Mark 6 - Reject & Disciple

Below is the text of the sermon prepared for the all-age Service in St. Columba's Parish Church on sunday 5th July 2009. 10:30 Service.

Bible passage

Mark 6: 1-13

6He left that place and came to his home town, and his disciples followed him. ²On 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! ³Is not this the carpenter, the son of Maryson of the carpenter and of Mary');" onmouseout="return nd();" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 0, 187); ">^* and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?’ And they took offencestumbled');" onmouseout="return nd();" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 0, 187); ">^* at him. ⁴Then Jesus said to them, ‘Prophets are not without honour, except in their home town, and among their own kin, and in their own house.’ ⁵And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them. ⁶And he was amazed at their unbelief.

Then he went about among the villages teaching. ⁷He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. ⁸He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; ⁹but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics. ¹⁰He said to them, ‘Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place. ¹¹If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.’ ¹²So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent. ¹³They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.

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May the words of my mouth and the meditations of all our hearts be now and always acceptable in thy sight, O Lord our strength and our redeemer. Amen.

Now that we have reached July, in the church’s year we are in ordinary time which runs from trinity Sunday right up to just before advent. The colour displayed is green indicating growth and pastoral topics. It is a time when we reflect on our own Christian Journeys and walk through various books of the Bible. In the next few weeks we are looking particularly in our Gospel readings Mark and Epistle readings will be from Ephesians which is a great book of encouragement and challenge to us as we continue to learn more about living the Christian faith.

In today’s reading we have two stories which on the face of it look quite unconnected.

THE FIRST

The first, Jesus is rejected by his own people, people who have seen him grow up, people perhaps who have come in and out of the carpenters shop, perhaps people who had given a clip around the ear down the street when he was younger.

It is not difficult to imagine a scene where a group of people are together for worship and from within their number someone stands up, walks forward and begins to teach. Tongues begin to wag, people look at each other with questioning glances “where did this man get all of this?” We know where he came from, he’s mary’s son – and they took offence at him

It is after all very natural thing – home grown, knowing more than the elders of local community, doing things unexpected, outside the status of his position in society which after all acts on norms and attaching roles to individuals. It was a scandal.

Why so shocking?

What was so shocking about Jesus’ message that day?

Unfortunately, we do not have the script of his sermon, but we know from elsewhere in the gospel that he challenged the status quo, that he was not afraid to speak the truth. In the account of this story in Lukes Gospel we do see that what he said was extremely strong … he took the words from the Isaiah prophecy

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour”

And related those words back to himself

This was the first scene. – Jesus amazed at their unbelief

The second Scene

Mark, in his characteristic impulsive short snappy style moves on from this scene of tension and questioning of the elders within the synagogue with his own people to “the villages” and we see him sending out the twelve disciples, giving them the authority which he has – and outlining the task which lies ahead.

It is shocking what they are not to take with them – no food, no rucsac, no money- no extra clothes – in short they are not to be dependant upon the extra – they are simply out for the journey, what they need will be provided. But they were evidently successful in what they were doing. Look what they accomplished. They cast out many demons, anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.

THE QUESTION

The question I would like to ask this morning, and the question which we should be asking from every sermon is what does this text mean for me and my discipleship?

Jesus’ commission to the first disciples was to go and make disciples, the church is a community of disciples. The word disciple, is quite a Christian term but at its very basic means learner, someone who has their L plates up – take your L plates down and you cease to be a learner.

In baptism after the child receives the sign of the cross the charge is

• Live as a disciple of Christ,
• Fight the good fight
• Finish the race, keep the faith

All of us are called to be disciples.

Life long learning

Those of us who have been involved in education over the last few years will know about the idea that we need to be developing in children and young people Skills for life long learning. The Christian mission, the life of Christian discipleship is a life of learning. None of us stop learning, no matter what age we are. In Church as a place of discipleship, we need to be constantly learning, constantly challenged.

In this passage this morning when we look at the disciples, Jesus didn’t send the 12 to university to study for a doctorate in ancient near east studies – He used the apprentice model. In Marks Gospel we see jesus going round healing and teaching. By the time we get to chapter 6 the disciples have seen the power that is in Jesus’ words.

• He is able to teach with authority (Those in his local synagogue recognised that even though they wonder how!),
• He is able to heal disease
• He is able to drive out evil

As disciples from the youngest to the oldest gathered here in St. Columba’s Knock this morning. Are we ready, not simply for the theory, but also to put Jesus’ teaching into practice?

L plates

This morning, I am sending out a warning to all those on the roads of East Belfast, Not only is Jullian Simmons from UTV on the roads – learning to drive. I too have my L plates up as I learn to drive over the summer months.

To learn to drive, is dangerous but for me needs to be done. There is no point in me sitting down behind my desk and reading, reading & reading how to do it. It needs to be done practically as well.

Our Christian lives are the same, we can go to university and study theology, come to church and listen to sermons and read from scripture. At the heart of all of this is the exciting, exhilarating call of disciples and apostles.

We are called to be disciples – those with L plates always up – learning more and apostles sent out into the world to preach, to teach, to heal, to transform communities and situations which we find ourselves. You don’t need to be standing up in a pulpit to be a disciple, wherever you are during the week Monday to Friday can be a place where you can show the Love of Christ to those around you.

Let us pray

Heavenly Father

Help us as we learn more about your word & your example to put into practice the words which we hear this day, in order that your kingdom may be built and your name Glorified.

In Jesus name we pray

Amen.