Rev. M.D. Rogers
We have a tendency not to appreciate or applaud that which is close to us and near us. A great chef comes home and is just another cook in the kitchen. A great physician comes home and is just dad. A great teacher comes home and is just "mom." A great philosopher comes home and is just a roommate. A great television reporter comes home and is just a friend. But what happens when the Lord comes to his familiar surroundings? After all, he was born in Jerusalem. He was raised in Bethlehem of Judea. He lived in Capernaum. And he performed great miracles. He raised the dead. He healed the sick. He saved souls. He stopped death. He turned water into wine. He opened the eyes of the blind. However, now Jesus is coming home. To what you would think would be friendly environs. He is coming home – to patris in Greek – to his native place of origin.
This time when he comes home – he is different: He has an established ministry. He is becoming a spiritual celebrity by the word of mouth. He is on the watch list of the government. He is a noted theologian and preacher. He now travels with 12 disciples. He has been known to go to Synagogues and teach teachers. However, when He comes home to his own country with his entourage in tow, he goes to the synagogue and begins to teach. Can you imagine, that Jesus, who matriculated through the Jewish system of study and experienced a youthful upbringing in that community has returned home and is now the guest teacher in the Sabbath Day service.
You would think that they would be glad about. You would think that the crowd would be excited to hear and would have a hint of pride as one of their boys has come home. However, the Bible says that as Jesus is speaking they are astonished or ekplesso in Greek. This usage does not mean astonished as used in other portions of the text. It means that they were struck with terror, like of a sudden alarm has been sounded. They don't know what to make of it. They are terrified, they are fearful, they are trembling. They are afraid of Jesus.
You do understand that some people can become afraid of you? They can see you grow up and make it and become afraid of you – even in the church: They can watch you move from new member to Bible Teacher – and become afraid of you. They can watch you move from stuttering student to profound preacher – and become afraid of you. They can watch you move from background singer to lead singer – and become afraid of you. They can watch you move from alcoholic and drug abuser to a Worshipper who lifts up holy hands – and become afraid of you. They can watch you move from quiet and unassuming church member to a leader in the church – and become afraid of you. They can watch you move from a rough cut as a preacher to a profound proclaimer who God uses – and become afraid of you. They can watch you move from a struggling saint on welfare to an overcomer who the Lord blesses on every hand – and become afraid of you. The text says that they began to talk among themselves. Notice here that there conversation is not even centered on what He taught – but more so how he taught it. Check out their conversation – where did this teaching come from? What wisdom is this? After all, in our opinion, Jesus shouldn't be this deep. Jesus shouldn't have this kind of profundity.
He shouldn't have this kind of power. He's one of us. Look what they say – He ain't all that. They never refer to his father – which means that they go back to the old rumors about him being conceived out of wedlock. Isn't he Mary's boy? Ain't he just a carpenter? Isn't he James' brother? Isn't he Joses' brother? Isn't he Simon's brother? Don't his sisters live in the hood? And this group becomes "offended" at him. The word in Greek here is scandlizo, which we use today as "scandalous" or "scandal." They thought Jesus was scandalous!!! How dare he claim to be the son of God! Scandalous! How dare he teach in the church! Scandalous! How dare he try to show how deep he is! Scandalous! How dare he try to show some spiritual insight! Scandalous! I have discovered that some people never accept that God can work in somebody's life.
We cry about the Lord can make a change – however, we just don't want him to change other people. We don't want to see God do great things in other people's lives: We want the drunk to stay drunk. We want the playa playa to keep on playing. We want the bad singer to keep singing badly. We want the preacher who can't preacher to still preach badly. We want the slob to stay sloppy. We want the sleepy deacon to keep on being sleepy. But I have discovered that God is able to make ways for people in spite of what the crowd has determined.
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