Mark 6:1-13
“AND HE WENT out from thence, and came into His own country; and His disciples follow Him. And when the sabbath day was come He began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing Him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this Man these things, and what wisdom is this which is given unto Him.... And they were offended at Him.”
It seems most strange that the people, being astonished at the wisdom and knowledge of Jesus, as He expounds to them in their synagogue, should take offense at His teaching. Apparently this was due to their reasoning that He was “common” and known to come from an obscure carpenter’s family. So they are not attentive to His teaching, even though they acknowledge its unusual character.
Do we not recognize that today He is still the One prophesied by Isaiah: “He is despised and rejected of men?” Isa. 53:3. Though many refuse His voice, there is a portion, happy bond description, for the true sheep of this loving Shepherd, of whom it could be said, “My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me.” John 10:27.
The people refuse His message and no mighty work is done there, but the Lord was not disturbed by the remarks of those refusing His teaching, but as the obedient Servant, continues the work set before Him, glorifying God in His very behavior and doing good to all who would receive Him.
“And He called unto Him the twelve and began to send them forth by two and two: and gave them power over unclean spirits; and commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only....” In sending the disciples out by twos, He was providing Israel with testimony according to their law: “At the mouth of two witnesses... shall the matter be established.” Deut. 19:15.
This put a responsibility on all hearing the preaching of these men, and particularly where they would also witness the miraculous power that was given them to cast out demons and heal the sick. Bear in mind that this was not the preaching of the gospel as we know it today, but was the gospel of the kingdom, peculiar to Israel and called the nation and its individuals to repentance and acceptance of Christ.
These men were sent out in complete faith and dependence on God to provide along the way—no food, no money, no extra clothing. But they went with dignity and authority and were told to pronounce judgment on the entire city that refused their message. Neither was their gospel to be offered the second time where it was refused—the disciples being instructed to move on to the next town.
We will readily see that this was suitable for Israel in the day when it took place, but also see that it was limited to that time and should not be considered the character of the gospel preacher of our day. True it is that he should still go forth with God’s Word and in dependence on Him. But the servant of the Lord now is often called upon to persist with his message in the face of opposition; nor does he now have authority, as the disciples did, to pronounce judgment upon the city or individuals who ruse his testimony; nor does he have the miraculous powers that marked the disciples.
Today’s faithful servant warns men everywhere of a coming judgment and pleads with them to “flee from the wrath to come"— pointing them to Christ as the only refuge. Are you trusting in His finished redemption on Calvary for your safety? “God... hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness....” Acts 17:31.
ML-08/04/1963