-THE LIFE OF CHRIST - THE GALILEAN MINISTRY

-Last Visit to Nazareth

-Mark 6:1-6, Matt 13:54-58

-Jesus returned to Nazareth and began to teach in the synagogue on the Sabbath day.
     -The people were amazed with His wisdom and power.

     -They remembered Jesus and viewed Him simply as the son of Joseph and Mary with
       brothers and sisters still in Nazareth.
          -Notice, the scriptures clearly indicate that Joseph and Mary had other children besides
            Jesus.  In regards to Mary, some teach something completely contradictory to this
            Biblical truth.

-Once again, Jesus was “without honor…among his kin and in his own house.”  Remember, Jesus’

  brothers initially doubted their brother’s claims – John 7:3-5.

-Mark 6:3 tells us that the people were “offended at him.”  “That is, the foolish prejudice arising
  from familiarity, and disinclination to allow their equals to be exalted about themselves, caused
  them to stumble at his claims, and finally reject them” (Dorris, pg 140).

-Jesus marveled at the lack of faith in these people – one of only two times we are told He
 marveled.  The marveling on this occasion was due to a lack of faith.  The other occurrence
 (Matt 8:10) was due to faith.

     -The people’s lack of faith served as a hindrance.  Therefore, Jesus performed very few
       miracles there.

-Another note:  The people of Nazareth were surprised at Jesus’ wisdom and power and
  identified Him only as the son of Joseph and Mary.  This demonstrates the fact that Jesus had
  an “ordinary” childhood absent of miraculous works.  Else, they would not have been surprised
  by His abilities and would have realized that His identity went beyond that of the carpenter’s son.