Mark 6:1-13 ~ they went out and proclaimed that people should repent

Mark 6:1-13


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1 He went away from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. 2 And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands? 3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. 4 And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.” 5 And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6 And he marveled because of their unbelief.

And he went about among the villages teaching.

7 And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. 8 He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts— 9 but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics [chiton, a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin]. 10 And he said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there. 11 And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.” 12 So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. 13 And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.


When we go to the movies, we can almost count on having the new homosexual agenda preached to us. Lately, we can count on the movies portraying Christians being portrayed as uptight, self-centered, angry & judgmental. Such portrayal is going to have the faint of heart run for cover.


Isn't it interesting God's book is different.

Romans 1:16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

What does God's book, the Holy Scriptures say: If we look at the people of the Old Testament, and into the New Testament, the relationship of the Churches.... we do not find paper saints, we find people struggling with faith. Not sexuality anywhere near as much. People in and of the "Bible" have times they disappoint the Holiness of God. God's reaction is different than most people would expect. God does not walk away.

What is unappealing to the unchurched, the people sort of afraid & a little lazy about discovering the Bible... we are asked to repent. "Repent" sounds grim. But most of us would throw open the front door, throw open our arms and jump for joy at the possibility of goodness & love wanting to come in and visit. Even the urbane and sophisticated want most of all to be loved.

So... this passage explains this exactly. We have the LORD, who has known us (mankind) since Genesis. If we'd been Sims (video game), we probably would have acted as creator by deleting us and created a better being. The LORD figured us out when He came to the garden of Eden to visit and we were hiding from Him. Why? Because we wanted to be Him. Instead the true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

So, we have the LORD in this passage..... how are we acting? We're following Him, but He offends us with His works and ideas. Jesus doesn't retaliate, He goes about doing the work of His Father. He is healing. He asks for repentance and He promises provisions. He will look out for us.

John 1:5
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not understood it.

John 5:17
Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working."

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