Growing Up With Jesus | Pastor Daniel Batarseh (Gospel of Mark Bible Study Series)

Mark chapter 6, Our brother prayed with thankful for that.

Mark 6 · chapter mention

But let's pray again, shall we? Heavenly Father.

You are our refuge our Shield, our strength.

Well, we ask that you would show Yourself Strong through this

passage, help us see the glories and the infinite beauty of your

son Jesus. Soften our hearts Lord you

alone, know the hearts of all men, you know, exactly what is

happening though, man. May not perceive it.

We pray that you would help us be the very people.

You have redeemed us to be law. We submit to you in reverence

and in awe of who you are and we trust Lord, that you will speak

to us, we hunger and thirst for righteousness.

And you promise that, for those who hunger for such things will

be filled and we ask that we would be filled today in Jesus

name, amen? Then Mark 6, are you there verse

1? Follow with me as we read the

words of almighty God. He went away from there and came

to his hometown and his disciples followed him 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 is not this. The carpenter the son of Mary,

and brother of James and Joseph and Judas and Simon.

And are not his sister's here with us, and they took offense

at him and Jesus said to them, a prophet is not without honor,

except in his hometown and among his relatives, and in his own

household, and he could do no Mighty work there, except that

he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them.

And he marveled because of their unbelief and He went about Among

The Villages teaching. This new chapter in our journey

through the gospel of Mark, opens up to us with the

announcement that Jesus arrived at his home town and that is no

small detail concerning the Lord's itinerary.

The fact that we see that this is taking place in the setting

of Nazareth adds, a critical element to the dimension of the

exchange that Jesus will have with this particular audience

and it's also going to be the frame.

I work where you and I were are going to discover unique truths

that will indeed challenge us to disconnect Nazareth.

Jesus Hometown from this context would be a great disservice to

what it is that the Holy Spirit intends to teach us.

And so we must understand the geographical location of Jesus.

At this particular time. He is there visiting where he

grew up and you would expect that as Jesus arrives to his

friendly neighborhood that he Would be welcomed with unusual

Hospitality or extravagant warmth, but that is not the case

that will not be the case. Instead what you and I are going

to see is that the Holy Spirit testifies that the residents of

Nazareth are actually going to be among some of the most

hostile communities and people to resist the message and the

ministry of Jesus Christ. You are going to see something

that perhaps will also make you Marvel, maybe not but in deed

and made Jesus Marvel. We are not unfamiliar with the

concept that Christ during his days on Earth was this honor in

that Christ. Today is continually being

Dishonored. But what makes this hard

heartedness especially grieving, is that this kind of rejection

is coming from those who are the most familiar with him.

The most familiar with him. There is a danger with

familiarity. and I thought about how to title this message

because sometimes it helps to get a message within the title,

The Message. Growing up with Jesus.

Growing up with Jesus. It can be a blessing.

Sometimes it can be dangerous. When we examine this particular

case of rejection, unfortunately, one of many

during the Life of Christ, I want us to consider three simple

things. I want us to First, consider the

region of the rejection you. And I read it in verse 1.

He went away from there and came to his hometown.

Now this is important because it says here and his disciples

followed him. The fact that we were told the

disciples follow Jesus to his hometown.

Suggests and prepares us to know that this is not some private

visit, but it is for the purpose of public Ministry.

Jesus coming to Nazareth to preach and to teach.

And the fact that the Lord, our Lord is willing to go to a town

like this says, much about him as of servant of God, which Mark

wants to highlight. That's the theme of The Gospel

of Mark the perfect servant of God and I want your heart to be

ministered to as you realize what kind of Minister Jesus was

When Nathaniel heard from his friend Philip that apparently

the Messiah had been identified. We are told in John 146, can

anything good? Come out of Nazareth.

That question of content. Already tells us that Nazareth

was not a town of good repute. It was obscure, it was a poor

reputation. And though there isn't much said

about Nazareth, The Silence of the Old Testament concerning it

again. Might suggest that this was a

small irrelevant. Something on the Wayside, a

place held in low esteem. And when you add to that

silence, Nathaniel's comment, you get the impression that it

probably wasn't a very pleasant place to be either.

So, Jesus is going there. We are not told plainly why?

Nazareth was such a place. We don't know why exactly why I

was held in derision but it's enough for us to know from

whatever is told about Nazareth that it's not a place that you

would willingly want to be But Jesus goes there.

Jesus willingly takes the time to come to this community and to

preach the gospel to them. You see, when you look at the

Lord. You know, that our master was

the most captivating preacher, the most profound teacher, who

had unmatched Authority, concerning miracles.

But the same teacher, the same Minister, the same traveling

rabbi did not shun insignificant and meager places to serve.

We see here that this Jesus did not determine where he would be

based on how many people would be present.

He didn't look at opportunities to serve as a potential stepping

stone for a greater promotion or opportunity.

He loved people and when he saw that there was a need, he was

willing to be there. When he saw that.

They were Souls, that could be potentially saved, he would be

there. He did not disqualify, even

though of a place that was disqualified, he was not moved

by popularity. He was not moved by the

platform. He was not motivated by the

honorarium, He saw the value of a human soul and that was enough

for him to go where men would not go.

Your call to follow. Jesus.

Are you not? I'm called to follow Jesus and

this will minister to the ones who want to minister in any

capacity. Can I ask you this afternoon?

What is it, my brother? What is it?

My sister that motivates you to serve God's people or God's

purpose is on the Earth? What is it?

That inspires you? You have some people who will

not give their gifts. If the thing is too small, if

there isn't promised promotion, if there isn't recognition.

If there isn't potential. Fame, or any kind of

recognition. And yet Jesus could care less

about those things. If there is, anyone who should

have been very selective where where he would Minister it was

Jesus and yet you find him in neighborhoods like Nazareth.

I want to be like Jesus. I don't want to automatically

dismiss opportunities just because they're not flashy or

attractive or impressive. I don't want to come to a place

and see it barely attended but knowing that God had called me

there. Be discouraged because a fleshly

reasonings. If Jesus could have a following

of 12 and Jesus could come to a place like Nazareth to preach.

Then you and I should be more than willing to go where he

calls us to go though. You live and die, and no one

mentions your name as a man or a woman of God.

If you think that's inspiring, it only gets more inspiring why?

Because this is not the only time Jesus went to Nazareth.

This is, in fact, the second recorded time that Jesus made

his way to his hometown and you might be thinking.

Why is that important to know? Because we've been given the

detailed account when Jesus initially went to Nazareth.

And it's found in Luke chapter 4 shortly after his 40-day

Luke 4 · chapter mention

Wilderness experience. And when you see what happened

to Jesus, when he went to Nazareth the first time, it will

make you wonder why he would ever go back again.

Can I show that to you will meet me in Luke chapter 4 quickly?

Luke 4 · chapter mention

Matthew Mark, Luke. The right side of your book.

Luke 4. And notice this with me as we

just skip over some of these verses.

Verse 16. At the beginning of his

preaching Ministry, we were told and he came to Nazareth where he

had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went

to the synagogue on the Sabbath day and he stood up to read and

he reads out of Isaiah 61. And then you look at the initial

response of the people verse 22 and all spoke well of him and

marveled. At the gracious words that were

coming from his mouth and they said is not this Joseph's son.

One. So the people were impressed,

they were moved their hearts were ministered to but whatever

endearment that they enjoyed and that they shared to Jesus and

with Jesus was quickly intercepted by disdain It didn't

take very long for these people to have difficulty to reconcile

this. How can little Jesus Son of

Joseph. How can this Carpenter?

Claimed to be the Messiah that we've been waiting for.

And they couldn't grasp it. They couldn't fathom.

And they couldn't solve that equation.

And we don't have time to read how Jesus responds to their

unbelief, but let's summarize it with this.

He rebukes them. He rebukes them friends and

family that have known him since he was a little boy.

He was not afraid to confront them for their sin.

And when he does call them out for their lack of faith.

Despite so much evidence. What do you think they did to

him? We don't have to guess look down

at verse 29. And they rose up and drove him

out of the town and brought him to the brow of the hill on which

their town was built so that they could throw him down the

cliff. But passing through their midst,

he went away, you know, the people Jesus read their minds.

They wanted some kind of a show of a miracle and in some

indirect way he did, I would love to have known what that

look like for a crowd to push Jesus to the edge of a cliff.

And then we are told that he passed through their midst.

Perhaps they were just paralyzed in that place and he just

casually walked by with a grin on his face.

They wanted to kill him. The same Jesus that would be

playing and running around in their streets and be called home

for dinner from Mary, the same Jesus that was being trained by.

Joseph to know how to cut wood and fashion Stone.

That same Jesus was ready to be launched off a hill because of

his message. And according to Mark, despite

such deadly aggression, despite such Evil.

Jesus later on in his ministry, makes his way back to Nazareth.

To teach again. You might be thinking why that's

Unthinkable to me? Why would Jesus do such a thing?

And I could not get past one simple truth.

Perhaps it's the same truth that your Listening to in your own

heart. Concerning who Jesus is.

He's gracious. That's why he is Grace.

Doesn't make sense. It's abundant, it's overflowing,

it's scandalous. Yes, this Jesus is willing to go

back to the same place and give these people a second chance.

I think to myself Lord not only do I want to be like you in

terms of where I go and who I minister to but oh Lord this

kind of this kind of Mercy. This kind of Grace and

forgiveness and willingness this kind of throbbing of the heart

that's willing to continue to extend the hand, to those who

swatted away and not just want to swat it away.

Want to cut it off. I feel so small.

I feel so weak. I feel so powerless.

And that's what happens when you come to the gospels and you face

this Jesus, he humbles you. Any kind of boats that you would

have in your character, your consistency always just smashed

as it is under the weight of his glory.

Jesus, going back to Nazareth. You have some people who won't

come back to church of the pastor forgets to shake their

hand. And yet Jesus is willing to go

back to the people who wanted to kill him.

This is our Jesus, the region of the rejection says something

about the redeeming love. Of this rabbi.

But we go from the region of the rejection to the reason for the

rejection. Come back to Mark six and let's

read their questioning. Well, you would think maybe

something would change in the hearts of these nazarenes.

Since the first time Jesus came, you would think that between the

first and second visit that because Jesus message and power

spread like wildfire to the farthest parts of Israel that

the nazarenes would have heard the headlines.

This man is doing Miracles. He's cleansing lepers.

He's delivering from demons. He just he just raise little

girl from the dead. You would think that after all

of that, how they treated him and the reports about him that

they would be regretful, they would be humbled, maybe you

would think that they would hope to God that there would be a

second chance for Jesus to come back and to offer himself again

and we would be different in how we hear him.

And the fact that again, Jesus is willing to go back should

Inspire us and what way that it's possible, it's possible.

I'm not saying it happened but it's possible for people to

change. It's possible and we should be

open to the prospect that people who were once hardened soil can

become over time, fertile, ground.

That people who once rejected Christ and were indifferent to

Christ and were unmoved by the gospel.

Can at some point be fervent for Christ.

Faithful obedient loving surrendered to him.

And if you need biblical evidence of that, you know, the

different examples of the Bible that tell us of how even cities

and the most unlikely candidates can become the most glorious

trophies of his grace. Remember those Samaritans?

When Jesus wanted to go to Jerusalem and he wanted to pass

through. So he sends a couple of

disciples and they reject them, you're not even allowed to come

through these doors and they wanted to call fire down from

heaven and Jesus rebuked them because Jesus had something else

in mind, he want to send something else.

Us from Heaven on the Samaritans and you find that in Acts

Acts 8 · chapter mention

chapter 8, when Philip the Evangelist goes and he preaches.

And when he preaches, there's Revival in Samaria.

What do you think about the classic example of Saul of

Tarsus who became the great Apostle Paul?

Yes, people can change. And I know that sounds like a

cliche. I know that's something that we

always here, but let it let it bless you and let it inspire you

to believe that people who have once resented.

The truth can accept the Savior at some point.

Is that the case for this story is that's going to happen with

the nazarenes. Unfortunately not.

The rejection will be the same and listen, the rejection will

be the same. The only difference is they're

not going to try to kill him because I realized I didn't work

the first time. Why did they reject him again?

Why did they reject them at all? Pay attention to this?

It comes down to one reason. Familiarity.

Familiarity. They were familiar with Jesus.

Bewildered by his unmatched delivery, they were astonished

by how he was preaching and what he was preaching.

But again, just like the first time something of an obstacle

arose in their hearts, And the rhetorical questions are clear.

And it's worth visiting again. Where did this man?

Get these things? They're not actually wondering,

they're kind of criticizing. What is the wisdom given to him?

How are such Mighty Works done by his hands.

Here's what they're essentially saying.

We know that Jesus was a carpenter from for many years of

his life. And so how is it that this man

with no theological training or background can come and teach in

such a way? And claimed to have truths to

give to us. And then they continued by

saying How is it that he is the son of Mary?

So they went from, we can't understand how our local

handyman can be the claim, the Messiah to them that I just

bothered them. They could not accept that.

That this is the anointed one. But then they said, here is not

this in verse 3, the carpenter the son of Mary, the son of Mary

That's not just to identify Jesus among different.

Jesus. This is a derogatory term.

This is a slur. This is them resurfacing and

retelling the Scandal Around Jesus birth.

The Jews even, the religious leaders, believe, he was an

illegitimate son. You read that in the Gospel of

John and so by bringing up Jesus, being the son of Mary.

they are trying to refer to his Strange history, and background.

And then they go on to say after naming his siblings are not his

sister's with us. Again, this is not just to

identify who he is, they're trying to make a statement.

And the statement is this, if this is really the profit, if

this is really the God sent then how is it that even his own

siblings? Don't believe in him.

Are not his sister's. They say our Nia sisters with

us. Why aren't they with him?

And so they think of all these reasons to disqualify Jesus

claims and identification. And here is the main Crux of the

matter. This is really the heart behind

what they're saying. Jesus, you can't fool us.

You can't fool us. Oh sure.

You can say what you're saying, and sure it's powerful, and

sure. There's some kind of evidence

behind your Miracles, but we know who you really are, we've

watched you with our own eyes. We've seen you grow up and so

don't don't pretend to be like you are something that came from

heaven and that you are the one that we've been awaiting.

You can fool the ones in Capernaum but not us from

Nazareth. There's no way.

You are who you say you are. What foolishness?

This confidence will be there condemnation and do you know why

they can be? So sure of their biographical

assessment of who Jesus is? You ready for this?

It's because the nazarenes had some history with Jesus.

They grew up around him, they observed him, they were over the

years, able to accumulate some database about his person and

they thought that they you ready for this.

They thought that they really knew him They didn't.

And here's the point for us to consider this Sunday, afternoon

and light of this having history growing up around.

Jesus does not mean you really know Jesus.

Having history growing up around?

Jesus does not mean sorry to sting you with this truth.

Does not mean you really know Jesus.

And I'm sure some of you can relate to that.

I'm sure many of you can recall, what it was like to have Jesus

in your home. I'm sure some of, you know, what

it's like to have Jesus in your car.

When your mother, or your father played songs about the savior

I'm sure some of you remember, visiting Jesus.

Like a distant relative once a week for a couple of hours.

Not because you were excited to see him but because he did some

good things for you and your family, you just want to pay

some respect. Some of you might be doing that

this very afternoon. And because of that kind of

environment, people develop a false sense of confidence, that

they know all that they need to know about this.

Jesus, when in fact, they don't really know him In reality, he

was everywhere around you, except in your heart.

Isn't that the testimony of so many in this place today?

I grew up around Jesus. I saw him from a distance.

I'm familiar with his words. I'm familiar what he has done.

But that doesn't mean, you know, him.

And I remember that being my testimony.

And I remember where it all changed, if you were to ask me

at 18, do you know Jesus, I wouldn't bat an eye and say, I

know Jesus. And all of that was altered when

my limited profile of his person was challenged by the true and

full presentation of who he really was and what he truly

demanded of me. And it could be very well that

some who are listening. Today, are under that accursed

confidence. Accursed confidence.

Why? Because it all feels right.

It feels right because Jesus was a neighbor to you for so long.

He lived in and through your mommy.

And your granddaddy. And maybe your older brother

your younger sister or you just happen to be in a Christian

household. So you have naturally believing

friends. And so, you're familiar with the

events that you have to go to on some weekends and the

conference's that you went to kicking and screaming and the

only comfort you had was that there would be some games or

food. And so you feel like you know,

him because you've been around him, you're accustomed to his

name, you're accustomed to his word, your custom maybe even

with some of his works but like the nazarenes of Jesus day, you

did not wholly Embrace him. You did not Embrace him.

He's something, but he's not everything.

He exists to you but he's not extravagant to you.

You don't have this perception of his Holiness and his other

worldliness, and his wonder and his power and his presence in

your life. Daily.

He's just ordinary. Jesus.

You need to be saved. Young person.

Listen to me. I can speak boldly to you

because I know what it's like to be in that pew.

And have the fragrance of Jesus around me, but not on me.

You don't have to wait till you get to college and mess up more

before you realize that the world is lying to you.

And that what you did hear from a distance was actually true all

along. Give up now.

You'll never regret it. These people had a strange

comfort in their analysis of Jesus, and they can judge him

though, it was Judge wrongly because they were familiar with

him. And I want to encourage parents

not to be afraid for your children to be accustomed to

Jesus from a young age. All I asked you to do is give

them the whole Jesus. Make sure that they are plugged

into a church. That preaches, the whole Jesus.

Remind them in sit with them and tell them the truth of what it

means to really follow Jesus. I think a lot of the mistakes

that people make concerning their children is that they are

confident in a little prayer that they prayed at one point

and there's no discipleship following disciple them.

Sit with them, have honest conversations with them and more

importantly by the grace of God through his holy spirit, live it

before them live it before them, and trust that their familiarity

with Jesus can actually be their rescue.

These people were familiar with Jesus but a limited Jesus.

Not the deified, Jesus. Not the son of God.

So they got themselves in trouble. and so we look at here,

the reason for The rejection and now we look at finally the

response. We looked at the region of the

rejection. We look that the reason for the

direct projection. Now, we come to the response of

the rejection or to the rejection verse 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. This is a this is a proverbial

expression, it's sad. It's something that we know.

But you can imagine Jesus saying this with some level of pain in

his heart. A prophet is not without honor,

except in three places, According To Jesus.

Number one, his hometown which can speak of his companions and

close friends. Number two, among his relatives,

with can speak primarily about distant relatives and lastly, in

his own household, your immediate loved ones and though

these are different spheres. They all have one thing in

common. They are accustomed to you.

And so Jesus is really confirming what we just finished

explaining. The way we can translate.

What Jesus is saying here is with the common adage that we

know familiarity breeds contempt that the more familiar you

become with something or someone.

The tendency there is for you to become relaxed and more than

just relax dishonoring. And Jesus saying that's what

happens to messengers of God. That's what happens generally

with messengers of God, that the ones who are closest to him,

tend to not appreciate and value them, or see them for who they

really are overtime. And when Jesus says this, we

have to understand that it applies beyond the unbeliever

not believing in the true Jesus because they grew up being

familiar with. Jesus know, there are those who

are saved and I pray that's all of you.

There are those who are saved who have to understand that we

as Christians who have made confession in Christ are not

immune to the Fatal danger of familiarity.

I don't have to do, I don't really have to spend the next 10

minutes explaining how that could be true.

I think you and I are fully convinced that our hearts are

susceptible of becoming indifferent and casual and

distracted concerning who Jesus is right?

But I want to offer you a solution that you can hold on to

for the rest of your days, one of the best, and most effective

things that you can do to assure that your feelings for Christ,

and your pursuit of Christ does not grow, stale and crusty and

sits on some shelf in your mind. We're just gathers dust while

you're playing with other things in life that are significantly

less important than Christ is to do this.

Can I tell you what to do? Would you ever keep this truth

before you for the rest of your life?

That no matter what kind of exposure you've had to the

glories of Jesus? There is yet more Beauty, more

wisdom, more power yet to be discovered.

If you have that conviction before you, you allow it to rest

on your heart day and night. It will be like, do that will

keep your faith fresh and alive. Everything that you have seen

everything that you've heard, everything that you think you

have mastered. is nothing in comparison to all that Christ is

I shared this on Friday. So forgive me.

Friday Bible students. If I repeat this reference.

But I read it earlier this week and I can't shake it off because

it inspired me in a new way. It woke me up in a new way and

the Book of Job will do that to you in many ways.

And the reference that I'm speaking of is in job 26, 14 job

finishes in that chapter rehearsing, the absolute power

and Majesty of God, the Grandeur of who he is and all of

creation, how he and his power, sustains the universe and all

the details there in At the end of the matter, when he gives

this wonderful speech of just, how Sovereign God is he ends up

saying this behold. These are, but the outskirt of

his ways, And how small a whisper, do we hear of him?

But the Thunder of his power who can understand.

This is what job is saying, after describing the glories of

God in all of creation, and all of his acts, all of the things

that you've perceived, all of the things that have taken your

breath away. All of the things that we get

updates on the news, about concerning the universe and

pictures and discoveries. All of those things, listen

carefully are, but a sigh of his might They're just a whisper.

His wisdom. It's just a peek at his power

and if we have just entertained the edges of his natural

Revelation, what awaits you and I, when we come into the power

of God unto salvation, what is ready to blow our minds when we

dig deeper concerning his incarnation?

Concerning his death, his burial, his resurrection, his

Ascension, his high Priestly ministry, right now, in heaven,

his return, and his restoration of all things his life as you.

And I are looking through, through the gospel of Mark, what

is it? That awaits us to know.

If we just, but pursue it. Someone massively said this that

one of the paradoxes of Christian growth is that the

more you grow in your knowledge of God and his word, the more

you realize how little grass you have of it. and so, when I, when

I thought about that, this is what I realized that your Wonder

of who God is, will cease the moment you stop pursuing it.

So what do you mean, brother? What I'm saying is this, if that

Paradox is true, that the more I discover, who Christ is the more

I see his promises, the more I see his acts, the more, I see

what he is capable of what he has done, what he will do, what

he can do today. The more I learned these things,

if it's true that the more I realized man, I don't even know.

It will humble you will cause you to worship it will cause you

realize your creature and that he's the Creator.

That kind of Amazement will stop due to one thing you stopped.

Pursuing him. That's the power of this thing.

This is why this is Supernatural.

It's amazing. The more I eat physically, the

more full I get is that not true?

But it's not true. Spiritually, what happened?

Spiritually is the more you eat spiritually, the hungrier you

get, And so if you've come to a place where you're just stale

and cool, and yeah, Jesus ordinary Jesus.

Yeah. I think I figured him out.

Can I tell you something? You obviously, at some point

stop pursuing him. Because that is not the attitude

of someone. Who's tilling, the ground of the

word of God and seeing greater gems and jewels of his glory.

But the person who is coming and does discipline themselves,

whether they feel like it or not, knowing what truth is, oh

the more they are stimulated and kept alive concerning their

praise and their astonishment of who he is.

So listen, God is not going to put on a show from you for you,

from time to time to get you to understand how good he is.

It's the glory of God to conceal a matter and the Glory of Kings

to search them out. God is too precious and

valuable. He has given us enough for us to

be invited to seek Him and know him.

And when you do he promises to give you samples of who he is.

That will keep you alive more than you can imagine.

And unfortunately for these nazarenes they could not see

past the carpenter Jesus. They could not see past teenager

Jesus. They could not see past the son

of Mary son of Joseph. So, they stayed exactly where

they were and unbelief and spiritual death.

And Jesus has a response more than what he had just said

because of that. There are three things that

happened would Jesus after this one has to do with Miracles.

The other one has to do with Marvel.

The last thing has to do with him moving about.

Look at the miracle aspect here in verse 5 and he could not do

Mighty work there. He could not do no Mighty work

there except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and

healed them. He could not do. don't think for

a moment that unbelief of people can limit Jesus from exercising,

his power Do not believe for a moment that Christ cannot move

about in full capacity because there is a lack of currency of

faith. Nothing nor anyone can tie Jesus

hands down. He Sovereign, he can do whatever

he pleases at any time, at any point with this, infers, the

context suggest this, though, that Jesus chose not to do

miracles, Jesus chose not to do Miracles because the miracles of

Jesus have a purpose, they are not vain stunts, they're not

empty presentations of his power.

The miracles of Jesus seek to validate his message and his

identity. But what do you have here?

You have a people who have already written off his message

and I've already written off his identity.

So here's the natural equation. Why do Miracles what's the

point? The verdict has already been

made and so, he refrains from doing the very thing.

That they have already concluded in their minds, we don't believe

in you. We don't want anything to do

with you then, fine. There will be no miracles for

you and if that is the case, it's good to understand that

Jesus chose not to. But here's the broader.

Meaning for this for us. When we put the pieces together,

here's what we conclude that Christ choice not to manifest

his power and might was in correlation to what the people's

lack of humility and hunger for him.

Jesus chose not to do these things.

For one main reason they didn't want it.

They didn't honor him, they didn't see their desperate need

of him. And so, he reserved it.

And if that is true, then let me say this Christ, then and Christ

today. He observes.

And he looks and he considers the honor that men give him or

refused to give him and that can in some way determine how we

experience him. Back in some way, determine how

we experience him. So, yeah, let the world be the

world, but let the church to be the church.

And here's what I have to say to you may we never lose our Wonder

or of who he is. I hope that every single time

you and I gather as Christians as the church, that we would be

absolutely stunned of who we are singing too.

Of who we are hearing from of who it is that is demanding a

commanding and revealing and that there would be this

trembling within because he's worthy of such honour and God

looks at the honor that we give him.

I'm sure you remind of Malachi chapter 1.

Malachi 1 · chapter mention

You call me this. Where is this?

If you refer to me as father if you where's my honor then.

So the Lord wants to see where is my honor and based on that

it's clearly lacking here. He says, well then you're not

going to have what I can give you.

Because he is worthy. And so here's what you and I

have to do, be aware of offending, the Lord of hosts.

And realize that you need him Moment by moment.

Second by second. And he will bless you for

recognizing him as such everything you need.

So he did not do Miracles there. But we see here, the marveling

verse six, and he marveled because of their unbelief.

there's a lot of marbling in the gospels, the, not much from

Jesus, you see a lot of marveling from people, you see a

lot of marveling from Miracles and teachings, But for Jesus to

Marvel, as someone said is a Marvel in itself.

In all of the gospels. We are explicitly told twice

only twice in all of the gospels were Jesus marveled.

Marvel to me to wonder at, The first is what we see here, but

in the other place is with the faith of the Centurion.

And Luke chapter 7 verse 9. When the Centurion said, you

Luke 7:9

don't need to come to my house. All you need to do is say the

word and my servant will be healed.

As says they, that Jesus marveled at him.

He marveled at him and he turned.

And he said to the rest that in all of Israel, he has not seen

such faith. And so the two places where we

are told that Jesus marveled both of them had to do with the

response of man concerning who he was. and according to these

two references, we learned something about the Lord.

Don't hear Jesus marveling. As though Jesus can be surprised

by something and taking it back by something.

He did not expect necessarily understand that it reveals that

man's response to the revelation of who he is, can stir the heart

of Christ and his sincere and striking way.

It's to reveal his personhood. And here's what I see.

Okay, Lord, if you marveled at someone's faith.

And the second and only places where you marveled as at someone

or some people's unbelief. Then what makes the Lord?

Marvel is one of two things. First is the absolute trust that

someone places in Jesus during very challenging times.

Or to the indifference that someone will show Jesus despite

all the exposure they had to him.

Let me say this way. When there was present faith.

Where it was least expected. Jesus was amazed And when there

was the absence of Faith where there should have been Faith,

Jesus was equally amazed. Wow.

That's faith. The other time.

Wow. You can't believe.

I thought to myself if it's possible for the Lord to wonder

at something from those that He created in his own image, may it

never be said of anyone. Here, look at all the Bible

teaching they receive. Look at the wonderful loving

Fellowship that I've provided him.

Look at all the Daily Grace has that I shower on his life and

yet still with all of these things, he still wants nothing

to do with me. That's amazing.

That's amazing. Instead, may it be said of us

despite the Temptations all around.

Despite the corruption and the lukewarmness that surrounds

despite the personal challenges that might exhaust.

And buff it. The soul he believes He believes

and like job who testified of his faithfulness to God despite

losing everything within a minute.

God could say, before the sons of God and the host of heaven,

and even demons, he still holds fast his integrity.

He still holds fast to his integrity.

And so, in some way, We can Amaze Jesus in one of two ways.

And I think what we are in danger of more than anything

else here in the west is having so much before us and yet,

giving so little of what Christ deserves to potentially cause

him to look down in 2023 on a specific population that is more

truth access than any time of History.

More Bible, teaching more Bible preaching, more local churches

on streets than any part of the world to say.

Wow, after all of that, still wants nothing to do with me.

Does not prioritize me. It's a scary truth and I hope to

move the heart of Christ not to gain his favor but to bless him

but that is not the way that I want him to be marveled.

For sure, Lord help us. Lastly, we see.

Jesus moving on the second part of verse 6 and he marveled

because of their unbelief and he went about Among The Villages

teaching like many times, the people said we want nothing to

do with you, they scorned him they'd belittled him.

And so the Lord said, okay I'm not welcome here so I'm moving

on so he does move on to other towns that were more receptive

to his message and his power and he moved there.

And there was some in Nazareth as we were told that were humble

enough. That weren't part of the

majority says, oh Lord. Please I believe in you.

Can you heal me? Can you touch me?

And he did just so gracious. But he moves on and when he

moves on from his hometown, I praise God that the Holy Spirit

included that statement before, moving on to the next scene, you

know why, because it presents a model for those who really want

to serve the Lord. and for those who experienced, the

Discouraging events and seasons of serving the lord.

Here's what happens. Your own friends and your own

family want. Nothing to do with you.

And it can be discouraging to stand alone in your family. to

be the only person in your family, who loves the Lord where

they all actually stand against the Lord, and for the world and,

and you, you want it so badly, were maybe just one sibling,

just one like, one, one of my brother, okay, I'll settle for a

cousin to just when I go to Thanksgiving, at least we can

talk of the Lord and they don't have to awkwardly, ask me to

pray only to laugh at me when I pray.

Some kind of Fellowship in Christ with someone from my

family. And yet Jesus, at this point did

not have such things. Can argue Mari, did sure.

But his brothers and his sisters, his relatives, his

school friends that he studied with such people.

Stood against him. That can be a very overwhelming

thing to live through. And it can also be disheartening

when you see unbelief and familiarity in a place where you

would think there would be passion and devotion and

seriousness for God. I can't tell you the amount of

messages I've gone from people in different local churches

Across the Nation. Talking about how miserable it

is to go to church because of the worldliness.

Because people have settled to barely make it through a sermon,

and call that Christianity when there is no evidence of

worshiping him serving him and loving him, apart from that hour

and a half on a Sunday, I can't tell you the grief.

That Christians feel because of so many in their context that

are overly familiar with Jesus. And they're fighting for their

life for a fervent faith. Jesus knows what that's like.

To expect a certain acknowledgement of God of

worship of God when it actually isn't there. and how painful is

it, that way, no matter what kind of example of

christlikeness you demonstrate before people, No matter what

kind of character and by God's grace, the consistency of your

convictions, being lived out before others, love and service,

and compassion, gentleness, kindness, they can still find a

way to despise you. And mock you.

And be offended at you, like Jesus was offended or offensive

to to them. Christ knows that's that's what

I take from this. He understands he he invites us

to Fellowship in that kind of a suffering.

He is fully aware. But look at his example.

As much as you can take those burdens to the Lord and say Lord

this is where I'm at with my family Lord.

This is where I'm at with my Ministry.

It's like pulling teeth to get people to serve the Lord.

Lord, this is where I'm at with my witness to the world, it's

like no matter what I do, no matter what I say, no matter how

much I give people still can't see what you have done and me

and how worthy you are. Jesus knows it.

Jesus experienced it, but Jesus didn't sulk.

They Don't Love Me. In sit down with the disciples

and have 10 counseling sessions about why the family didn't

receive him, and why Ministry is really, really, really

difficult. And in his hometown, none of

that, you know what he does. All right, fine, we're going

over here. See ya.

He continued to serve the father.

He did not skip a beat, I'm not downplaying opening your heart

and Brokenness. And in difficult times, I'm not

saying that, but you can't stay there, you can't afford to give

up. You can't hang up the towel,

why? Because when everything fails

before you, and when so many disappointments are there.

Despite your efforts. Remember why you're doing this?

It's for his glory. It's for his pleasure, as for

his Delight. It's for his honor.

And if you will be a flower that glistens in a swamp, just for

God, the Father to be pleased by that site.

So be it. So be it.

Jesus moves on and he continues to serve his father.

He stays the course, I'm sure this was a lesson for the

disciples. I'm sure Jesus was coming to

Nazareth anticipating what was going to happen and we heard

from verse 1, that the disciples followed him because he wants

his disciples to understand that lesson.

In preparation for Ministry saying really.

Yeah, really because look what happens in verse 7 quickly.

And he called the twelve and began to send them out, two by

two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.

In other words, he's about the commission, his disciples to

preach, and teach in different areas.

And I think it is purposefully done that before commissioning

them. He gives them a first-hand

experience of what you can expect.

If you're going to serve God, and one of the things you might

experience, it's rejection. The stain.

Mockery indifference. Familiarity.

And so, the disciples needed to hear and see.

All right? This is real.

It's not always Applause and big crowds.

It's not always praise and awesome testimonies.

There will be some kind of rejection and the Lord brings

them to get an example of that. And oftentimes that rejection

can come from those that you least expect it from.

Okay. Disciples.

Did you just see what happened to me?

I'm from Nazareth. The, you understand all of that?

Yeah, we saw it. Can't believe it happened.

Alright. Now go.

Believer. I'm talking to the True

Believer. I'm talking to the servant of

God. I'm talking to the person who's

serious about living their life for his glory, do not give up.

Don't throw in the towel. Your master as j.c.

Ryle said drank from the same cup that you're drinking from.

Don't throw your ministry away. Don't stop praying.

Don't stop serving. Honor him, love him and when it

gets really difficult to do so because of so much that's

happening before you that you don't want to see.

Remember that you can come to him and fellowship with him in

this suffering. I end with this. if you're

familiar with Jesus, do you really know him?

You can name off stats about Jesus, like the nazarenes did

and at the same time be offended by him.

When you hear the true gospel when you hear what it means to

follow him. Oh, I pray that this message

would have comforted the servant of God and would have shaken

those who have grown up with Jesus, but don't really know

Jesus. You can know him today.

Because just like he gave Nazareth a second chance.

He'll give you one. He'll give you one and maybe

today is that chance. Can we prepare our hearts as we

partake today? Lord, we thank you from the

bottom of our hearts. That you humbled yourself.

As not just Jesus. The God, man, but Jesus of

Nazareth. You were willing to identify

with such a lowly place and even minister to such a lowly people.

though, we are humbled because with all the lessons that we've

learned, we are reminded now of what you have done on the cross

for us that our performance Has no value to our Salvation.

Lord, we thank you that you came into this world to live

Perfection on our behalf. and then, to transfer that

perfection, And you die to death that we deserve, so that you can

transfer. That substitution.

And you set us free. Lord, we come to your table

today to be reminded that we are saved by your grace.

And to be also reminded that we are members of this body. and so

Lord we just pray that you would help us reflect if we are really

living under that lordship that you call us to live for And we

ask that you would help us analyze if our relationships,

truly testified, the Oneness of your church.

Well, we do not want to come informality or familiarity to

your table. We want to give you the honor

and the reverence that you deserve.

And so, Lord, open our eyes, open our hearts and help us

again. See the glories of your table

for. This is your Institution for us,

and we are glad that you invite us to it.

In Jesus name we pray. Amen.