Journal Day 6

October 7 2006 - Day 6

Mark 6: 1-13
Passage: Jesus and the disciples continue on their journey. They reach Jesus’ hometown and stay there for a period. On the Sabbath day Jesus begins to teach in the local synagogue. The people are “astonished” at Jesus’ ability to teach. They want to know how he got to be such a great teacher. They know that he is just a carpenter. They know his whole family. Instead of embracing Jesus and his teaching they take offence at him and their hearts harden in unbelief.

Application: I don’t believe that I’m a prophet (have the gift of prophecy) and I’m certainly not Jesus, however I am a carpenter and my father is a carpenter, my undergraduate degree is in Construction Management and I am currently getting a theological education so that I can preach/teach the Word of God effectively. So in those ways I can relate to Jesus very well. In comparison, only in small ways have I experienced the rejection that Jesus did with the people who knew His history. Not only was Jesus rejected by His hometown but even the whole people of Israel (save the remnant). In that light, my experience of rejection from those who know my past is nothing. These verses help me prepare for what may lie ahead in my ministry. There is always the possibility of pastoring in my hometown of Shreveport, LA. This is a great warning to all of Jesus’ disciples of the risk that is involved with following Him. It is obvious that Jesus was preparing His disciples for what they would encounter as He sent them out to do miracles and preaching on repentance in the very next passage in Mark.