Welcome to episode 53 of Grasp the Bible.  In this episode, we continue our study in the Book of Mark, covering chapter 6:1-29.  The series is called “Get in, buckle up, and hold on!”  Today, we discuss: 

• The malice of the Nazarenes (vv. 1-6 
• The mission of the twelve (vv. 6-13) 
• The martyrdom of John the Baptist (vv. 14-29) 

Key takeaways: 

• There is an old saying, “Familiarity breeds contempt.”  It seems that the people from Jesus’ hometown refused to believe that one from such humble and familiar origins could be God’s agent for inaugurating the kingdom of God. 
• When faith is the prerequisite for spiritual blessings, there can be no miracles without it.  Jesus could have done so much more if the people of Nazareth would have only believed. 
• Christ is astounded at his own people’s lack of faith. How terrifying it is to amaze God with one’s unbelief! 
• The disciples were commanded to travel with minimal baggage so they would rely on Christ’s power for the mission.  Today we are more in danger of having too much baggage than too little. 
• The parallels between John the Baptist and Jesus are evident in this passage.  Both were killed for speaking up about the truth and godliness in the face of adversity.  Both were put to death by rulers who were weak and who gave into the demands of society to save face. 
• Mark shows that the path of true discipleship is one of self-denial and self-sacrifice. 

Quotable: 

• Some spend their entire lives basing their decisions on what other people think. 

Application: 

• The encounter that Jesus had with those in Nazareth exemplifies Hebrews 11:16 – And without faith, it is impossible to please God. 
• When Jesus sent out the twelve, he delegated his authority to accomplish the task.  Jesus still delegates his authority to his followers today to fulfill the Great Commission. 
• It’s good to know that Jesus uses even the most flawed instruments (that’s you and me) to accomplish his purposes. 
• More people than we realize have lost eternity because they feared what others think. 

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