DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE HOME-TOWN BOY

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – THE HOME-TOWN BOY

"And He went out from there and came to His own country, and His disciples followed Him…But Jesus said to them, 'A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house.'  Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them.  And He marveled because of their unbelief."  (Mark 6:1, 4-6a)

Have you found it difficult to share the Gospel with family and people whom you were raised with?   Jesus did, and so have I.  Why is that?

I think we see from this Scripture that even the Lord Jesus had this problem.  When he came to His own country where he was raised, His ministry was hindered because of the unbelief of the people who lived there.  He had honor in other cities, but not in Nazareth.

All they could see was the young boy whom they had known growing up.  To them, he was just the local carpenter, from the family of Mary and Joseph – the kid down the block.  He was nothing special to them, and they were offended at Him (vs. 3).  They gave him no ticker-tape parade when he came.

It is difficult for me to share with people with whom I grew up.  He's that kid who delivered papers.  He's that kid we went to school with.  That kid who was just as common as the rest of us.  

And when it comes to my relatives, it is even harder.  I find it very difficult to talk to my cousins about Christ.  They remember my foibles, my mistakes.  So they probably think, "What gives this man any right to talk to me about sin when I remember how he was?  He's not any better than we are."

It is those memories that hinder our testimonies.  I can speak much more freely with people who do not have that frame of reference.  That may be why it is rare for a preacher to pastor in his home town.  Nevertheless, we still have the mission to share the Gospel, even in our home town and family.  

Love,  Dad