He Was Amazed at Their Lack of Faith (Mark 6:1-6)

 

He Was Amazed at Their Lack of Faith (Mark 6:1-6)

Everyone loves receiving a gift. However, the reaction can vary depending on what the gift is. If someone offered a massive sum of money—millions of dollars—you might hesitate. But what if that gift was something so valuable it couldn't even be calculated in numbers?

In Mark 6:1-6, Jesus returned to his hometown and began to teach. But instead of welcoming him, the hometown people rejected and opposed him. They refused to receive the Messiah, the Son of God, whom the Father had sent.

Jesus Teaches in the Synagogue on the Sabbath

1 Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. 2 When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. "Where did this man get these things?" they asked. "What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing?" (Mark 6:1-2).

Jesus went to his hometown, Nazareth, accompanied by his disciples. Since rumors of the signs and wonders he performed had already spread across the country, we could call this a "triumphant return." On the contrary, however, Jesus was met with resentment and hostility instead of a welcome.

When the Sabbath came, Jesus taught in the synagogue. The teachings of Jesus Christ—who created the heavens and the earth with his word—touched people's hearts and reached their very depths. This is because his words are truth; they are holy and whole, revealing the secrets of the kingdom of heaven. The word of God opens the gates of heaven and allows us to obtain the treasures within.

Many were amazed at the Lord's teaching. They wondered how such words of wisdom and such power to perform signs and miracles could come from him. Since they had known Jesus of Nazareth for a long time, they were astonished by the words coming out of his mouth and the power he displayed. However, they did not have a complete knowledge of who Jesus truly was.

They Waited for an Earthly Messianic Kingdom

All Jews had waited for the Messiah for a long time. After Jerusalem fell at the end of the 6th century BC, they were exiled to Babylon for seventy years. From that point on, Israel never had a king again. Because of this, they longed even more for a Messiah with mighty power, like King David, to come.

Thus, their knowledge of the Messiah was limited to an earthly one. They lacked an understanding of the suffering Christ, who would be killed to save this world. Finally, when God's time came and the Christ—prophesied by the Law and the Prophets—stood right before their eyes, they failed to recognize him.

So, Jesus taught the Word of God to his people. This was to open the eyes of their darkened hearts so they would believe in and receive Jesus Christ, who came as the Son of Man sent by God, and thereby come into the light.

The words of Jesus are a lamp capable of searching and revealing even the deepest parts of a person. Jesus knows everyone (John 2:24-25). He knows what we think, what we want, and what we hope for. He also knows what our needs are and how we can reach salvation.

God wants to teach the secrets of the kingdom of heaven to everyone so they may understand and inherit that legacy. To this end, God gave us his Word: the Old Testament given through the Law and the Prophets, and the New Testament given through the Apostles. The Word of God is true food and drink that satisfies human thirst and hunger (John 6:55).

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Therefore, for a person to truly know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, the word of God is indispensable. Even if we added up all the knowledge in this world, we could not fathom God's truth. To know where a person comes from, where they are going, why they live, how they should live, and why there is always pain and suffering, the lamp of God's word must shine upon us.

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. (Hebrews 4:12-13)

The People of His Hometown Reject Jesus

"Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him. (Mark 6:3).

Jesus' father, Joseph, was a carpenter and is known to have died early. Jesus followed in his father's footsteps and worked as a carpenter until he began his public ministry at the age of thirty. Furthermore, Jesus had brothers, including James, and sisters.

The townspeople received news that Jesus—who was one of their neighbors, the son of Mary, and a carpenter—was suddenly doing things that surprised the whole country. They also saw and heard for themselves Jesus teaching in the synagogue on the Sabbath.

However, they did not accurately know who Jesus was; they judged him based on their old knowledge of him. That is why they were amazed at his words and power but remained suspicious. At that point, they could have easily asked Jesus about the situation and found the answer.

Instead, they hastily reached a very wrong judgment. By relying on their limited knowledge, they stumbled badly. They refused to accept the new knowledge regarding the good works Jesus performed and the words they heard him speak.

They hit the limit of their own preconceptions and prejudices about Jesus. As a result, they ended up stumbling because of Jesus Christ, who came as the Son of God. However, God reveals himself to anyone who seeks the Lord (Matthew 7:7-8). God delights in making the secrets of his kingdom known to those who believe.

“He replied, ‘Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance; whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them’” (Matthew 13:11-12).

He Could Not Do Any Miracles There

“Jesus said to them, ‘A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.’ He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. He was amazed at their lack of faith. Then Jesus went around from village to village, teaching” (Mark 6:4-6).

Jesus said that no prophet is honored in his own hometown, among his relatives, or in his own house. Throughout history, prophets—including Moses and Elijah—faced labels, accusations, persecution, and even death (Hebrews 11:36-38). Kings and religious leaders hated and refused to listen to the word of God spoken through them because they loved this world more than God.

As a result, Jesus "could not do any miracles there." This doesn't mean Jesus ran out of power. Rather, God reveals His power, authority, and glory only to those who believe. Conversely, those without faith cannot see God’s power or glory.

Faith vs. Unbelief: Historical Examples

The Widow of Zarephath: During the time of the prophet Elijah, a severe famine struck Northern Israel. King Ahab and the people suffered, but the widow of Zarephath experienced the glory and power of God; her jar of flour and jug of oil did not run out throughout the famine (1 Kings 17:8-24).

Noah: Because Noah believed God, he built an ark for 120 years. Consequently, he was kept safe by God’s power during the forty days and nights of the Great Flood. While every living thing that breathed through its nostrils perished, Noah, his family, and the animals inside the ark were unharmed. The faithless world was destroyed.

Jairus and the Suffering Woman: Jesus raised the dead daughter of Jairus, who had come and knelt before Him in faith. He also blessed the woman who had suffered for twelve years with a hemorrhage. Because of her faith, He dried up the source of her bleeding, told her that her faith had healed her, and welcomed her as a daughter of God.

The Disciples vs. Judas: Jesus calmed the wind and waves for His disciples in the middle of a storm, revealing Himself as the Creator God. Seeing His power and glory, the disciples' faith grew. However, Judas Iscariot became a "child of destruction" because he did not believe in Jesus.

Abraham vs. Lot: Abraham did not waver through unbelief regarding God's promise; he became the father of all who believe. His nephew Lot, however, did not live by faith but followed worldly possessions to Sodom. Even when destruction was imminent, Lot hesitated to leave until angels practically forced his family out (Genesis 19:16).

Amazed at Their Lack of Faith

Jesus was "amazed" at their lack of faith. The Greek word used here is θαυμάζω (thaumázō), the same word used to describe Jesus being "amazed" at the centurion's great faith (Matthew 8:10).

These people had the adoption to sonship, the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship, and the patriarchs (Romans 9:4-5). They were chosen from among many peoples to receive the inheritance of the glory of His kingdom as God's adopted children.

Among all people and all nations, they became the covenant people who received the law of God (Exodus 19:5-6). Through the law and temple sacrifices, they could have drawn near to the Lord God of Hosts for a fellowship of love, joy, and peace. Through the spiritual legacy of their ancestors, they could have followed the path to righteousness by faith.

Most importantly, Jesus Christ came to them through the body of Mary in the town of Nazareth. He taught the Gospel of the Kingdom, healed the sick, drove out demons, and provided evidence that He is the Son of God.

The Proclamation in the Synagogue

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus stood in the Nazareth synagogue on the Sabbath and read from the scroll of the prophet Isaiah:

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” (Luke 4:18-19; Isaiah 61:1-2a).

Jesus stopped there and closed the scroll, intentionally leaving out the latter part of the verse: "and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn" (Isaiah 61:2b), which refers to God's judgment. He then declared, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing" (Luke 4:21).

Despite all these inheritances, evidences, prophecies, and—above all—the words coming directly from the mouth of the Son of God, they still did not believe. This is why Jesus was amazed. They rejected the immeasurable, spiritual blessings of heaven offered freely through faith.

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)

Amen!

February 22, 2026

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Scripture quotes are from the NIV.