March23

Bible Study Guide 4

REJECTION AND MISSION

Bible Background • MARK 6:1-13

Printed Text • MARK 6:1-13

DevotionalReading • JOHN 12:44-50

 


LESSON OVERVIEW 

LESSON AIM
KEEP IN MIND
FOCAL VERSES
IN FOCUS
THE PEOPLE, PLACES, AND TIMES
BACKGROUND
AT-A-GLANCE
IN DEPTH
SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES
DISCUSS THE MEANING
LESSON IN OUR SOCIETY
MAKE IT HAPPEN
FOLLOW THE SPIRIT
REMEMBER YOUR THOUGHTS
MORE LIGHT ON THE TEXT
DAILY BIBLE READINGS

LESSON AIM

By the end of the lesson, students will understand that the people of Nazareth rejected Jesus' ministry and that He commissioned the disciples and gave them authority and power to fulfill His work.

KEEP IN MIND

"But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house" (Mark 6:4).

FOCAL VERSES

Mark 6:1 And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him.

2 And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?

3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Judah, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.

4 But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.

5 And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.

6 And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.

7 And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;

8 And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse:

9 But be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats.

10 And he said unto them, In what place soever ye enter into an house, there abide till ye depart from that place.

11 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

12 And they went out, and preached that men should repent.

13 And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.

IN FOCUS

Marian Anderson (1897-1993) was the first African-American singer to perform at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York CityAnderson, like all other Black artists during her time, faced blatant racism. In 1939 the Daughters of the American Revolution, who owned Constitution Hall in Washington, prohibited her from performing there solely because she was Black. While her talents were not appreciated in her own country initially, she went to Europe and gained wide recognition.

LikeAnderson, the people did not accept Jesus in His hometown. In their eyes He had no status, and they saw Him only as a carpenter's son. Today we will discover the responses Jesus received from the people in Nazarath and how He responded to their rejection.

THE PEOPLE, PLACES, AND TIMES

Nazareth. This hometown of Jesus, located in the lower part of Galilee in the north, belonged to the tribe of Zebulun. Approximately 15-20,000 inhabitants lived in the land, located about 14 miles from the Sea of Galilee. The name, meaning separated and sanctified, is quite appropriate for the Messiah. Yet ironically, the town was viewed with contempt by Judeans. Some scholars believe this to be so because the Galileans were less cultivated and had more contact with the heathen. This contempt caused Nathanael to ask, "Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?" (John 1:46, NIV).

The Twelve. This was the name given the disciples listed as follows: Simon Peter; brothers James (the son of Zebedee) and John, also called Boanerges ("The sons of thunder"); Andrew; Philip; Bartholomew; Matthew; Thomas; James the son of AlpheusThaddaeus; Simon the Canaanite; and Judas Iscariot (the one who betrayed Jesus).

BACKGROUND

Mark 5:22-43 recounts two notable miracles of Jesus: the woman with the issue of blood and Jarius's daughter. The first report that Jesus hears is that Jairus's daughter is sick, and later messengers tell Him that the little girl is dead. Jesus' response to the second report is a significant one because He ignores the fatal message and speaks words of faith to Jairus: "Be not afraid, only believe" (v. 36). When Jesus reaches the house to heal the girl, the people laugh Him to scorn because He states that she is asleep, rather than dead as they believed (vv. 39-40). So Jesus puts the mockers out of the room and performs the miraculous healing of Jairus's daughter.

We do well to learn from Jesus' actions. First, we must learn to ignore folk who deliver negative reports regarding our work and mission for God. That is, we mush not allow negative words to gain power over our lives. Second, in some cases we have to go even further and "put [some folk] out"—out of our lives, because all they are doing is hindering what Jesus wants to do through us.

Next, when Jesus healed the woman with the issue of blood, the Scriptures state that Jesus asked, "Who touched my clothes?" (v. 30) Although the woman touched Him physically, she also touched His divinity with her faith, and faith moves Jesus.

 


AT-A-GLANCE
1. Disrespect and Disbelief (Mark 6:1-6)
2. Commission and Repentance (vv. 7-13)

IN DEPTH

1. Disrespect and Disbelief (Mark 6:1-6)

Jesus astonished the listeners in the synagogue on this Sabbath day, but their amazement was changed to contempt. They could not accept this messenger or His message because they knew Him too well. He was their neighbor, their brother, their relative, the boy down the street. He was the son of peasants, a carpenter's son. So the town of Nazareth rejected Jesus, and in response to their offense Jesus quotes a proverb that the prophet is without honor in his native land.

As the Nazareth community marveled with suspicion at Jesus, He was likewise shocked at their lack of faith. Thus, their lack of faith hindered their own spiritual gain, for Jesus could not work many miracles there.

2. Commission and Repentance (vv. 7-13)

Despite the opposition to Jesus in Nazareth, He stayed centered. He was not distracted by these homefolk, and He left there and continued preaching (v. 6). He not only taught, but also commissioned the Twelve and gave them power over demonic influences. Jesus heavily equipped the disciples spiritually but instructed them to be featherweights in the physical realm—taking nothing for their journey. Though Jesus' instruction may appear strange, He knew that the preoccupation with "things" and belongings would weigh them down and offset their focus and mission. Jesus even provided details as to where they were to stay: "Wherever you are welcomed, stay in the same house until you leave that town" (Mark 6:10, TEV). During biblical times hospitality and welcoming strangers were the responsibility of the village.

On the other hand, if the hearers (the village) did not receive the disciples, Jesus simply told them to move on. According to The Interpreter's Bible the phrase "shake the dust" was "a symbolic act disclaiming responsibility if the townspeople persistently refused to hear." Last, the disciples' message was simple and was the same as John the Baptist's—they preached repentance.

SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES

1. Why was it difficult for Jesus to preach in His hometown? (Mark 6:2-3)

2. What did Jesus instruct the disciples to take with them when He sent them out? (vv. 8-9)

3. What were the results of the Twelve's obedience? (vv. 12-13)

DISCUSS THE MEANING

1. Why is it often difficult to receive the message and wisdom of people we know well?

2. What is the best way to handle rejection or opposition when you are doing a work ordained of God?

3. Can a lack of faith in God hinder your blessings? If so, how?

LESSON IN OUR SOCIETY

In his poem "Death of the Hired Man" Robert Frost wrote, "Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in." This quotation did not hold true in Jesus' case. He met disrespect and disbelief during His hometown visit to Nazareth. The community, including His relatives and friends, summed up their rejection with one phrase: "Who in the world does Jesus think he is?" Yet, Jesus knew who He was—the Son of God in whom His Father was well pleased. Likewise, we must know who we are during times of rejection and challenge. With our faith focused on and rooted in our identity with Jesus, we are unstoppable.

MAKE IT HAPPEN

During the last three lessons the class has been writing in "My New Beginning Journal." Since we need the prayers and support of others, spend time this week praying for your classmates on the class roll. Pray specifically for any prayer concerns listed.

FOLLOW THE SPIRIT

What God wants me to do:

___________________________________________

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REMEMBER YOUR THOUGHTS

Special insights you have learned:

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—Precepts 2002-2003