DCLM LESSON 26 CHRIST REJECTED IN HIS OWN COUNTRY

Text: Mark 6:1-56

Jesus Christ grew up in Nazareth, a hilly country side in the Northern part of Palestine known as Galilee. The people of His country/ home town rejected Him. They did not accept Him as a prophet. When He visited Nazareth the second time with His disciples, He entered into the synagogue on the Sabbath and began to teach. While many were surprised at the depth of His teaching, some were offended, asking “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him“ (Mark 6:3).

Christ was rejected by the people that were closer to Him in relationship, even His own brothers did not believe in Him until after His death and resurrection. The people rejected Christ because of unbelief and hardness of heart. However, Jesus did not allow His rejection to stop the great work that His heavenly Father has sent Him to do. From our Bible passage, we learn that Jesus went about the villages, teaching the people about the kingdom of God. He also called and sent out His twelve disciples to go and preach with authority and power. 

As His own countrymen refused to accept Him, others who were far away accepted His message and that of His disciples. Many were saved, healed and delivered. Jesus is still the same today and forever. What He did while He was on earth, He is still doing now and has also given His friends power to do more. If you are a friend of Jesus, you must go out with boldness and preach the gospel to every creature. Do not allow your friends, neighbours, classmates or even “Herod” (authority) to stop you from loving Jesus and doing His will. Continue to follow Him so that you can reign with Him in heaven at last.

If you are still a sinner, now is the time for you to accept Jesus as your Lord and personal Saviour. Do not be like the people who rejected Him. As you come to Him, He will accept you and give you power to become a child of God.

1. THE MESSIAH REJECTED IN HIS 0WN COUNTRY: Mark 6:1-6, 14-29; John 1:10-14; 1 Peter 2:1-6-8

Jesus Christ was rejected in His native town — Nazareth. Likewise, His message was rejected and they even planned to kill Him. The Jews of His day were governed (ruled) by the laws of Moses (Mosaic law) and they believed very much in them. They could not accept that there can be any prophet greater than Moses who gave them the laws as he received them from God. The Jews therefore rejected Jesus because:

(i) they were familiar with His childhood, they knew His earthly parents, brothers and sisters (Mark 6:3). It is often said that “familiarity breeds contempt.”

Unbelief and hardness of heart. This was the main reason His countrymen rejected Him. They were spiritually blind; therefore, they could not see and accept Jesus as the Messiah they have been expecting.

Fear of what others will do or say about them. Jesus was amazed at their unbelief and inability to believe God and trust Him. Unbelief is a grievous sin against God. The message of Jesus became a stumbling block to His own countrymen and a stepping stone to salvation for others. Jesus could not do much miracles among His own people because they rejected Him.

However, He did not let this rejection stop Him. He continued with the business of teaching and healing among those who were ready. The stories of Jesus’ rejection at Nazareth and John the Baptist’s death in our Bible passage show that the devil is always out to hinder the gospel work.

This is to show what would later happen to Jesus towards the end of His earthly ministry. The lesson we learn here is that as friends of Jesus, we should be prepared for persecution because, we cannot expect an evil world to welcome the gospel of truth that Jesus has sent us to spread. However, Jesus has assured us that He is with us even to the end of the world. Be courageous! Serve the Lord and He will keep you.

2. THE MINISTRY OF CHRIST AND HIS DISCIPLES IN OTHER TOWNS: Mark 6:7-11; Luke 3:1-6, 18; 9:1-9

As the people of Nazareth did not welcome Jesus and His disciples, He sent them to other cities to preach the kingdom of God (repentance from sin), heal the sick and also deliver the oppressed. He however told them that anyone or any city that rejected them should be left alone. They were not to carry any personal provisions for themselves, but depend on God for their personal provision. God always provides for His people. Those who received them, accepted their gospel and turned away from their sins were saved. Even the sick received healing and the oppressed were delivered.

When Herod heard about the miracles being performed by Jesus and His disciples, he became afraid. He thought that John the Baptist whom he had beheaded (ordered that his head be cut off) had risen from the dead. He killed

John because he had preached against his sin of adultery (Herod married Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife (Mark 6:18). Though he silenced the voice of John the Baptist, he could not silence his own conscience, he was tormented by it. He became uncomfortable, he lost his peace. It is still happening today —  many people are rejecting the gospel because they want to continue living in  their sins. They even hate those who are preaching, telling them to turn away from their sinful ways. Such people cannot become friends of Jesus except they repent of their sins.

If you are still living in sin, come to Jesus now: know yourself as a sinner, confess and repent of your sins, ask God for forgiveness and cleansing through the blood of Jesus, invite Jesus into your life to be your Saviour and Lord. Believe it is done and begin to live a new life in Christ.

3. MIRACLES THROUGH THE POWER OF THE REJECTED CHRIST: Mark 6: 12, 13,30-56; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:15-21

After going through the cities and towns, the disciples of Jesus went back to give account of their evangelistic outreach to Him. Likewise, we must give a report of all that happen during our evangelism to our leaders (Mark 6:30). Therefore, He told them to leave the city for the desert so that they could rest. “And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat“ (Mark 6:31).

This is what we call RETREAT. It is a time to stay away from home activities, hear God’s word, think about it and also renew our spiritual experiences so that we can serve God better. It is not good for friends of Jesus to miss the programmes (Easter and December Retreats). It is not a time to just go, eat, sleep and play in the campground. Instead, it is a time to listen to God’s word (in the children camp), pray about it, learn how to be better Christians and receive fresh anointing to be able to continue serving Him. It is a time when God’s power is present to save sinners, heal the sick, deliver the oppressed and encourage those who are getting weak on the journey to heaven.

The disciples had a retreat with Jesus in the wilderness and many miracles happened:

(i) Jesus fed a multitude of 5,000 men (apart from women and children) with only five loaves of bread and two fishes. He is still the Supplier of our needs today (Philippians 4:19). Twelve baskets full of bread and fishes were left over after all the people had eaten!

(ii) Still wanting to minister to the needs of the people, Jesus asked His disciples to go to Bethsaida (by boat). He was not in the boat with them. Suddenly, the sea became troubled and the disciples were afraid but Jesus appeared on the water. They thought He was a ghost and cried out in fear but Jesus said to them: “Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid” (Mark 6:50b). The wind ceased immediately. He still calms the storm in our lives today, just trust Him and be not afraid.

In many other villages, cities or countries that Jesus entered, He performed many more miracles. He is still doing the same today. The greatest miracle you can receive is the salvation of your soul. His power has not changed. Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day and for ever.” If you are not saved yet, come to Jesus now, believe His word repent and surrender your life to Him.

QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW:

1. Who were those that rejected Jesus Christ?

2. Mention three reasons Jesus was rejected in His home town.

3. What did Jesus send His disciples to do in other towns?

4. Mention one miracle ofJesus stated in this study.

5. (a) What is the greatest miracle you can receive? (b) Have you received that miracle?

MEMORY VERSE: “But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house” (Mark 6:4).

LESSON: Anyone who rejects Jesus Christ will spend eternity in hell.

THOUGHT: I accept Jesus Christ as my Saviour and Lord.

ACTIVITY: Draw the picture of the disciples in a boat on the stormy sea.

CONGREGATIONAL SONG: GHS 224 – OH, THE BITTER SHAME AND SORROW

CHORUSES:

(1) Jesus the same yesterday, today and forever.

(2) I believe in Jesus.

(3) Jesus is the sweetest Name I know.

HOMEWORK: Read John 2:1-11 and write in your own words, the miracle that Jesus performed in the passage.

BIBLE WORD SEARCH

Find the meaning of these words. You can use your dictionary:

1. Kinsmen

2. Wilderness

3. Miracle

4. Retreat

5. Multitude