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FAMILIARITY BREEDS CONTEMPT
SATURDAY, JANUARY 29
Mark 6:1-6

1 Timothy 4:12

 

“…A prophet is not without honour,

but in his own country…”

 

FAMILIARITY BREEDS CONTEMPT
 
There is an old Cantonese proverb which says, “Local ginger is not hot.” In other words, a local talent is not appreciated. This is what we find here—Jesus now back in his hometown Nazareth received no honour but was rather despised and rejected. “But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house” (Mark 6:4).
 
Who loses out when this happens? Those who fail to appreciate their own will lose out big time. The Lord Jesus was all ready to bless his hometown greatly. He had so much to offer to them. But they mocked and scorned, “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him” (Mark 6:3). The word “offended” here is from the Greek skandalizo where we get the word “scandalise.” They saw him as a “scandal.” They found it unbelievable that a carpenter could be a prophet. Could a lowly person rise to such a high position? Jesus was so amazed by their unbelief (Mark 6:6), He could do no mighty work there—they wanted nothing to do with Him.
 
Since Nazareth rejected Him, Jesus went to Capernaum (Matt 4:13). Nazareth’s loss was Capernaum’s gain. Jesus set up house in Capernaum and became a permanent resident there. Capernaum became the headquarters of His ministry in Galilee. And from there, He did mighty things: “The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up…. And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people” (Matt 4:16,23).
 
Honour your own and don’t despise the young (1 Tim 4:12), nor the old (Lev 19:32). Here is wisdom, “The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head” (Prov 20:29).
 
THOUGHT: Who gets more attention in your church—your own pastor or a visiting preacher?

PRAYER: (Pray for your pastor.)

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