Scripture Reading : Mark 6:1-29
Theme : Three Responses
- Response to Unbelief. The people of Nazareth did not accept or believe that Jesus is God. They knew Jesus and probably watched Him grow up (Mark 6:3). As a result, Jesus did not do many miracles in Nazareth. Many people interpret this passage wrongly, by saying that it requires faith to be healed. They think that because the people of Nazareth did not have faith, so Jesus could not exercise His power. Such a view is flawed because it has a very low view of God – that God’s power could be limited by human will.
The real purpose of miracles is to authenticate Jesus as God. But since the people were already presumptuous and rejected Jesus, there was no need for the miracles anymore. In fact, if Jesus had performed more miracles in Nazareth, it would have made their judgment more severe (Matthew 11:20-24).
- Response to Unwelcome. Jesus sent the Twelve Apostles out to preach the Gospel, and gave them instructions on how they should respond if they were not welcomed. Again, Matthew 10:15 shows us that those who did not welcome Jesus’ messengers face a greater judgment.
- Response to Unrepentance. The narrative changes scene to John the Baptist. John was a very faithful servant of God, who did not shrink from declaring the message that God had given to him. By proclaiming the truth and rebuking Herod, John was imprisoned. Herod was unrepentant, but John did not change his message. John’s response to unrepentance was to continue preaching the truth and rebuking those who sinned.
Praying the Scripture
- Who do we say that Jesus is? If, after reading the Bible about Jesus and His mighty works, we still reject Him, a much greater judgment than that faced by Sodom and Gomorrah awaits us in hell. Let us repent from unbelief and beg Jesus to save us from eternal judgment in hell.
- Do we welcome messengers sent by Jesus? This includes missionaries, preachers, and most importantly, the pastor of our local church, who proclaims God’s Word to us. If we failed to heed their message, we are in danger of judgment. Let us pray for willing hearts to welcome God’s messengers and their message.
- Let us pray for our pastor, that he will have the boldness to proclaim God’s Word faithfully, even when facing death. Pray that we too might be courageous to proclaim God’s Word in face of death.
经文：马可福音6:1-29
主题：三种反应
- 对不信者的反应。拿撒勒人不肯接受或相信耶稣是神。他们了耶稣，且有可能是看着祂长大的（6:3）。因此，耶稣在拿撒勒并没有行许多神迹。很多人对这段经文的理解有误，解释说人要有信心才能得医治。他们认为由于拿撒勒人没有信心，所以耶稣无法施行其能。这观点是错误的，因为它使神卑微，以为人的意志能局限神的能力。
行神迹的真实目的是要证明耶稣是神。可是，既然人已经自大骄傲地拒绝耶稣，祂就没必要行神迹了。实际上，倘若耶 稣在拿撒勒行更多神迹，他们将受到的审判也会更严重（太11:20-24）。
- 对不受迎接的反应。耶稣差派十二使徒出去传福音，并给予指示若不受欢迎时当如何反应。马太福音10:15再次向我们显示，凡不迎接耶稣使者的将面临更大的审判。
- 对不肯悔改者的反应。叙事画面转换至施洗约翰。约翰是神忠实的仆人，从不畏惧传神所给他的话。他因传真理并斥责希律，所以被下监了。希律不肯悔改，但约翰的信息始终如一。约翰对不肯悔改者的反应就是继续传真理，并斥责犯罪的人。
用经文祷告
- 我们说耶稣是谁呢？若读了圣经有关耶稣及祂的奇妙作为后，我们仍拒绝祂，就要面临地狱里比所多玛与蛾摩拉更大的审判。让我们从不信中悔改，并求耶稣救我们脱离永恒地狱的审判。
- 我们是否欢迎耶稣差派的使者呢？这包括宣教士、传道人，及最重要的——我们地方教会的牧师，因他向我们传神的话。我们若不肯听从他们的信息，我们就有面临审判的危险。让我们祈求有甘心乐意的心迎接神的使者及他们的信息。
- 让我们为我们的牧师祷告，叫他能有胆量忠心传神的话，即便眼前是死。祈求我们也有勇气，即便面对的是死亡，也要传神的话。
