He
went out from there. He came into his own country, and his disciples followed him. When the Sabbath had come, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many hearing him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things?” and, “What is the wisdom that is given to this man, that such mighty works come about by his hands? Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judah, and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” They were offended at him.
Mark 6:1-3
Mark 5 [40.] They ridiculed him. But he, having put them all out, took the father of the child, her mother, and those who were with him, and went in where the child was lying. Taking the child by the hand, he said to her, “Talitha cumi!” which means, being interpreted, “Girl, I tell you, get up!” Immediately the girl rose up and walked, for she was twelve years old. They were amazed with great amazement. He strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and commanded that something should be given to her to eat.
Mark 6 [1.] He went out from there. He came into his own country, and his disciples followed him. When the Sabbath had come, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many hearing him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things?” and, “What is the wisdom that is given to this man, that such mighty works come about by his hands? Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judah, and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” They were offended at him.
Mark 6 [4.] Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, and among his own relatives, and in his own house.” He could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people, and healed them. He marveled because of their unbelief. He went around the villages teaching.
Meaning:
Mark 6:1-3 records Jesus’ return to Nazareth, the village where he grew up. He had just calmed a storm, delivered a man from a legion of demons, healed a woman and raised a dead girl. Now he comes home, accompanied by his disciples as a recognised rabbi, and teaches in the synagogue where he had worshipped since childhood. The townspeople are astonished at his wisdom and his miracles, yet instead of believing they take offence. Their familiarity with Jesus’ family and trade became a wall that kept them from seeing who he really was.
- Nazareth and Its Synagogue
Nazareth was a small, obscure village in the hills of lower Galilee, perhaps a few hundred people, about a day’s walk from Capernaum. It is never mentioned in the Old Testament. Everyone knew everyone. Jesus had lived there for about thirty years, growing in wisdom and stature (Luke 2:52).
On the Sabbath, Jewish men gathered in the synagogue for prayer and the reading of the Law and the Prophets. The leaders could invite a visiting teacher to read and explain the Scriptures. Luke describes Jesus doing exactly this in Nazareth, standing up to read as was his custom (Luke 4:16). Matthew tells the same story: “Coming into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished” (Matthew 13:54).
- “Isn’t This the Carpenter?”
The people’s questions start with wonder: where did he get this wisdom and these mighty works? But wonder turns to suspicion. They remember him as “the carpenter”. The Greek word means a builder or craftsman who worked with wood and sometimes stone, making ploughs, yokes, doors, furniture and houses. It was honest, skilled manual work, but it was not the training of a rabbi. In their eyes a village tradesman had no right to teach with such authority.
They also call him “the son of Mary”. Jewish men were normally identified by their father. This may simply mean that Joseph had died, but it could also be a sly reminder of rumours about his birth. Either way, the crowd was putting Jesus back in the box they had always kept him in.
- His Brothers and Sisters
Mark names four brothers, James, Joses, Judah and Simon, and mentions sisters. During Jesus’ ministry his brothers did not believe in him (John 7:5), and his family once tried to take him home, thinking he had lost his mind (Mark 3:21). Jesus taught that his true family are those who do the will of God (Mark 3:31-35). Wonderfully, after the resurrection his brothers are found among the praying believers (Acts 1:14). James became a leader of the Jerusalem church, and Judah (Jude) wrote the letter that bears his name.
- “They Were Offended at Him”
The word “offended” comes from the Greek word for a stumbling block. Jesus became a stone they tripped over. Peter later applied the same picture to everyone who refuses Christ: the stone the builders rejected became a stone of stumbling (1 Peter 2:7-8). Paul said the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing (1 Corinthians 1:18-25).
The Significance of Mark 6:1-3
- The Danger of Familiarity
The people of Nazareth thought they knew Jesus too well to need him. John summarised it: “He came to his own, and those who were his own didn’t receive him” (John 1:11). People who grow up around church can face the same danger, knowing the stories but never bowing to the Lord.
- Do Not Judge by Appearances
Nazareth judged Jesus by his trade, his family and his hometown. God told Samuel, “man looks at the outward appearance, but Yahweh looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). Isaiah foretold that the Servant would be despised and not respected (Isaiah 53:3). Believers are called to see people, and above all Jesus, as God sees them, and to resist the prejudice that dismisses the ordinary.
Cross-References:
John 1:11: "He came to his own, and those who were his own didn’t receive him." John’s summary of the rejection Jesus experienced at Nazareth.
Matthew 13:54: "Coming into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished" Matthew’s parallel account of the same visit.
Isaiah 53:3: "He was despised as one from whom men hide their face; and we didn’t respect him." The prophet foresaw the Messiah being despised.
John 7:5: "For even his brothers didn’t believe in him." Even Jesus’ own household struggled to believe in him.
Conclusion: Mark 6:1-3 shows that people can be amazed by Jesus and still reject him. Nazareth saw his wisdom and heard of his miracles, but could not get past the carpenter they thought they knew. The passage challenges us to let Jesus be who he truly is, the Son of God, and not to let familiarity, pride or prejudice keep us from faith.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible