Too proud to be blessed

ὀλίγοις ἀρρώστοις ἐπιθεὶς τὰς χεῖρας ἐθεράπευσεν

Mark 6.5b, SBL Greek Testament

“Laying His hands on a few sickly people, He healed them.”

If this is a record of what happened in your church last Sunday, you are probably still buzzing with excitement – or shock, depending on what you are used to. But you are unlikely to be as disappointed as Jesus was at His reception in Nazareth (we presume – Mark just says “τὴν πατρίδα αὐτοῦ”, or His home territory / town / village).

I have written on this one before (see Tall Prophet Syndrome), but this time wanted to zoom in on the reaction of the townsfolk. Jesus and His disciples arrive in town, and on the Sabbath, He begins teaching in the Synagogue.

“And the many hearing were SHOCKED” ( and the word ἐξεπλήσσοντο does not admit of any positive reading; the NIV’s “amazed” won’t do; this is “driven out of your wits” shocked.)

They know this kid. They are not impressed by how He has developed, they are offended.

“From whence did this one get these things?” The Greek is tighter: Πόθεν τούτῳ ταῦτα. “And what is this wisdom that has been given Him?” (Almost “where did He steal this from?”). “And the wonders such as these that come about through His hands?” And this might be the biggest point of offence of all: His hands working wonders? Isn’t He the carpenter?

And that’s the thing: “be a good carpenter by all means, we will all bring you our requests for window frames and broken looms to mend; but who the heck do you think you are, to be doing and saying all this… whatever it is? Your hands are for working wood, not wonders…”

And yes, they know all His brothers, and some of them are married to His sisters, and there will be no forgiveness for any of this.

Hence Jesus’ words, that a prophet is not dishonoured – except in his own town and amongst his own people.

And despite the townsfolk saying “wonders such as these”, Jesus was able to do no wonders there – except to lay hands on a few who were too weak and needy to be offended. “And He was astonished at their lack of faith.”

So what is your response, and mine, when Jesus comes past and demonstrates that He isn’t who we had filed Him away as, but very much alive and ready to overturn what we thought were certainties?

Or will we still find a few sick people being healed almost too much to process?