Mark 6:1 - Meaning and Application

Here, Christ visits his own country, not the place of his birth, but the place where he was brought up, Nazareth. His relatives lived there. He had already been in danger of his life among them (Luke 4:29), yet he came among them again. This shows how patiently he waits to show mercy and how he still seeks the salvation of his enemies. His disciples went with him, even though the place was dangerous, because they had left all to follow him wherever he went (Mark 6:1).

There he preached in their synagogue on the Sabbath day (Mark 6:2). It seems the crowd was not coming to him there as it did in other places, so he had to wait until the synagogue gathering on the Sabbath. Then he explained a portion of Scripture with great clarity. This is the pattern for religious gatherings on the Sabbath: God’s word should be preached, as Christ himself showed. We honor God by receiving instruction from him.

The people could not deny what was impressive about him. First, they saw that he spoke with great wisdom, and they knew this wisdom was given to him, because he had no formal training. Second, they knew he did mighty works, using his own power, to prove the truth of what he taught. They admitted the two great proofs that his gospel came from God, the divine wisdom in its design and the divine power in the miracles that confirmed it. Yet even though they could not deny the facts, they would not accept the conclusion.

Instead, they tried to lower him in people’s eyes and stir up prejudice against him. They dismissed all his wisdom and mighty works because he had a home education and had never traveled or studied at any university, or sat under one of their teachers (Mark 6:3). “Is not this the carpenter?” they said. In Matthew, they insult him as the carpenter’s son, meaning Joseph, his supposed father, was in that trade. But here it seems they could say even more, “Is not this the carpenter?” It is likely that our Lord Jesus had worked in that trade with Joseph before he began his public ministry, at least sometimes doing paid work.

He would do this to humble himself and make himself of no reputation, taking the form of a servant and coming to serve. This is how low our Redeemer stooped when he came to rescue us from our low state. He also did it to teach us to hate idleness and to keep ourselves busy in this world. We should rather take up plain, hard work, even work that gives only a bare living, than live lazily. Nothing harms young people more than a habit of loafing about. The Jews had a good rule that even young men meant for scholarship should learn a trade, as Paul did when he worked as a tentmaker, so they would have work for their time and bread if needed.

They also mocked him because of his family: “He is the son of Mary, and his brothers and sisters are here with us; we know his family.” So although they were amazed at his teaching (Mark 6:2), they were offended by his person (Mark 6:3). They were prejudiced against him and treated him with contempt, so they would not receive his doctrine, no matter how well supported it was. If they had not known his family, and he had come among them as one unknown, would they have honored him more? No. In Judea, where this was not known, the same sort of objection was raised against him, “As for this fellow, we do not know where he comes from” (John 9:29). Hardened unbelief will always find excuses.

Notice how Christ bore this contempt. He partly answered it by saying it was a common thing, though not a right or fair one: “A prophet is not despised anywhere except in his own country” (Mark 6:4). There are some exceptions, but usually this is true. Ministers are often less welcomed and less effective among people who know them well than among strangers. Familiarity from youth can breed contempt. When someone rises above his former place, envy can follow. People are often unwilling to accept as guides of their souls those whose fathers they once treated as servants. So when this happens, it should not be seen as strange or unbearable. It is common treatment, and it was Christ’s treatment too. Wisdom tells us to look for another field of labor.

Even so, he did some good among them, despite the slight they showed him. He is kind even to the ungrateful and evil. He laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. It is noble and fitting for Christ’s followers to be satisfied with the joy of doing good, even if they are unjustly denied praise for it.

Still, he could do no mighty works there, at least not as many as in other places, because of the unbelief among the people, which had been fed by the prejudices their leaders had taught them against Christ (Mark 6:5). This is a striking way of speaking, as if unbelief tied the hands of almighty power itself. He would have done as many miracles there as elsewhere, but they would not come to him or ask for his help. He could have worked them, but they shut themselves out from receiving them. Unbelief and contempt of Christ block his blessings and place a barrier at the door of a person’s own life.

He marveled at their unbelief (Mark 6:6). We never read of Christ wondering except at the faith of Gentiles who were outsiders, like the centurion (Matthew 8:10), and the woman of Samaria, and at the unbelief of Jews who were his own countrymen. The unbelief of people who have full access to the means of grace is a deeply shocking thing.

Then he went around the villages, teaching. If we cannot do good where we want to, we must do good where we can. We should be glad for any chance, even in small villages, to serve Christ and help souls. Sometimes the gospel is better received in country villages, where there is less wealth, display, pleasure, and cleverness, than in busy cities.