Homeboy!

For Saturday January 13, 2024:

Mark 6:2 NLT: “The next Sabbath Jesus began teaching in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. They asked, ‘Where did he get all this wisdom and the power to perform such miracles?’”

We know that Jesus is the best source of knowledge about God and heaven. After all, God is his father and the Kingdom is his permanent address.

In Nazareth, everyone was amazed when Jesus taught in the Synagogue. But the question came up as to how Jesus had acquired all that knowledge. The townspeople knew him as the son of Mary and Joseph. They knew his brothers and sisters. Their entire family was a part of community life in Nazareth, and to them, Jesus was just “one of the guys!” Having grown up together, they had no reason to consider him “special.” Many of his friends refused to believe, and Jesus was amazed at their unbelief.

As young adults, they worked alongside one another as a “tekton,” or builder. Jesus is traditionally thought of as a carpenter, but tekton/builder says stonemason may have been his skill. Instead of having a little wood-shop, putting up larger walls and buildings may be more accurate!

Jesus summed it all up: “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown.” That’s as true today as it was 2,000 years ago. I’m sure the residents of Tupelo, Mississippi thought Elvis was an “OK” singer. He grew up there. But they had no idea what would take place when he visited Sun Studios in Memphis!

Sometimes you have to get out of your hometown!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship