THE LIVING WORD

 DATE: WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2022.

TOPIC: JESUS’ MINISTRY CONTINUES DESPITE REJECTIONS.

PASSAGE: MARK 6:1~13  

KEY VERSE: 12

BIBLE READING

A Prophet Without Honor

6 Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. 2 When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed.

“Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? 3 Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph,[a] Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offence at him.

4 Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honour except in his town, among his relatives and in his own home.” 5 He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6 He was amazed at their lack of faith.

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve

Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. 7 Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits.

8 These were his instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. 9 Wear sandals but not an extra shirt. 10 Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. 11 And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.”

12 They went out and preached that people should repent. 13 They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.

                              SUMMARY

Jesus went to his hometown. On the Sabbath, he was teaching at a synagogue. The townspeople heard him and recognized the great teaching but refused to put their faith in him. They said they knew him and his family, who were among them. Their human knowledge about Jesus hindered them from coming to him and truly knowing him as their Lord and Savior.

Leaving his hometown, Jesus went on to preach the gospel in other towns. He also called the twelve and sent them out two by two, giving them the spiritual authority to preach the gospel, heal the sick, and drive out demons.

Jesus gave them the following instructions. They were not to depend on their material possessions but to be led by the Holy Spirit. Rejection they received from people was a direction to move on to another town. They preached the same message of repentance as John the Baptist and Jesus had. Many needed to hear the good news and be touched by the healing power of Jesus.

                        APPLICATION

Thank you Jesus for your exemplary life in wisdom, power, love, mercy, and grace for me. This passage again opened my eyes to see how much I need the wisdom of God in my daily life, not only in words but more importantly, in my actions and deeds. Observing my life, I can see that I am grossly lacking in this regard. This has led to some unnecessary disputes and misunderstandings with people at some points. This is a clear sign of lack of or insufficient wisdom at that point in those areas of my life. This is also a sign of pride at play in me. Therefore, I resolved this day to seek diligently to have the wisdom of God in every aspect of my life through diligent study of God's Word and prayers, trusting only in the help made available to me by the Spirit of God so that my life in words and deeds will be a demonstration of the wisdom and the power of God. Then, I can be a true and living witness of living Jesus, even as I participate in the work of the kingdom of God through the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in my deeds and words.

PRAYER: Father, thank you for calling me to hear your gospel and participate in your work. Please help me have a humble heart as I come to you to accept your teaching and grow in your words as I follow you and preach to the world in Jesus Almighty name, amen.

FURTHER READING: ISAIAH 40:31

ONE WORD: THEY WENT OUT AND PREACHED.