He left that place and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him.

On the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded.

They said, “Where did this man get all this?

What is this wisdom that has been given to him?

What deeds of power are being done by his hands!

Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?”

And they took offense at him.

Mark 6:1–3

This Sunday’s gospel picks up from last week’s miracles.

After healing a woman who was bleeding for 12 years, and restoring life to a 12-year old girl, he returns home to a rude welcome.

In his hometown, the people do not receive Jesus as a wise teacher, healer, or a Rabbi.

Instead they can only see him as the son of Mary who was a carpenter.

They could not receive Jesus because they knew him too well.

Instead they rejected his ministry and chose to take offense.

There is much to glean from this text, but one key is how Jesus handled this rejection.

Many of us would be decimated by the rejection of those who know us best, but Jesus shakes off the dust and keeps going.

Join us Sunday as we consider rejection, resilience, and recalcitrance.

Message delivered by Pastor Ben Sandin.