In our study of Mark chapter six, we will look at relationships and how they may change when we come to faith in Jesus Christ. We will look at the friends and family of Jesus and examine how the relationship changed when He began His ministry.
"Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples." NIV translation
After demonstrating His authority to the people of Galilee as we saw in chapter five, Jesus went back to Nazareth. This is where He would have grown up and so many people would know Him.
"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, that he even does miracles! 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." NIV translation
When Jesus taught in the synagogue, the people were amazed at His teaching and even knew of the miracles but they could not see Him for who He was. Many of them would have grown up alongside Him in the town and all knew His family.
"Jesus said to them, 'Only in his hometown, among his relatives and in his own house is a prophet without honor.'" NIV translation
Jesus had just come from having massive crowds follow Him wherever He went. Now, when He gets back to His hometown, He faces this opposition because the people had seen Him grow up from a child.
We, as Christians, may face the same type of thing when we come to Christ. There may be some old friends that remember you from the old days and they may not be able to accept the new creation that you are in Christ. There may even be family members that call you things like "Jesus Freak" because they do not know Him but they remember you.
"He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. And he was amazed at their lack of faith." NIV translation
Jesus was not able to do much work in His hometown because of their unbelief. We have seen that faith is the key that unlocks the power of God and most of the people just could not accept Jesus as the Son of God.