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The Gospel According to Mark:
Jesus Qualifies the Called | Mark 6:1-13
Read Mark 6:1-13
The Point: Jesus doesn’t call the qualified, but qualifies the called
Jesus’ own neighbours didn’t believe He was qualified to be a rabbi but He did it anyway
1 Jesus went out from there and came into His hometown; and His disciples followed Him. 2 When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue; and the many listeners were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things, and what is this wisdom given to Him, and such miracles as these performed by His hands? 3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? Are not His sisters here with us?” And they took offense at Him. 4 Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and among his own relatives and in his own household.” 5 And He could do no miracle there except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6 And He wondered at their unbelief.
And He was going around the villages teaching.
Mark 6:1-6, NASB 1995
As we read this passage, we’re reminded that Jesus did not come from what was at the time considered an acceptable background for a rabbi. He was just a carpenter to those listening to Him preach. At the time, the only acceptable way to become a rabbi was to become a disciple of a different rabbi. It was more likely a one-on-one relationship, akin to an apprenticeship. The Apostle Paul would have trained in this manner before he repented and began to preach about Jesus. Being a carpenter was not seen as a job that would have lent itself to Jesus being a trained rabbi, let alone a popular one. God chose to have Jesus raised by a carpenter and learn the trade when He could have had Jesus be raised in a family that did any other trade.
Throughout the centuries, some people have thought that Jesus’ employment as a carpenter somehow discredited His message. In ancient Rome, there was a terrible persecution under the Emperor Julian. At that time, a philosopher mocked a Christian, asking him “What do you think the carpenter’s son is doing now?” The Christian wisely answered, “He is building a coffin for Julian.”
Enduring Word Commentary, https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/mark-6/
Now for Jesus to be referred to as “the Son of Mary” is very interesting when we remember the opinions of women in the general public at the time. It was likely an insult to be acknowledged as His mother’s son.
Those who were listening to Jesus were offended at Him because, as we continue to learn through studying the Gospel of Mark and other books in the Bible, Jesus didn’t fit the image that the Jewish people were expecting their Messiah to be. Jesus was aware that He didn’t fit this perfect image and publicly rejected those who didn’t believe Jesus and what He taught. Jesus continued to serve the Lord faithfully and accepted the burden of unbelief from those around Him.
Jesus called His Disciples and sent them with the power to call out “unclean spirits”
7 And He *summoned the twelve and began to send them out in pairs, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits; 8 and He instructed them that they should take nothing for their journey, except a mere staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belt— 9 but to wear sandals; and He added, “Do not put on two tunics.” 10 And He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave town. 11 Any place that does not receive you or listen to you, as you go out from there, shake the dust off the soles of your feet for a testimony against them.” 12 They went out and preached that men should repent. 13 And they were casting out many demons and were anointing with oil many sick people and healing them.
Mark 6:7-13, NASB 1995
We know Jesus didn’t pick His Disciples from those who were traditionally trained, but rather picked men who had very ordinary jobs like Himself before He started His ministry. Fishermen, tax collectors, thieves. Those are the jobs that some of the disciples had before following Jesus.
Now, Jesus is sending out those same men to preach about God, heal the sick, and cast out demons, just like He was doing. They didn’t go with whole arsenals of equipment, besides the clothes on their backs, the sandals on their feet, and their voices.
There was a rule from the Jewish rabbis that you could not enter the temple area with a staff, shoes, or a moneybag, because you wanted to avoid even the appearance of being engaged in any other business than the service of the Lord. The disciples were engaged in such holy work (preaching the gospel and bringing God’s healing) that they could not give the impression that they have any other motive.
Enduring Word Commentary
They were also told to not bring any means of paying for their way, but rather trusting that the Lord will provide their every need along the way. A gentle reminder for us now. The Disciples didn’t go to change the minds of people but presenting the important information but if they didn’t want to receive it they were to leave them be and let the dust fall from their sandals.
In that day, if Jewish people had to go in or through a Gentile city, as they left they would shake the dust off their feet. It was a gesture that said, “We don’t want to take anything from this Gentile city with us.” Essentially, Jesus told them to regard a Jewish city that rejects their message as if it were a Gentile city.
Enduring Word Commentary
The best part of it all is that all that you need to share the Gospel is a little bit of knowledge and the to go and share. Each of you have your own spheres of influence and will be able to reach people I will never be able to from this pulpit. Now you can all be preachers too. To preach simply means to proclaim, so I want to challenge you all to proclaim the Good News this week. Whether that is to your neighbour, your coworker, or even someone you meet in the grocery store.
Be bold this week. And this is as much of a challenge to me as it is to you.
The Point: Jesus doesn’t call the qualified, but qualifies the called
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