This is huge: Mark’s outline (as far as we know today) is the earliest outline of Jesus’ life and is (of course) the most historically reliable.
We know too, that in all four gospels, it is reported that Jesus was “rejected by his hometown” and by “his home synagogue.” That whole rejection thing was huge.
He was rejected by those we normally think of – as being – the most accepting, the most accommodating…the most hospitable. The most open. Nope!
“And they took offense at him.” This seems to be the key line of the text. The word “offense” also means “scandal.” The people that were present from his hometown apparently were offended by him and felt scandalized by his words.
All four gospels also say that a prophet has no honor in his own hometown.
What seems like “bad news” and a real “downer” did not apparently affect Jesus. Oh, it was disappointing for sure…but disappointing is all that it was!
Don’t blow it out of proportions, don’t make it bigger than life…no drama, please!
What might seem to some to be discouraging – Jesus didn’t let bother him.
He shook it off. He moved on. There was too much to do…and too little time to do it in…
Rejected by some…does not mean rejected by all.
Not everyone is going to like us, and especially not, all of the time, nor always embrace us or accept us. Not everyone is going to love us. That is ok. If we are honest, rejection sometimes, is a two way street.
“We” were actually told very early on – (in Seminary training) that if you want to work for the church and in the church – you need “a gut of steel and a rhinoceros hide.”
All kinds of people took “great offense” at that…this is the church! They were flabbergasted that anyone would even suggest such a thing.
“The church does not act or respond as the world acts and responds. In the church there is only peace, love and harmony,” they said.
There were also volumes of books written and created about “Potshots at the Preacher…” and discussions about dodging and weaving for the clergy…
Boundaries are important. Sometimes you have to distance yourself. Rise above. Not take everything so personally…or to heart!
The church is filled with peace, love and harmony, but not always…
So, Jesus went from being totally rejected to sending out his own personal emissaries.
His disciples – is just a fancy way of saying the 12 students who followed after him and who learned under him.
He did not allow “one bad experience” to stop his mission or his ministry—he kept going. It was not to be curtailed. One bad thing- does not a whole day make…
It was as if Jesus was showing his disciples that we are called “to let go” of anything or anyone that might be a hindrance…Jesus and the twelve still had to “fully and faithfully discharge their duties.”
So he sent his disciples out elsewhere.
Don’t go in power and pretense, rather be with people in vulnerable simplicity. No fancy clothes, no weapons, no support teams. In fact, nothing logistical at all. Take with you no church growth strategy…nor a mission statement. Just go and be yourselves.
Fancy clothes and bulging wallets would send the wrong message.
Remain with the receptive and quite on the contentious.
Proclaim radical change to everyone you meet. So he sent them out:
Now get this- he sent out four fishermen, two individuals with “hot-hot tempers”, a government tax collector who worked for the Romans, and he sent out a political zealot.
One would deny, another would betray, another one would doubt, one would steal from their coffers and all would forsake him when the time came when he probably needed them the most.
They were a mixed bag, but then, so were those they were being sent out to…
In every place they went – they would prepare people – for Jesus coming to them…
And it was said, they left joyfully, because Jesus believed in them, they spoke with an urgency – that life can be different, they sent demons packing and fleeing, they brought wellness to the sick, anointed some bodies and brought healing spirits to those they encountered.
It was an excellent day – and it all started out with total and complete rejection…