Primary Text: Mark 5:1-6:6
Memory Verse: But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house.” Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching. Mark 6:4-6
Introduction:
Jesus faced many contrasting reactions during His ministry on earth. As He went about the area ministering and doing miracles, sometimes He was accepted and the people had faith in Him. At other times, though, He was rejected and faced disbelief.
Jesus also faced skepticism about who He was. He was mistaken as “a glutton, a drunkard…” (Matthew 11:19). Some assumed He was Elijah or John the Baptist returned from the dead. Jesus encountered many people who failed to see Him as He truly was and reacted adversely.
When Jesus cast demons out of a man who had been consumed by them for years, the people saw and acknowledged the miraculous change in the man, but banished Jesus from their town. When Jesus healed blind men, the Pharisees attributed Jesus’ power to Satan. In both situations, the people were unable to see Jesus as who He really is. They saw Him in His humanity but couldn’t see His divine nature.
In other places Jesus went He was openly received. The people were amazed at His miracles and marveled at His wisdom. They were so enthusiastic about what they saw in Jesus, that they told their friends and neighbors, despite Jesus’ requests for privacy. They recognized that Jesus was the Son of God and zealously wanted to share that news.
Which group of people are we like? Do we recognize Jesus in His humanity, acknowledging that He was a good person and to serve Him is beneficial to us socially and communally? Or have we experienced Him as the true Son of God—the miracle worker, the healer, the deliverer, the Savior? Do we seek the Lord so that we can know Him and deepen our relationship with Him, or are we primarily seeking the gifts He has to share with us? We should diligently seek the Giver, for knowing Him is the greatest gift of all.
Studying the Word
Lesson Study
- Why did the Jews want to see “signs”? 1 Corinthians 1:22; John 2:18; 4:48; 6:30
- Why did God work miracles through Jesus Christ? John 9:1-3; Matthew 14:14; Mark 16:20; John 20:30-31
- What did the two blind men who followed Jesus cry? Matthew 9:27
- When the men followed Jesus into the house, what did Jesus ask them and how did they respond? Matthew 9:28
- Compare the reaction of the multitude to the reaction of the Pharisees when the man who was mute was healed. Matthew 9:33-34
- What basic truths were applied by the persons who received healing in our lesson this week? Hebrews 11:6; Matthew 10:32
- Why was Jesus rejected at Nazareth? Matthew 13:55-58; Mark 6:3-6. Does this same predicament affect ministers today?