Mark 6:1-131And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him. 2And 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? 3Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him. 4But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honor, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house. 5And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. 6And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching. 7And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits; 8And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse: 9But be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats. 10And he said unto them, In what place soever ye enter into an house, there abide till ye depart from that place. 11And 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. 12And they went out, and preached that men should repent. 13And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them. (Mark 6:1‑13)
“AND HE WENT out from thence, and came into His own country; and His disciples follow Him. 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.... And they were offended at Him.”
It seems most strange that the people, being astonished at the wisdom and knowledge of Jesus, as He expounds to them in their synagogue, should take offense at His teaching. Apparently this was due to their reasoning that He was “common” and known to come from an obscure carpenter’s family. So they are not attentive to His teaching, even though they acknowledge its unusual character.
Do we not recognize that today He is still the One prophesied by Isaiah: “He is despised and rejected of men?” Isa. 53:33He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. (Isaiah 53:3). Though many refuse His voice, there is a portion, happy bond description, for the true sheep of this loving Shepherd, of whom it could be said, “My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me.” John 10:2727My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: (John 10:27).
The people refuse His message and no mighty work is done there, but the Lord was not disturbed by the remarks of those refusing His teaching, but as the obedient Servant, continues the work set before Him, glorifying God in His very behavior and doing good to all who would receive Him.
“And He called unto Him the twelve and began to send them forth by two and two: and gave them power over unclean spirits; and commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only....” In sending the disciples out by twos, He was providing Israel with testimony according to their law: “At the mouth of two witnesses... shall the matter be established.” Deut. 19:1515One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established. (Deuteronomy 19:15).
This put a responsibility on all hearing the preaching of these men, and particularly where they would also witness the miraculous power that was given them to cast out demons and heal the sick. Bear in mind that this was not the preaching of the gospel as we know it today, but was the gospel of the kingdom, peculiar to Israel and called the nation and its individuals to repentance and acceptance of Christ.
These men were sent out in complete faith and dependence on God to provide along the way—no food, no money, no extra clothing. But they went with dignity and authority and were told to pronounce judgment on the entire city that refused their message. Neither was their gospel to be offered the second time where it was refused—the disciples being instructed to move on to the next town.
We will readily see that this was suitable for Israel in the day when it took place, but also see that it was limited to that time and should not be considered the character of the gospel preacher of our day. True it is that he should still go forth with God’s Word and in dependence on Him. But the servant of the Lord now is often called upon to persist with his message in the face of opposition; nor does he now have authority, as the disciples did, to pronounce judgment upon the city or individuals who ruse his testimony; nor does he have the miraculous powers that marked the disciples.
Today’s faithful servant warns men everywhere of a coming judgment and pleads with them to “flee from the wrath to come"— pointing them to Christ as the only refuge. Are you trusting in His finished redemption on Calvary for your safety? “God... hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness....” Acts 17:3131Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. (Acts 17:31).
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