Mark 6:1-6 Soon afterwards He left that section of the country and returned with His disciples to Nazareth, His home town. The next Sabbath He went to the synagogue to teach, and the people were astonished at His wisdom and His miracles because He was just a local man like themselves. "He's no better than we are," they said, "He's just a carpenter, Mary's boy, and a brother of James and Joseph , Judas and Simon. And His sisters live right here among us." And they were offended!

Dear Christian Friends:

Mercy and peace to you from God, our Father, and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Our text is the one above, Mark 6:1-6. I'm glad because you came to church today. Although you knew I would not be here, as I am still on vacation, you came anyway. That shows a good and right spirit about accepting God's Word no matter who preaches it. Often church members do not want to come to church when a layman is preaching the sermon. Why? The layman reads the same lessons, same Word of God as the pastor would do if he were here. The layman preaches the same sermon as the pastor would preach if he were here. The elayman prays the same prayers as the pastor would pray if he were here. Why people not want to go to church when a layman is leading the church service? There are various answers to that question. In our text we see how Jesus had a similar experience. He gives us the chief answer to that question:

A Preacher Is Without Honor In His Home Town

We read in our text how Jesus and His disciples returned to Nazareth, His home town. On the next Sabbath(Rest Day) He went into the Jewish church to preach. And the people were surprised because of His wisdom and because of His miracles, He healed a few sick people. But they refused to accept His preaching and they refused to believe in Him. They said, "He's no better than we are. He's only a carpenter, Mary's son, and brother of James and Joseph, Judas and Simon. And His sisters live here among us."

Although they admitted that He preached well, "with wisdom," and although He did miracles, healing their sick people, they refused to believe in Him, because he was well known to them. He grew up in their town. So Jesus says in verse 4, "A prophet(preacher) is honored everywhere except in His home town and among his relatives and by his own family." In the other cities where Jesus preached and did miracles many, many people believed in Him and accepted His ministry. He was very famous and very popular in all the cities except in Nazareth, His home town.

Why did the people of Nazareth not accept His ministry? Because they were prejudiced against Him. They looked only at His person and failed to hear what He said. They thought a preacher should be holy, perfect like God. True, Jesus never sinned. In that way He was perfect, like God. But He was a true human person, and He had human weaknesses and limitations like all men have. The people of Nazareth could see that Jesus was a human person, like themselves. They had watched Him grow up and noticed that He was exactly like all other boys and men. They said, "He's no better than we are, He's only a carpenter, Mary's son." They failed to see that Jesus was also the Son of God. They failed to see that God's Spirit lived in Him. They failed to see that God had chosen Him to be the Savior of the world, although He gave them plenty proof by preaching God's Word to them and by doing His wonderful works, miracles. Their prejudice blinded them and prevented them from believing in Jesus.

If we honestly search our own hearts, we will find much prejudice in our hearts too. And that is the chief reason why we refuse to respect and honor a layman as a preacher. We say, “He's no better than we are. He's only a printer. He's not perfect. He sins, too, like we do. Why should he preach to us? We see only his personal weaknesses and failures, and are blinded to the beautiful Word of God which he preaches.

Have you ever stopped to think why you sometimes not accept a deaf pastor? Some deaf did not accept Rev. Ludwig because he was deaf and is deaf. They let prejudice blind their eyes and failed to see and believe the beautiful signs he makes when he preaches God's Word. He signs and preaches better than many hearing pastors.

We should not let prejudice blind us to seeing and believing God's Word. If a layman preaches God's Word, accept it and believe it. God's Holy Spirit can speak to you through a layman. If a deaf man preaches God's Word, accept it. God's Spirit can speak through a deaf man. If your pastor has faults and weaknesses, don't reject him because of his faults and weaknesses. Pastors are human, too, and sin and make mistakes and have failure. They need God's mercy and forgiveness, too. They also need your mercy and your forgiveness. We all stand under the judgment of God and need His mercy and forgiveness in Christ Jesus.

So, show mercy and love to your pastor. Forgive his faults, weaknesses, and failures. Don't let his faults prevent you from hearing and believing God's Word which he preaches. Don't look at the person himself, but look at what he preaches. If he preaches the Good News of God's love in Christ Jesus, accept him and accept and believe his preaching. Amen.

My love to all of you, we all belong to Christ Jesus.

Sincerely, Pastor Hauptman