Daily Devotions
Mark
1 Peter 5:2 "Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain, but eagerly."
Day 128 – Mark 6
“Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain, but eagerly.” 1 Peter 5:2
REASONS WHY SOME WERE OFFENDED
Mark carefully noted why some were “offended” at Jesus. Let’s take a look at some of these:-
1. When Jesus spoke about forgiving a paralytic of his sins Mark 2:6-7
2. When Jesus socialized with “tax collectors and sinners” Mark 2:16
3. When Jesus and His disciples did not practise fasting Mark 2:18
4. When Jesus did not appear to uphold the Sabbath law Mark 2;23-27; 3:1-5
5. When Jesus cast out demons so effortlessly Mark 3:22-30
Mark however was most careful to refute these allegations made against Jesus as baseless and foolish statements!
WILD STATEMENTS HURLED AGAINST JESUS
Mark also noted how people hurled insults at Jesus. Some of them were vicious!
1. Accused of being in league with the demons Mark 3:22
2. Accused of being possessed Mark 3:29
3.Thought by His family to be out of His mind Mark 3:21
REASONS FOR NAZARETH TO REJECT JESUS
What were some of the reasons why Nazareth was hostile to Jesus?
1. Familiarity breeds contempt
Nazareth was where Jesus and His siblings grew up! Small villages in those days were closely knit communities. Everybody knew everyone else. People were on a first name basis. Nazareth knew Mary and her family (Joseph was no longer mentioned, apparently because of his demise). It is possible that familiarity bred uncalled for contempt.
2. A closed Mind
Nazareth may be suffering from “provincialism”. They were so parochial that they could not believe that Jesus could have amounted to so much, in such a short period of time! When a mind is closed, it is just not able to allow for even God to endue His servant with His Divine Power!