The Danger of Familiarity

Mark 6:4

Then Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown among his relatives, and in his household.”

When Jesus taught with authority in the synagogue, His own family members were offended. After all, to them, He was just Joseph and Mary’s boy. What made Him think He was an authority in the Scriptures? He was one of them and nothing more, so they could not receive from Him the truth to increase their faith. They were looking for something more – someone different.

Quite often, those closest to us have the most trouble receiving truth from us because of familiarity. When we long for something more, something different, we have trouble believing our answer may be right in our own home, family, community, neighborhood, or church. We resist the familiar because it sounds dull to us, when Jesus is often right where we are.

Jesus did not rebuke or lash out at those closest to Him. He simply continued in His ministry and went to those who would receive Him. He still loved His own family, but it would take more to reach them. When those closest to you will not listen to you or accept the gospel, you can still stand in the gap and pray for someone to reach them where they are. God still loves them. Your role in reaching them has just changed from preacher/teacher to intercessor, so pray with all your might.

Verse 5 tells us that Jesus could do no miracles there because of their familiarity with Him. There is always some facet of Jesus that we need to discover. When we become so comfortable with what we know about Jesus that we don’t have a hunger to know more, we forfeit the possibility of a miracle.  Remain in awe of Him, and keep yourself open to His wonder, His awe, and His glory.

Have a blessed day!