A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.
Mark 6:4
In this season following Epiphany, we may find ourselves being underwhelmed with the familiarity of our own rhythms – whether in worship or in the mundane elements of our lives. For many, the Spring semester has already begun, New Year’s Resolutions are falling by the wayside, performance appraisal season is behind us, and (COVID aside) life is continuing as many of us expected it to.
The bitter cold further pushes us towards not appreciating this familiar season. We may develop an ingratitude toward the ordinary. This sentiment of disdain for the familiar is exactly the dynamic at play when Jesus visits his hometown in Mark 6.
Our passage tells us that when Jesus visited his hometown, the people who heard Jesus teaching were amazed and asked, “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 Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” (Mark 6:2-3)
The townspeople who were familiar with Jesus, his upbringing, and his family, saw the miraculous wisdom of God in him and took offense. In doing so, they refused to believe in him. In essence, they let their familiarity with Jesus become a stumbling block and hindrance for their faith. Seeing their lack of faith, Jesus did not perform many miracles, and he marveled at their unbelief.
In the greater text of this passage (Mark 5:21-43), we see how Christ joyfully heals the woman who was hemorrhaging and Jairus’ daughter. These figures were unfamiliar with him, but unlike the townspeople, they had faith. In this faith-filled narrative, Mark leaves us with this seemingly tangential piece, conveying the nature, wisdom, and power of Christ and the wonders he had done.
What's the take-home? This passage uniquely invites us to stop letting our perceived familiarity with Christ prevent us from seeing and understanding what God is doing in around us.
God bless you!
Zacher
