My God and My Country

The Gospel According to Mark

Chapter 6:1-6

1 And he departed thence, and came into his own country, and his disciples followed him.

2 And when the Sabbath was come, he began to teach in the Synagogue, and many that heard him, were astonied, and said, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this that is given unto him, that even such great works are done by his hands?

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

4 And Jesus said unto them, A Prophet is not without honor, but in his own country, and among his own kindred, and in his own house.

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

6 And he marveled at their unbelief, and went about by the towns on every side, teaching.

Brethren:

Where there is no faith, the power of God becomes limited, in so far as there is more unbelief, than belief. Those that wish not to seek Him, cannot expect His works to be performed for them, when in times of due crisis.

Related Scripture:

Verse 6:1 - Matthew 13:54; Luke 4:16

Verse 6:4 - Matthew 13:57; Luke 4:24; John 4:44

Verse 6:6 - Matthew 4:23; Luke 13:22

“Mark 6:1 - The faithless world doth no whit at all diminish the virtue of Christ, but wittingly and willingly depriveth itself of the efficacy of it, being offered unto them.

Mark 6:2 - The word signifieth powers, or virtues, whereby are meant those wonderful works that Christ did, which showed and set forth the virtue and power of his Godhead to all the world, (Read Matthew 7:22).

Mark 6:3 - After the manner of the Hebrews, who by brethren and sisters, understand all their kinfolks.

Mark 6:4 - Not only that hath that honor which of right is due to him taken from him, but also evil spoken of and misreported.

Mark 6:5 - That is, he would not: for we must needs have faith, if we will receive the works of God.” - Footnotes from GNV Translation

“It seems they could not bear to see one so low in life as Jesus was, doing things which they fancied were peculiar to that idol of their vanity, a glorious triumphant secular Messiah. Our Lord, therefore, having made this second trial,with a view to see whether the Nazarenes would endure his ministry, and to shew to the world that his not residing in part among them was owing to their stubbornness and wickedness, he left them; and in this example the evil and punishment of misimproving spiritual advantages is clearly set forth before all who hear the Gospel.”

Thomas Coke - Theologian