Daily Devotions

Mark

Mark 
Day 
Day 127

1 Peter 5:1 "The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed."

Day 127 – Mark 6

“The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed.” 1 Peter 5:1

ASTONISHED!

When Jesus began to teach in the synagogue at Nazareth, fellow villagers were more than a little surprised.

“And many hearing Him were astonishedâ?¦”
MARK 6:2

There is absolutely nothing wrong with being astonished. When Jesus began teaching at Capernaum, the same reaction was noted.

“And they were astonished at His teaching,
for He taught them as one having authority,
and not as the scribes”
MARK 1:22

PUZZLED!

Many were puzzled when they pondered the obvious power and authority Jesus wielded. Not only could He teach with authority, He demonstrated great power too.

“Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned
among themselves, saying, ‘What is this? What new
doctrine is this? For with authority He commands
even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.'”
MARK 1:27

We can also understand this sense of puzzlement. The residents of Capernaum had never come across such a Person as Jesus before!

GLORIFYING GOD

The more Capernaum saw of Jesus, the more the amazement. Eventually, this sense of astonishment gave way to giving glory to God.

“…all were amazed and glorified God, saying,
‘We never saw anything like this!'”
MARK 2:12

Again, this development is natural, even expected. God ought to be glorified in and through the mighty acts of Jesus!

UNCALLED FOR REACTION

The reaction of Nazareth towards Jesus when He began to teach mightily was totally uncalled for!

“Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary,
and brother of James, Joses, Judas and Simon?
And are not his sisters here with us?
So they were offended at Him.”
MARK 6:3

Why should Nazareth be so “offended at Jesus”?