Jesus doesn’t force us to believe. Jesus doesn’t want us to work on the earnestness of our belief: just believe harder – believe more – believe right: to force us to get it. Jesus gives us signs and invitations and these opportunities to see something truly profound: to see this life with a sense of opportunity and hope.
The scandal of Jesus and the bitterness of his people
Proper 9B | Mark 6:1-13
Astounding Faith
Again, our story begins with faith. Faith was the story of the disciples in the boat, when the waves were crashing and when Jesus was sleeping, and especially when Jesus was calming the storm, to the disciples’ horror.
Faith.
Faith was was the story of the Demoniac, the man who was possessed by an army, a legion of demons and Jesus overcame them without breaking a sweat and did so to the people’s horror.
Faith.
Faith was the story of Jairus coming to Jesus to save his little girl from death and the woman coming to Jesus – “If I but touch his clothes” – and then Jesus was “immediately aware that power had gone forth from him”- and soon after the girl being roused from “sleep.” Faith healed them both, in the midst of distraction and skepticism.
Our story begins with faith. Share on X
These stories are about the faith of these people and its connection with the power of GOD. Before all of this, Jesus taught about faith and the mustard seed. It isn’t the faith that has power, it is who and what is unleashed by our faith.
So in the midst of all of this faith-talk and faith-work, we have a Jesus who returns home. It seems that he wants to continue this work, build on this work. He is doing remarkable things which are freaking people out: his strangers and his closest followers. Remember, Jesus isn’t some run of the mill faith healer. His people see this now.
He goes home and we, the readers, are looking for that same combination. We are looking for mighty acts to coincide with profound faith, right? Besides, who else is going to believe, but his oldest friends? The people who were with him in school, who were his babysitters and teachers. The people who know what he’s capable of. This is the hometown crowd!
But we get the opposite. We don’t get faith, we get skepticism. Take a look at the reading for today. Mark 6. Right at the beginning, it says
Jesus 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.
Astounded. The Greek word we get here is ekplesso which does not mean happy amazement; it contains a sense incredulity, skepticism. It isn’t woah! It is more ….uh…
We get that from the rest of the text, right?
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.
It shouldn’t surprise us, then that Jesus isn’t able to do surprising things here.
A skeptical faith
This power to amaze, not just to do things, these specific things, but the power Jesus has to amaze us, to provoke and perplex, often feels to us pretty astounding. It seems like we can carry with us our own brand of ekplesso when it comes to our work. When it comes to acts of power. When it comes to signs.
Sometimes our skepticism is in the signs themselves: maybe we don’t like them, or even the idea of them.
Sometimes our skepticism is not in the power itself, but in the way the power is made manifest: in the character of the person, in the act that doesn’t make sense (isn’t this the boy who threw that tantrum as a child?) and in the ramifications of this as a sign, as what GOD is doing now.
Where is our faith when we see signs that don’t add up, when the people aren’t the right people? Or the reverse: when the right people are doing the wrong thing? [Think Good Samaritan.] And what does it do to our faith? What does it do to us as followers of Christ?
It seems as if Jesus invites us to a big wedding, inviting us to celebrate with great joy, and rather than celebrate, we complain to one another that the host has run out of wine because our glass is on the table, empty.
Scandalized faith
The “offense” that the people take at Jesus is actually more like a stumbling block. They are scandalized by Jesus. This isn’t that Jesus has done something to them, but that they are offended by him. They are scandalized by Jesus and put a stumbling block between them, that they will no doubt trip over.
This scandal is self-imposed, obviously. But we shouldn’t overlook the power Jesus has here-to-for offered and is now not offering because of the way he is being treated by the people who purport to love him and know him and have his back. Scandal is absolutely the right word for this.
His response is to recruit his disciples to take the next step. Jesus recruited them before, brought them along, prepared them, taught them, encouraged them to see his work as their work. And it is here that he lets them loose. Go out! Two by two! Proclaim, Heal, command demons! You’ve got this!
There should be no wonder that he would tell them that it isn’t easy: that they’ll be rejected. You’ll get what I got. Different place, different people, maybe, but the same rejection! And what does he say?
shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them
Shake it off! It’s not your deal, it’s theirs. But it is also a way of saying these people don’t get it. They don’t get what GOD is doing. Because this endeavor we’re on, this thing we are doing, isn’t a bunch of acts and belief systems to intellectually comprehend and sign our names to. It isn’t something we stand up each week and affirm with a creed. This is speaking to something deeper, something more amazing and astonishing, something that builds skepticism in some, and deep awe in others. It is kingdom work that just keeps coming and compelling us to do more. To share more and see more and follow more.
Hopeful faith
Jesus doesn’t force us to believe. Jesus doesn’t want us to work on the earnestness of our belief: just believe harder – believe more – believe right: to force us to get it. Jesus gives us signs and invitations and these opportunities to see something truly profound: to see this life with a sense of opportunity and hope.
Sometimes we really are that hometown crowd that doesn’t get it. That whines about wine. Who let the skeptical eye rule our judgement – and lead us to spend our time judging.
Sometimes, however, most of the time, I hope, we are the disciples who are about to be called apostles and sent out to do the work that Jesus can’t really do here: to proclaim and heal: to restore to wholeness what is divided by hatred or disease.
Like when Jesus tells of a man whose son has come home. He has been lost for so long, that the man thought he was dead. And the son comes to beg and the man chooses instead to celebrate, to throw a party; kill the fatted calf and bring the town together and give the workers the night off, and just throw. it. down! And there’s this other son who just can’t stand it, who doesn’t want the Dad to celebrate, so he throws his own pity party. Jealous.
This is our choice. To celebrate or denigrate. To drink the wine or just whine. But GOD is doing the stuff anyway. GOD is bringing that Kingdom closer with or without you. It just gets here faster when we’re all on board. When we come out to the party. When we honor each other. When we show true faith.
Faith in this god of ours. A god of amazing power and incredible caring. A god of strength and compassion. A god of hope and true wonder. A god who shocks and provokes and embodies true faithfulness. GOD. Our god.
Glory to GOD whose power working in us can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine. Glory to GOD from generation to generation in the Church, and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever. Amen.
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