This passage shows us Jesus’ rejection. As followers of this Jesus, we are not to be surprised when we face rejection when we hold out the gospel. We are to expect this too.
(A) Do Not Mistake Familiarity for Faith (Mark 6:1-6)
Thus far, Mark has recorded for us Jesus’ expanding authority which He had displayed in Galilee before entering His hometown. Jesus has displayed His authority in the following ways:
Authority to call and send (Mark 3:13-19)
Authority over Satan and family identity (Mark 3:20-25)
Authority in Parables to reveal/conceal the Kingdom (Mark 4:1-34)
Authority over nature (Mark 4:35-41)
Authority over demons (Mark 5:1-20)
Authority over disease and death (Mark 5:21-43)
Jesus had complete authority over the natural world and the people in it.
Mark describes the tension in people’s response to Jesus’ teaching in the synagogue. They heard Jesus’ teaching and were astonished (Mark 6:2b). And they were also confused because they knew how ordinary He was — they knew His occupation as a carpenter, the family He came from and even knew His siblings (Mark 6:3). There was a deep sense of familiarity with Jesus. How can someone of this background teach in such a way and also do such mighty works?Jesus did not fit their expectations.
Jesus responds with a warning in Mark 6:4. There are different concentric circles that get closer to the person — hometown, relatives and family. It is a warning to guard against the dangers of familiarity.
And their rejection of Him also led to the rejection of His message of repentance. He did not perform miracles in this town because of their hard hearts.
Are we too familiar with Jesus? Maybe we have grown up in church and have gotten used to hearing about Jesus and His call to repentance. But let us heed this warning in these verses. Let us not be itching to hear something fresh and new. Instead, let us receive Christ with faith and obedience now.
Perhaps some of us are going through life stages that require a lot of decision-making. Guard your hearts from seeing Jesus and His teachings as basic and our other things in life as the more advanced and practical needs. Unbelief and settled rejection against Christ begins with us treating Him as background truth instead of Lord of our lives and this world.
(B) Go with Jesus’ Authority and Be Ready for Rejection (Mark 6:7-13)
Despite being rejected in His hometown, Jesus seems to increase the reach of His message. He sent the twelve out two by two (Mark 6:7) and they went out and proclaimed that people should repent (Mark 6:12). They also cast out many demons, anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them (Mark 6:13). This was similar to what Jesus did. The miraculous healings also affirmed the message He spoke and pointed to His authority.
The disciples could do these acts because He gave them His authority over the unclean spirits (Mark 6:7). He also charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff — no bread, no bag, no money in their belts — but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics (Mark 6:8-9). They were not to bring extra stuff as they went out. In Exodus 12:11, we read of how the people were to have the Passover meal before they left Egypt. They ate in haste, ready to depart at any time. Mark’s readers would have been aware of this Passover dress code, which was what the disciples adhered too. The disciples were dressed lightly so that they could move quickly, and could be focused on their mission.
Jesus also mapped out two scenarios that they will face — acceptance or rejection (Mark 6:10-11). Jesus prepared them for what is going to come. When they entered a house, they were to stay until they are done and depart (Mark 6:10). They were to be content with the hospitality that God provides for them in the town, and not to choose the household to stay in.
And if a place will not receive and listen to them, they where to “shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them” (Mark 6:11). This is not a petty tantrum but is public picture of a clear separation from this household. It is also a warning against those with a settled rejection against the word that God is bringing. This is also loving, because it is clear that they still need the message of repentance.
This protects the disciples fro compromising the message. They did not have to alter the original message to make it more palatable and their task was to proclaim it as it is.
It also guarded their hearts against despair. It was not a personal failure and they did not let their Saviour down. Jesus knew that they would face rejection. All they had to do was to proclaim it clearly and as He intended.
What does this mean for us today? We too, go in authority, holding out the words of Christ (Matt 28:19-20). We do not proclaim our opinions and musings. What we call people to conformity to is His word, to Himself. Let us study, meditate, know His word well so that we can be ready all the time to hold out His truth.
We can go confidently, for everything in Scripture is God-breathed.
We go in urgency, knowing that the world is a dark place, lost without Christ.
We can also go with the liberty to solemnly move on when our hearers reject the gospel. Now it does not mean that we push people away, but it means that we do not dwell in the rejection.
(C) Hope in Christ, Who Was Rejected for Us (Mark 6:14-29)
King Herod, the tetrarch who is the governor under the Roman Empire, heard of Jesus (Mark 6:14). He thinks that Jesus is John the Baptist (who was beheaded by Herod) resurrected (Mark 6:16). Mark inserts a flashback to Herod’s interaction with John the Baptist in Mark 6:17-20. Mark begins this book with John entering the scene, aware of his role to point to Christ. And this account of his death here shows us that John did just that, even in death.
John had called Herod out because he married Herodias, who was his brother’s wife. Herodias bore a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death, but could not (Mark 6:19). Herod, in the meantime, feared John but was also greatly perplexed when he heard John and even heard him gladly (Mark 6:20). Like in the Parable of the Sower, we see here two different responses to truth being proclaimed.
Herodias’ repsonse show us how some may not like it when their sin is called out. This narrative prepares us for one kind of response when we hold out the gospel to other sinners. It is also important for us to reflect on our own response to sin being called out and shown. Are we prickly and quick to defend ourselves or bear grudges when our sins are called out? May it not be so!
Next, we read of the banquet that Herod threw on his birthday (Mark 6:21). He was pleased by Herodias’ daughter, and vowed that he will give whatever she asked for, even up to half of his kingdom (Mark 6:22). This is ironic as this is not even his kingdom to give away. She consulted Herodias and asked for the head of John the Baptist (Mark 6:25). Herod was “exceedingly sorry” when he heard this, but because of his oaths and his guests and not being willing to break his word, he had to.
Herod lived under the fear of man and though he was sorry, he continued and took John’s life. Perhaps he had some leftover guilt, for John was the first person that he thought of when he heard about Jesus. His sorrow, however, was likely worldly sorrow and not godly sorrow that led to true repentance.
Herod was sorry for the consequences of his misspoken word that led to John’s death, and is a case of worldly sorrow. He clearly values how he looks before the people, and seeks to uphold the image he has before the powerful people of society. He valued his own image instead of valuing the word of God. This was another way pride is seen in the passage — first among the people of Nazareth, and now here in Herod’s life. In doing so, he rejected the message that John brought — a way to get peace with God through repentance and faith.
Rejection is a part of the Christian’s life as we hold out the gospel. Look to Jesus, who has gone before us and faced the ultimate rejection on the cross. He understands and knows what it feels like to be rejected as we hold out the gospel. There is real hope in Christ! It is not just that He can commiserate with us, but in His death, we can have peace with God and have true salvation.