this message from God’s Word and how you believe God wants you to apply it.

Prayer