“Who do you see?”

Mark 6:1-13

He left that place and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. On the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, “Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands! 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.

Then Jesus said to them, “Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown, and among their own kin, and in their own house.” And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them. And he was amazed at their unbelief.
Then went about among the villages teaching. He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics. He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place. If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave, shake the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.” So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent. They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.

Today’s reading seems to be two different stories presented together, and while they seem very different, I believe they go together well. They’re all about faith, truly knowing and trusting Jesus Christ then and heeding his call to tell the world about him. Who do you see in this man Jesus? How well do you know him? I’d like to take a look first at last weeks Gospel. I think it’s important because it’s a story of people with great and genuine faith. Here is Jesus doing what he does best. First he heals a woman who had been sick for many years and shunned by society and the church. She was as good as dead. This is a very powerful story. She merely touched his robe and Jesus felt her faith. It must have been very strong and genuine. I’ve noticed so much lately that many of those people who are the worst off in society show a very great faith. They’re very open and aware of Jesus Christ. Maybe they have reason to see him just a little bit differently. I believe this is because they have nothing to stand in their way. He’s their only hope. They recognize Him for what he truly is. It’s as if they’re saying, “He’s my savior, I put all my faith and trust in him. Not in my money, because I have none, not in all my stuff, because I have none, I’ve made such a mess of my life but he loves me no matter what!”

As the gospel continues he brings life to a dead girl. Here we’ve gone from a woman who was as good as dead to a young girl who was dead. Once again, where is our hope found? Where do we place our faith? Two weeks ago we heard about Jesus calming a violent storm out on the water. How comforting it is to know that when the storms of life come, Jesus will be there for us. I heard on the radio the other day something which caught my attention, and I can’t remember who said it, “the toughest man to ever walk the face of the earth is seated at the right hand of the Father.” What’s this all about? I believe it’s all about faith, and knowing Jesus Christ, and knowing him in your heart. Who do you see in this man Jesus? How well do you know him? Here’s two great acts of faith, let’s see what happens in this weeks lesson.

In today’s gospel he goes back home to Nazareth, his hometown, and begins to teach. These were his family and his people. I can’t help but think these were the ones he cared for most, the one’s closest to his heart. These were the ones he’d grown up with. They hear his powerful, authoritative words, and wonder where this lowly carpenter, Mary’s son, who they watched run the streets with his brothers and sisters, and probably had gotten into a little mischief, has gotten this kind of knowledge. They’ve only known him one way, and it’s blocked their ability to have any faith in him. It’s blinded them from seeing him as being any more than that. If they were looking for a Messiah, it sure wouldn’t be Jesus. In fact, the gospel says, he found so little faith there, that he was unable to perform many miracles or healings. This just doesn’t seem right. In my research I found that even a few scholars were a little confused with this one. Was it Jesus lack of ability, or were the people of Nazareth blinded as to who Jesus really was? Was their lack of faith in him keeping them from receiving his blessings? This had to have really hurt. He had to have been so disappointed. These were his people, the people he knew and loved, the people he was closest to, and they were rejecting him. And so he left them and moved on.

I want to take a few minutes to tell you about my home town, the place of my childhood, the place I grew up, the place that I loved, the place that I think about often. I grew up in a very small rural town of around 35 people called Slifer. It’s about 20 miles southwest of Fort Dodge. It’s just a little farming community with around ten houses, a grain elevator, and a few closed down businesses on the crossroad of two county highways. But to me it was the perfect place to grow up. It was a world of tree houses, out houses, and hen houses. Within a quarter mile of my home there was a creek, two groves of trees, and a set of railroad tracks. Our house backed up to a cornfield, come to think of it everyone’s house backed up to a cornfield. We had a little acreage with chickens, a Shetland pony, a couple cows, and a huge garden. I spent my days exploring, fishing, camping out, and getting into mischief. I had the local paper route. Once I got the papers folded it took me about ten minutes to deliver them. I earned most of my money walking beans, mowing lawns, and baling hay. Of course everyone in town knew each other. At least once every summer we would all gather in someone’s yard and have a town picnic. There would be plenty to eat and drink. We would get a big game of softball going, kids and adults, and have a great time. I remember watching Neil Armstrong first walk on the moon as the whole town gathered at someone’s home. As I grew older, I bought my first car. I’d be over visiting Teresa, then I’d come speeding on into town on my way home. Sure enough one of the neighbors would call my dad, Harold, Pat was speeding through town again, and then I’d be in trouble. Even the bad things are good memories. I wouldn’t trade them for anything in the world. I loved my hometown. Every now and then my Mom will call and tell me of someone from Slifer who’s died, and it will bring some sadness, and a whole lot of memories. Why am I talking about my hometown? Because this is how these people knew me, this is how they will remember me. If I came back as anything else they would probably have a hard time accepting me. I can’t help but think of how broken hearted Jesus must have felt being rejected by his own hometown and his own people. It’s not that they disliked him, but that they couldn’t see who he really was. He’s who they needed most, but they rejected him. How well do you know him? Who do you see when you think of Jesus?

The second part of today’s reading is a call to discipleship. It’s a call to evangelism.

Jesus sends his disciples out in pairs, travelling light with a simple yet powerful message. It’s like Jesus is saying, “Know me as I truly am, believe in me, have faith in me, I’ll show you the way! Don’t clutter your life with things you don’t need. I’ll provide everything you need! It’s okay if they don’t like what you’re telling them, just walk away and move on. Now go, and do my work. ”

As Paul tells the Romans, “How are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

How can people know of Him without those of us who really know Jesus? He has a beautiful message and he’s chosen us to deliver it. “But how can I, I’m not an evangelist? I don’t know what to say! I don’t know what to do! I don’t know where to go! I don’t want to go anyway. What will people think of me?” Remember, there’s a hurting world out there. People are searching. People are reaching out for help.

How well do you know Jesus Christ? How much faith do you put in him? How much do you love him? Maybe you’re the one in need. Maybe you’re the one with the outstretched hand. As we heard Jeff Hanna speak a couple weeks ago, we’re all in the same boat. We all need Jesus. We all have storms in our life. Maybe the storms are raging harder for you than for others right now.

Jesus says in Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

In his book, “Blue Like Jazz”, Donald Miller talks about how he has come to love Jesus. “I think the most important thing that happens within Christian spirituality is when a person falls in love with Jesus.

Sometimes when I go forward at church to take communion, to take the bread and dip it in the wine, the thought of Jesus comes to me, the red of his blood or the smell of his humanity, and I eat the bread and I wonder at the mystery of what I am doing, that somehow I am one with Christ, that I get my very life from him, my spiritual life comes from his working inside me, being inside me.

I know our culture will sometimes understand a love for Jesus as weakness. There is this lie floating around that says I am supposed to be able to do life alone, without any help, without any stopping to worship something bigger than myself. But I actually believe there is something bigger than me, and I need for there to be something bigger than me. I need someone to put awe inside me; I need to come second to someone who has everything figured out.”

Donald Miller has found Jesus as we should know him. He has looked beyond himself and discovered a life giving and loving Jesus. As we gather for Holy Communion today, as we eat the bread and drink the wine, let us think about Jesus and who he is, and what he has done for you. And allow him to put an awe inside of you. You may experience him in a very different way.

Evangelism isn’t necessarily about going out and knocking on doors. From what I’ve read the most effective form of evangelism is all about relationships, your relationship with Jesus Christ showing in your actions, in your eyes and your speech. Jesus Christ finds his way into people’s hearts through their relationship to you. We have several opportunities in the next couple months for you to reach out to others and bring them to know Jesus Christ. On July 19th, Justin and Amanda Fletcher will be showing the movie, Facing Your Giants for our New Life Family Theater. It’s a great sports movie with a Christian theme. This is a wonderful opportunity to invite your friends and neighbors, family and coworkers. On August 2nd we will have our annual Vacation Bible School. Did you know that half of the children attending are from the community and not members of New Life. Parents drop off and pick up their kids and see an excitement in them. What a great way to introduce an unchurched child and their parents to Jesus Christ. The very next week on August 9th we will have a friendship Sunday. We are encouraging you to invite your neighbors, coworkers, or unchurched friends to worship with us that week. We will have a wonderful worship experience, a late morning brunch, and some time for outdoor fun and games. In September, we will be bringing back the Alpha program. Alpha will answer many of the questions you may have about the Christian faith. Many of you have been through Alpha already. This is a great evangelism tool. You can just sit and listen, and you won’t have to say a word. If you’ve already taken Alpha, invite a friend and take it again with them.

These are easy evangelism tools for you to take advantage of. As Jesus sends you out into your day, remember him, know him, trust him, love him, and think about who you could invite to meet him. He’s waiting for them. I’ve met many people whose lives have been changed by meeting Jesus.

We are Jesus people who’ve been molded, saved, loved, filled, fed, watered, washed, educated, protected, directed, and commissioned.



Let us close in prayer,
Father God,
Open our hearts and minds as we worship you this morning that we may fully know you and experience you. As we receive your body and blood, may we remember you and all that you have done for us. Fill us with an awe that we will want to share with the people in our lives. Help us Lord to be inviting Christians. Send us Lord into the world that we may reach out to those in need with your word and your healing and your love.

(Pat Barnes' sermon on July 5th)