An Apostolic Preseason Game

Getting up to Game Speed

In order to get ready for the real games, athletes need something more than just practice. Maybe it’s a scrimmage, where you play at game speed against your teammates. But even better, are preseason games against real opponents. They may be frightfully boring for fans but incredibly necessary for the teams.

These exhibition contests may not count in the standings, but they allow you to put into practice what you’ve been working on in practice. They give coaches the chance to see what you’re doing right and what still needs work.

Jesus Coaches Them up

Did you know we get a box seats to an apostolic preseason game in Mark’s Gospel (Mk 6:7-13)? We get locker room access to see Jesus coaching up His boys and then sending them out onto the field. The team doesn’t know it yet, but the start of the regular season is right around the corner.

It’s interesting to note that this comes on the heels of Christ playing a tough home game (Mk 6:1-6). He returns to Nazareth only to have the home crowd turn on Him. They aren’t buying His claim to be God’s long promised Hero. They simply see Him as the local Carpenter. You know, Joe and Mary’s Boy.

Pregame Instructions

Actually most of what Mark describes in this next passage is actually the Lord giving His guys pregame instructions (v7-11). He assigns them each a teammate (v7), the ability to do the job (v7), the specific equipment they will need (v8-9), what to do when they get on the field (v10), and a realistic expectation of what to expect (v11).

The author only provides a brief summary of what actually happens in the game (v12-13). If you’re a sports fan, you know how difficult it can be to find details of preseason games. Sometimes you’re lucky just to find a boxscore. Same here.

A Timeless Coaching Method

After taking His boys on a teaching tour of the villages surrounding Nazareth (Mk 6:6), Jesus decides it’s time for His team to give it a try without Him. “And He called His twelve disciples together and began sending them out two by two, giving them authority to cast out evil spirits” (v7).

Mark begins by showing Jesus doing something that He’s still doing today. He calls His team in so that he can send them out. Christ’s timeless coaching method begins with bringing His followers in close.

In doing so, our Savior reveals His heart, His vision, and His strategy. Over and over, He personally demonstrates what to do. Teaching. Healing. Loving. His disciples get an up close and personal look at both the why and the how.

Jesus’ Supernatural Game Plan

Two thousand years later, He still does the same for us. After heading home to His Father in heaven, Jesus left us His playbook in the form of His Word. In it, the Lord explains His supernatural game plan. In the four Gospels, we can sit back and watch the game films of how He did it.

But the Son of God doesn’t just call His team into the locker room for an endless strategy session. Eventually He sends them out onto the field. Same with you and me. Jesus calls us in so that He can send us out.

Disciples and Apostles…What’s the Difference?

Did you know that’s the difference in referring to His crew as “disciples” and “apostles?” Jesus calls His disciples close. He sends His apostles out. We actually see that when we take a closer look at the original language in verse 7.

The word the NLT translates as “sending” is actually the Greek verb αποστελλω/apostello. Do you see it? Yup, it’s where we get the word apostle. It means to send with full authority and a particular purpose.

Capital “A” Apostles

When Christ prays for His crew the night before His crucifixion, He uses the same word when talking to His Heavenly Dad. “Just as You sent (Gr. αποστελλω/apostello) me into the world, I am sending (Gr. αποστελλω/apostello) them into the world” (Jn 17:18).

Just to be sure, Jesus didn’t stop sending people after sending His very first team. Oh, there aren’t any more capital “A” Apostles. Those are the guys He sent after they personally saw His resurrection. But there are lowercase “a” apostles all over the place.

He Still Sends

That’s because He’s still sending folks in His name with full authority and a particular purpose. One of those people is actually reading these words right now. Yeah, I’m talking to YOU! If you’re a follower of Jesus, He’s called you in so that He can send you out. It’s time to get on the field (Mt 28:18-20).

Our Savior gathers His people together today. For weekend worship. In small groups. In Sunday school. There’s power and encouragement when believers connect. Did you know that Jesus actually prays for this to happen. He asks His Father to make us just as close with each other as the Two of them are (Jn 17:21).

Get in the Game!

But coming together isn’t the end game. He sends each of us to get into THE Game! Jesus releases us into the world as shiners of His light and spreaders of His salt. That doesn’t happen if we never leave the holy huddle.

Teams of Two

Back inside the apostolic locker room before the exhibition game, the Lord pairs the boys in teams of two. He sends them out “two by two” (v7). Mark gives us this juicy little tidbit that we don’t see when Matt and Dr. Luke tell this same story (Mt 10:1, 5-15; Lk 9:1-6).

It’s one of the reasons why I love Mark’s Gospel. He gives you cool firsthand details we don’t see anywhere else. Where’s he getting his info? The one and only Apostle Peter. The early followers of Jesus believed the disciple Christ nicknamed Rocky actually ghostwrites the second Gospel.

It’s a Team Sport

Christ teams the boys up “two by two” (v7). What a great reminder that our faith is a team sport. Is each one of us individually accountable to God? Absolutely. But Christ places us into His Body so we won’t be alone. Remember, a sheep flying solo is an easy target for the enemy.

Working in pairs is another one of Jesus’ classic coaching methods. When the boys go out, they’re never alone. The other brother covers your backside. Teams of two provide accountability, encouragement, help, and discernment. It also meets the minimum legal requirement for testimony in court (Dt 19:15).

We’re Better Together

It’s exactly the kind of thing Solomon writes about in Ecclesiastes 4:10-12. “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed” (Ecc 4:10). There’s always someone there to pick you, keep you warm, and have your back. We’re better together.

Solomon reminds us that when two team up in God’s name, they’re actually like a triple-braided rope (Ecc 4:12). Who’s that Third Person? You get three guesses and the first two don’t count. Yup, none other than Jesus Himself.

Continuous Power and Authority

The Lord tells them what to do and gives them the power to do it, “giving them authority to cast out evil spirits” (v7). Matthew is a little more specific when he quotes Christ. “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons” (Mt 10:8). In other words, give folks a sneak preview of God’s kingdom.

Bible experts point out that the grammar here is important. The form of the verb here tells us Jesus keeps on giving His posse continuous power and authority all through their tour. When we obey Our Savior’s instructions, He won’t leave us hanging.

ALL Authority

Jesus can give us divine authority because He’s received it straight from His Dad. “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth” (Mt 28:18). Not a little. Not some. Not a big chunk. But ALL authority. A-L-L. That’s what makes Him the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.

On one hand, He sends us all of us in His authority. With His full backing, “we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making His appeal through us” (2Cor 5:20). He sends us out to be disciple-making disciples (Mt 28:19-20).

Don’t Leave Home without It

On the other, we have absolutely no clout without Christ. Don’t believe me? Read what happens to seven brothers who get too big for their spiritual britches and try to exorcise a demon without Jesus’ authority (Acts 19:13-16). They ended up running out the front door naked and bleeding.

As Matt Chandler likes to say, anytime you start a fight wearing pants and you’re buck naked when it’s over…YOU LOST! These bros get demonically spanked because they didn’t have the Lord’s backing. Forget American Express. Jesus’ authority. Don’t leave home without it.

No Frills

For this mission, the Lord won’t let them take a lot of gear. “He told them to take nothing for their journey except a walking stick—no food, no traveler’s bag, no money” (v8). This is no pleasure cruise or luxury vacation. This is to be no frills, more like camping and hiking.

Jesus also limits their luggage. “He allowed them to wear sandals but not take a change of clothes” (v9). There will be no bags to check. Just a small carry on. John MacArthur points out that in the First Century a change of clothes was a status symbol. A limited wardrobe allows them to identify with the working poor.

You Are the Equipment

Take only the essentials. And the only true essentials are His authority and His message. This particular opportunity is going to be an object lesson in faith. Trust God to provide. Trust Him to provide meals. Trust Him to pay your way.

I absolutely love how the Message treats these verses. “Don’t think you need a lot of extra equipment for this. You are the equipment. No special appeals for funds. Keep it simple” (v8-9 The Message). Alexander MacLaren puts it this way. Minimum provision calls us to maximum faith.

Pack light. Travel light. Shine the light.

Stay in Position

Jesus tells His team where to go and how long to stay there. “‘Wherever you go,’ He said, ‘stay in the same house until you leave town’” (v10). Stay in your position when you get into the game. Don’t start running randomly all over the field. Don’t go rogue. Don’t freelance.

He wants them to be smart about where they stay. Remember, there are no Comfort Inns or Radissons where they’re going. Think a bare bones AirBnB or VRBO.

Settle in and Settle down

Christ instructs them to settle in and settle down. Don’t jump from house to house. Don’t look for a better offer. It’s His way of saying true contentment comes from their relationship with Him, not their housing situation (Phil 4:12-13; 1Tim 6:6).

Staying in the same place allows them to build relationships. It’s a reminder that they’re there to serve. The Twelve are to focus on loving people well by meeting both their spiritual needs through repentance, as well as physical needs by casting out demons and healing the sick.

It Won’t Be Easy

Just before they leave the locker room, Jesus wants His boys to know that it won’t be easy. “But if any place refuses to welcome you or listen to you, shake its dust from your feet as you leave to show that you have abandoned those people to their fate” (v11).

You don’t have to squint to see application to living on mission for Jesus today. Don’t expect to just roll your helmets onto the field and win. Expect it to be hard. Some folks don’t want anything to do with Christ or His gracious Gospel.

Making the Introduction

Remember, we’re NOT responsible for how others react to the Good News. We’re simply called to share Jesus’ offer clearly and faithfully. Our assignment is to spread the Gospel. It’s God’s job to save them. We just make the introduction. The rest is up to Him.

Does it hurt when folks you care about give you the Heisman when you offer God’s grace? You betcha. But stay cool. “If you’re not welcomed, not listened to, quietly withdraw. Don’t make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and be on your way” (v11 The Message).

Time to Take the Field

It’s time for Team Jesus to take the field for their first preseason game. “So the disciples went out, telling everyone they met to repent of their sins and turn to God” (v12). They run out of the tunnel and do exactly what their Coach tells them to do.

They preach repentance. That’s a religious word that’s gotten a bad rap in recent years. At its core, repentance means turn from your sin and turn to God. Do a 180 from the broken and dysfunctional life you’ve been trying to live on your own and grab ahold of the overflowing, abundant life Jesus offers (Jn 10:10).

Stop Where You Are

The core of Christ’s message is that you and I can’t do it apart from Him. And by “it,” I mean life. He came and lived the perfect life we’ve failed to live. He came and died the death for our sin and rebellion we deserve. He came and gave us a radically new resurrection life we could never gain on our own.

God offers each of us His incredible gift of repentance. He desperately wants us to know that we can stop right where we are and turn back to Him. There’s no “getting myself cleaned up before coming back to church.” Just turn around. When you do, you’ll be surprised that Jesus has been right there waiting for this moment your entire life.

Fixing Broken Lives

The other quick highlight from this apostolic exhibition game is how Jesus uses the boys to fix broken lives, both spiritually and physically. “And they cast out many demons and healed many sick people, anointing them with olive oil” (v13). They stick to the Lord’s game plan He shares in back in the locker room (v7) and send Satan’s posse packing.

Medicinal Duct Tape

Our Savior also works through the disciples to restore health. Apart from the healing power of the Great Physician, their main medicine is olive oil. It’s the go-to cure-all for folks back in the First Century. Kinda like aspirin or ibuprofen for us today.

Since they clearly didn’t have carry a bottle with them when they left Jesus, they use the household oil that people have in their homes. It’s something you would find in medicine cabinet of every Palestinian home. Think of olive oil as medicinal duct tape.

Take Your Meds

In one of Jesus’ most famous parables, a guy we now call the good Samaritan provides first aid with it when helping a victim of violent crime. “The Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them” (Lk 10:34).

According to Jesus’ kid brother, church leaders are to apply olive oil meds to those who are sick as they pray for them (James 5:14). It’s a reminder of how God works through healthcare professionals. Following a physician’s orders does NOT demonstrate a lack of faith. Go to the doctor. Take your medicine.

A Sneak Preview

The application of olive oil could also be sneak preview for the anointing of the Holy Spirit. God the Father and God the Son send God the Spirit to each and every believer after Jesus heads back home to heaven (Acts 2:1-4; Rom 8:9; 1Cor 3:16; 6:19; Gal 4:6; Eph 5:18). If you follow Jesus, He’s drenched you in His Spirit.

The disciples provide healing and give us a peak behind the curtain of eternity. On the other side, God promises to put sickness and suffering in the rearview mirror once and for all (1Cor 15:42-43; Rev 21:4). No more flu shots or funerals. I, for one, can’t wait!

Hit the Road in Our Flip Flops?

So what do you and do with this passage? Do head out on assignment in Jesus’ name without a change of clothes wearing our flip flops? Do we randomly knock on doors asking if we can crash in some stranger’s guest room?

Let’s remember that the Lord still calls us in so that He can send us out. Make a point of regularly gathering with other believers. In rows at church on the weekend. In circles in small groups during the week.

But Christ doesn’t call us in so that we can stay there. He regularly sends us out into a lost and dying world. To our neighborhoods. To our jobs. Everywhere we go we’re to shine His light and spread His salt.

Pregame Jitters

Some of us probably have pregame jitters. It’s understandable to have butterflies before we leave the locker room. I’m sure Jesus’ original squad was nervous too. But He’s sending each one of us out to play our position.

Just like the Twelve did before their first preseason game, go ahead and buckle your chinstrap. It’s time to get on the field.

Hometown Time Machine

Have You Seen a TARDIS?

My hometown has a time machine. I’ve never seen it, but I’m totally convinced it’s around. I’ve never noticed a TARDIS, a souped up DeLorean, any Flux Capacitors, or a WABAC machine. But I know it’s there somewhere.

Why? Because every time I go home, I travel back in time. I suddenly become twelve years old again. Instead of being a husband, dad, and grandfather, I believe the lie that I’m still an underachieving, awkward middle schooler.

Who Says You Can’t Go Home?

Let me put it another way. Jon Bon Jovi asks the musical question, “Who Says You Can’t Go Home?” In many ways, author Thomas Wolfe seems to have the most appropriate answer. “You Can’t Go Home Again.”

In Mark’s bio of our Savior, Jesus apparently has a similar problem. We read about the time the Lord comes back home only to be dismissed by the people who watched Him grow up. Prophet? Messiah? Are you kidding me?!? He’s just Joe and Mary’s Boy.

Who Is Jesus?

It’s a key moment in Mark’s account of Christ. The mega-theme of the first eight chapters focuses on His identity. Who is Jesus? The author provides story after story where people wrestle with this question. As a result, Mark drops it all at our feet and forces us to decide for ourselves.

Here in Mark 6:1-6, we see our Savior heading back to His hometown after some very crazy days. It all begins with Jesus’ weird, bug-eating cousin baptizing Him and the other two Members of the Trinity show up to fully endorse Him as the Son of God (Mk 1:4-11).

A Rapid-Fire Pace

With the rapid-fire pace of an action movie, Christ stares down the devil (Mk 1:14-15), assembles His ragtag team (Mk 1:16-20; 2:13-14; 3:13-19), performs one miracle after another (Mk 1:23-34, 40-45; 2:1-12; 3:1-7, 10-12; 4:35-41; 5:1-43), and teaches like nobody before or since (Mk 1:21-22; 4:1-34).

While Jesus draws huge crowds, He also draws the attention of Jewish religious leaders. According to them, He’s preaching and teaching without a license (Mk 2:6-7, 16, 24-26; 3:2-6, 22). Even His own family has serious doubts, not just about His identity but His sanity (Mk 3:21, 31)!

No Garden Variety Teacher

If you’re scoring along at home at this point in Mark’s Gospel, it’s becoming pretty stinking obvious that this radical Rabbi/Carpenter from Nazareth is no garden variety traveling teacher. Could He be divine? Could He be the long awaited Hero God promised to send?

As Jesus rolls back into Nazareth, He’s stepping back into the hometown time machine. The folks living there just can’t see Him as anything but Joe and Mary’s oldest Boy. The carpenter’s kid. And who can forget the local scandal her pregnancy caused?

Heading Home

Mark picks up the story with Christ and His team hitting the road from Capernaum, which was just the scene of doubleheader of healing (Mk 5:21-43). “Jesus left that part of the country and returned with His disciples to Nazareth, His hometown” (v1).

He’s heading home. Ah yes, Nazareth. These days, just about every person on the planet knows it as the city where Jesus grew up. It’s a destination vacation. To this day, the local chamber of commerce leverages their hometown Boy made good. Don’t forget to visit the gift shop on your way out!

A Hick Town in the Boondocks

But a couple of thousand years ago, Nazareth is anything but famous. It’s a hick town in the boondocks of Galilee. The population of this bump in the road is a couple of hundred if you’re being generous.

If you want to confirmation of its image as a hillbilly hamlet, check out what one of Jesus’ own disciples had to say about it when found out that’s where He’s from. ‘“Nazareth!” exclaimed Nathanael. ‘Can anything good come from there?’” (Jn 1:46).

A Second Chance

This isn’t Jesus’ first homecoming after beginning His ministry. Luke tells the story of a previous visit to the local synagogue when our Savior reads from Isaiah 61 and basically announces that He’s Messiah (Lk 4:16-31). Take about a mic drop moment.

Yeah, that didn’t end well. Local yokels not only aren’t buying it. They just see Him as Joe’s Boy, NOT the Anointed One. Next thing you know, they run the Lord out the synagogue and try to throw Him off a cliff.

While some much smarter Bible experts think Mark tells the same story Luke describes, I tend to agree with A.T. Robertson. He believes Jesus is giving Nazareth a second chance. And why not? It’s where His mom and the rest of His family lives.

Our Savior on the Sabbath

When the next weekend rolls around, we see Jesus making His return to the local house of worship. “The next Sabbath He began teaching in the synagogue, and many who heard Him were amazed. They asked, ‘Where did He get all this wisdom and the power to perform such miracles?’” (v2).

No surprise to finding Him teaching in the local synagogue. If it’s a Saturday, chances are you’ll probably find Jesus teaching God’s Word at a worship service somewhere (Mt 4:23; 9:35; 13:54; Mk 1:21; Lk 4:15, 31; 6:6; 13:10; Jn 18:20).

A Sucker Punch

When Jesus teaches, you can count on people being blown away. Some things just go together. Peanut butter and jelly. Bacon and eggs. Batman and Robin. Anytime you see Christ on the platform, you’ll find an audience in the palm of His holy hand (Mt 7:28; 13:54; 19:25; 22:33; Mk 1:22; 7:37; 10:26; 11:18; Lk 2:48; 4:32; 9:43).

Mark’s word choice that the NLT translates as “amazed” is interesting. It’s the Greek verb εκπλησσω/ekplesso. It literally means to punch unexpectedly, like a surprise attack or a sucker punch. It’s being shocked almost to the point of panic and fear.

Jesus teaches in a way that catches us off guard. He shocks. He astounds. He overwhelms. He bewilders. That’s exactly what happens this particular Saturday at the synagogue in Nazareth.

The Crowd Turns Ugly

But without warning, the crowd turns ugly. That’s when the time machine does it’s magic. They suddenly don’t see Him as the Teacher of God’s Truth. Wait a minute! That’s Joe and Mary’s oldest Boy.

“Then they scoffed, ‘He’s just a carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon. And His sisters live right here among us.’ They were deeply offended and refused to believe in Him” (v3).

Christ the Craftsman

First of all, did you know this is the only time Jesus is called a carpenter in the entire Bible. Yup. You’re looking at it. As a matter of fact, the only time someone refers to Christ as “just the carpenter’s Son” in Matthew’s version of this same event (Mt 13:55).

Actually the word we translate as “carpenter” (Gr. τεκτων/tekton) actually means craftsman, artisan, builder, or maker. It describes someone skilled in using a variety of hard materials like wood, stone, and metal (possibly all three).

Swinging a Hammer

If you’ve ever been to Israel, you know there’s not exactly a lot of lumber. Stone was and is the predominant building material in the land. I’m not saying Jesus and His adoptive dad weren’t carpenters. But chances are, they weren’t simply carpenters.

For instance, there was a massive construction project in Caesarea Philippi at the time. It’s just 38 miles from Nazareth. Did Joseph and even Jesus work there as craftsmen, carpenters, and masons?

It does seem clear that the Lord clearly carried on the family business, swinging a hammer just like His earthly dad. The Son of God isn’t some squeaky clean holy man afraid to get his hands dirty. He’s a blue collar laborer who knows what it means to put in a hard day’s work.

Building and Restoring

So what does being a carpenter have to do with being our Savior? I love how David Naugle puts it. A craftsman makes what is needed and restores what is broken. In very simple terms, he creates and redeems. That’s EXACTLY what Christ does. For us. For His creation.

Jesus is the Master Craftsman. He’s making something special in each one of His followers. No matter what you’re like now, He guarantees to complete the project (Phil 1:6). You can bet we’ll all be His masterpiece (Eph 2:10).

Dredging up an Old Scandal

Mark points out how the locals refer to Him as the “son of Mary” (v3). Either Joe has already died or they’re dredging up the old scandal of being conceived before His parents were married. Probably both. In other words, they see His status as Messiah and prophet as well as His birth as all illegitimate.

NOT an Only Child

Check out the size of Jesus’ family! He’s got at least seven siblings. Some religious traditions try to say Christ was an only Child. There’s just one little problem with that. The Bible. Kinda difficult to work around that.

Jesus is the first born and the oldest of five boys. While His brothers and sisters didn’t believe their big Brother was Messiah at first, that all changes when He came walking out of the cemetery three days after His funeral.

James not only ended up believing in His big Brother, but went on to lead the church in Jerusalem (Acts 12:17; 15:13; 21:18; 1Cor 15:7; Gal 1:19; 2:1, 12), and write a book of the Bible called, what else, but “James.”

Kid brother Judas, also known as Jude (you DO understand why he would shorten his name, don’t you?) also wrote a letter to the followers that’s in the NT.

Triggering Trouble

The naysayers mention Jesus’ family as a way of dismissing Him. So much so that they’re “deeply offended” (v3). This is a powerful word in the original language (Gr. σκανδαλιζω/skandalizo). It’s where we get our word “scandal.”

It means to totally reject someone or something while at the same time becoming angry and indignant. It comes from the Greek word σκανδαλον/skandalon which describes the trigger or trip wire in a trap.

Who Do You Think You Are?!?

What Jesus says and does in the synagogue that Saturday triggers trouble among the people of His hometown. They’re memory of Him trips them up. They didn’t just blow Him off. They blow up.

Can’t you just hear them? I can’t believe You would do such a thing!  How dare you!! Who do You think You are?!?!? Spoiler alert: He’s EXACTLY who He thinks and says He is…the one and only Son of God.

Powdered Butt Syndrome

When the hometown crowd turns ugly, it’s almost like Christ saw it coming. “Then Jesus told them, ‘A prophet is honored everywhere except in his hometown and among his relatives and his own family’” (v4). This is apparently a common saying back in the day.

It’s sorta like what financial guru Dave Ramsey likes to call the “powdered butt syndrome.” That’s when people have a hard time taking guidance from whose diaper they’ve changed.

Naugle says sometimes we’re just too close to people and too big for our own britches to recognize the true greatness of others, even if they’re standing right in front of us! Jesus experiences that first hand in His hometown.

The Hero from Nazareth

A couple of interesting points when Jesus uses proverb. Our Savior clearly sees Himself as a prophet. This would be a fulfillment of a prediction Moses made a few thousand years before (Dt 18:15; Acts 3:22; 7:37).

But the locals can’t swallow that Jesus is Messiah, much less a prophet. Ironically, previous prophets had predicted that the Hero whom God promised to send would be actually be a Nazarene, which comes from one of the Hebrew words for “Branch” (Is 11:1; Mt 2:23).

Christ’s Kryptonite?

We then read one of the saddest verses in the New Testament. “And because of their unbelief, He couldn’t do any miracles among them except to place His hands on a few sick people and heal them” (v5).

If you’re like me, this has me scratching my head. Did their unbelief limit His divine power? Is their rejection some sort of divine Kryptonite to Christ?

Get into Position

Well, we can be sure of one thing. Jesus didn’t stop being God! I think John MacArthur nails this one. This verse suggests that because the locals don’t believe Him, folks don’t come to Him for healing like they do down the road in places like Capernaum.

Their disbelief put serious limits on their ability to receive God’s blessing. It’s a powerful warning that we need to do everything possible to place ourselves in position to be on the receiving end of His grace!

Knocking Jesus’ Socks off

As God in the flesh, few things catch Jesus off guard. The great Nazarene rejection is one of them. Mark writes, “And He was amazed at their unbelief” (v6). He doesn’t lose His cool. He doesn’t blow His stack. He feels sorry for them.

There’s only one other time when something knocks Jesus’ socks off (well, I guess He probably wasn’t wearing socks, but if He did, they would be off!). That’s when a Roman army officer trusts in Christ’s heavenly authority to heal one of his employees (Mt 8:10).

When People Don’t WANT to Believe

A.T. Robertson finds an interesting contrast between these two events. With the Roman soldier, Jesus marvels at finding faith where you might not expect it. With His own hometown, He marvels at the lack of faith where you might expect it…and that includes His own family!

Here’s the bottom line, the very sad bottom line. Some people just don’t want to believe. There’s nothing you can do, nothing you can say, no evidence you can provide that will change their mind. Jesus is staring back at a synagogue full of those very people.

Nazareth in the Rearview Mirror

And with that, our Savior packs it up and puts Nazareth in His rearview mirror. “Then Jesus went from village to village, teaching the people” (v6). Mark literally says Jesus went in a circle visiting the other small towns.

A truckload of NT scholars think the last half of verse six probably belongs in verse seven. But take just a moment to consider the emotion of that moment. This is where Jesus grew up. These are the people Jesus He’s known the best and longest. Neighbors. Friends. Family. How it must have broken His heart to get the cold shoulder to the greatest news ever offered.

When You Go Home

What’s it like when you go home? If you’re like many people, you’ve changed a lot since you left. You’ve grown up. If you’re a follower of Jesus, God is changing you from the inside out. He’s making you more like His Son.

As a result, you may think there’s a time machine hidden in your hometown too. When you head back home, the folks who knew you may have a hard time seeing you as anything but that goofy teenager who left town a couple of decades ago.

A Divine Appointment

Maybe you’ve tried to explain the change. Maybe you’ve attempted to share the story of what Jesus has done in your life since you left. Don’t believe the lie that you’re still the same kid they remember.

Take advantage of those opportunities. God is providing a divine appointment to tell them about the One who’s turned your life right-side up. It’s an open door to share the Good News and personally introduce them to your Savior.

Give God the Benefit of the Doubt

And don’t forget to turn that around. Ever run into someone years later and figured they were the same person you knew back in the day? They mention their faith in Christ but you have serious doubts.

Give God the benefit of the doubt. As Jesus says a little later in Mark, “Everything is possible with God” (Mk 10:27). Don’t forget there are a lot of people who aren’t buying what He’s done in your life!

In the meantime, I’ll keep looking for that hometown time machine.

It's Not Over until Jesus Says It's Over

When the Lightning Strikes

Some games are over before they start. The opponents are so mismatched that the outcome is stone cold, lead pipe lock. Then there are contests where the combo of time and score is so overwhelming so late in the game that it’s in the bag.

But as many sports fans know, these are exactly the times when the magic can happen. When lightning strikes. When history is made. We end up with crazy stories like the Cardiac Pack, the Miracle on Ice, and the Immaculate Reception.

Dismissing the Miraculous

As hard as it is to believe them when we see them in the world of sports, we tend to dismiss the miraculous in our daily lives. Mountains are way too tall. Oceans are way too deep. Enemies are way too mean.

I mean, we’ve ALL been there. Your spouse tells you the marriage is too far gone. Your creditors tell you the payment is too late. Your doctor tells you the disease is too far along. It’s over. Forget it. Time to throw in the towel. Time to cut bait. Time to put on your big boy pants and deal with it.

The Difference Maker

But too many times we fail to check with the one Person who can all the difference. The one Person who has the final say. The one Person who can change it all.

It’s not over until Jesus says it’s over.

A Doubleheader of Desperation

That’s exactly what’s about to go down as we read the fifth chapter of Mark’s Gospel. Picking up the story in verse 21, we actually see a doubleheader of desperation. Jesus and His boys have just returned by boat from wild encounter with a demon-possessed dude in a cemetery on the other side of Lake Galilee (Mk 5:1-20).

As soon as their feet hit the beach near Capernaum, a desperate dad runs up to them (Mk 5:21-24). A local religious big wig named Jairus needs Jesus’ help right here, right now. His baby girl is at death’s door. Jairus believes the radical Rabbi/Carpenter from Nazareth is his only hope.

The Pariah and the Messiah

A huge crowd follows Jesus, Jairus, and the rest of Christ’s crew for this holy house call. If you look closely in the craziness, you’ll see a woman crawling toward our Savior, stretching out her hand in one drastic attempt at a drive-by miracle (Mk 5:25-34).

The Messiah heals the pariah after twelve years of messy bleeding. He not only wants to look her in the eye, He wants her to tell her story for all to hear.

We Don’t Have Time for This!

Meanwhile, put yourself in Jairus’ sandals at this moment. The good news is you’ve been able to convince Jesus to come to your house and heal your daughter. The bad news is He’s stopped to do a meet-and-greet with some woman you won’t allow anywhere near your synagogue.

Jesus, we don’t have time for this! Let’s not waste a second chatting it up with anybody. The clock is ticking! We gotta go and we gotta go NOW!!

An Update from Home

Mark picks up the story with an update on the little girl’s condition. “While He was speaking to her, messengers arrived from the home of Jairus, the leader of the synagogue. They told him, ‘Your daughter is dead. There’s no use troubling the Teacher now’” (v35).

Imagine Jairus’ reaction. One second, everyone’s celebrating Jesus’ sudden healing of a desperate woman. The next second, you hear your daughter is dead. All the air leaves your lungs. All the hope drains from your heart.

“Your daughter is dead” (v35). Those words echo in your ears. A parent is not supposed to bury their child. Especially their twelve-year-old child (Mk 5:42). She’s gone. You’re too late. Even if the woman hadn’t distracted Jesus, He probably wouldn’t have made it to your house in time.

No Skin off Jesus’ Back

“There’s no use troubling the Teacher now” (v35). Talk about the understatement of the century. Interesting choice of words. “Troubling” (Gr. σκυλλω/skullo) means to annoy, harass, or pester someone. It’s original meaning describes pulling the skin off a living being.

But this incredibly sad dad soon finds out that it’s no skin off Jesus’ back! “But Jesus overheard them and said to Jairus, ‘Don’t be afraid. Just have faith’” (v36). One more time, put yourself in Jairus’ position. The Lord looks you right in your tear-filled eye and speaks right to your broken heart.

You see, it’s not over until Jesus says it’s over.

Stop Freaking out

“Don’t be afraid” (v36). Flip through the 66 ancient documents that we call the Bible and you’ll see God reassuring His people to stop freaking out. Hundreds times in all sorts of forms. In the Old Testament. In the New Testament.

We have nothing to fear because He’s always with us. King David wrote a hit song with a lyric that goes a little something like this: “Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid for You are close beside me” (Ps 23:4).

When Your Life Is in the Pits

Jesus wants Jairus and the rest of us to know there’s no reason to fear when He’s at our side. As a matter of fact, David has another tune containing an important truth about that. “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those whose spirits are crushed” (Ps 38:18).

When life blindsides you and crushes your soul, you’re not alone. You can be sure that Jesus is closer than ever. He climbs right down in the mud, the blood, and the beer with you in order to pull you out of the pit.

Just Trust Me

Notice how our Savior doesn’t just stop with the command to stop being afraid. “Just have faith” (v36). This is the Greek verb πιστευω/pisteuo. It paints a picture of complete reliance, absolute confidence, or total trusting. Jesus asks Jairus, “Just trust Me.”

We may not understand how. We may not understand when. But we can understand Whom. The Lord wants us all to take a deep breath and be absolutely sure of one thing. He’s got this. Take the Word at His word. “Just trust Me.”

It’s not over until Jesus says it’s over.

The Big Three

That’s when the Son of Man acts like the doorman at the hottest club in town. He suddenly limits His entourage. “Then Jesus stopped the crowd and wouldn’t let anyone go with Him except Peter, James, and John (the brother of James)” (v37). Meet the Big Three.

For the first time in Mark’s Gospel, Christ introduces us to His inner circle. He gives these three former commercial fishermen a front row seat for some of the most amazing moments in history.

The Big Three is on the mountain when Jesus suddenly shines like the sun and talks with a pair of Old Testament heavyweights (Mk 9:2-13). He invites them to Gethsemane that fateful night as He pleads with His Dad to find another way to defeat sin and death (Mk 14:32-42).

Jesus’ Inner Circle

John MacArthur points out that biblical authors never say why Jesus allowed the Big Three to see things that the other disciples didn’t. But what if this smaller subset of Christ’s crew is example for us when it comes to accountable relationships?

There’s nothing wrong with having lots of so-called “friends” on Facebook (you do realize they’re not REALLY friends, don’t you?). You have relationships with family, neighbors, coworkers, and other believers at church and in your small group.

Relational Capacity

But how many of them do I know, I mean REALLY know? After a truckload of research, a Brit named Robin Dunbar thinks we have a relational capacity of around 150 people. Folks at MIT break that number down even further to say we really only have emotional room for four close close friends.

Do you have three or four close friends you can count on? Who will always be there? Who will tell you the truth? Who will listen patiently and love unconditionally? I love how Tim Keller puts it. A true friend always lets you in and never lets you down.

A Riot at Jairus’ House

It’s quite a scene at Jairus’ house. “When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw much commotion and weeping and wailing” (v38). The word the NLT translates as “commotion” (Gr. θορυβος/thorubos) describes the confusion and uproar of a large crowd that’s on the verge of a riot.

Mark uses same word when religious leaders try to figure out a way to get Jesus out of the picture quietly “or the people may riot (Gr. θορυβος/thorubos)” (Mk 14:2). It’s how Luke describes the violent uproar in some cities when Paul tells people about Christ (Acts 20:1; 21:34; 24:18).

How loud is it? The verbs Mark chooses for “weeping and wailing” (v38) put a heavy emphasis on volume. We’re not talking about soft gentle sniffling. This is howling, blubbering, it-goes-to-11 wailing. Yeah, THAT loud.

Professional Mourners

While we don’t know what the situation was a Jairus’ joint when he left to get Jesus, things sure seem to have escalated quickly. No doubt there’s a lot of raw emotion with the news of the little girl’s death. But chances are the crowd also includes professional mourners.

Just like hiring a caterer or photographer for your wedding, folks in the First Century could actually employ mourning mercenaries. I gotta wonder how you end up with that career path. Whatever the case, they were there and it was loud.

She’s only Asleep

Jesus walks inside the house and wonders why everybody is freaking out. “Why all this commotion and weeping? The child isn’t dead; she’s only asleep” (v39). Asleep? Are you kidding me?!?

The folks in Jairus’ house cackle at Christ’s comment. “The crowd laughed at Him” (v40). They’ve made the mistake of thinking He’s misdiagnosed her problem as just another lazy middle schooler with an overuse of the snooze button. The little girl is most certainly dead. Well, at least for the time being.

It’s not over until Jesus says it’s over.

The 800-Pound Gorilla

At this point, the Lord lets them know they don’t have to go home but they can’t stay here. “He made them all leave, and He took the girl’s father and mother and His three disciples in the room where the girl was lying” (v40).

We’ve reached the moment of truth. Mom. Dad. Peter. James. John. Jesus. And the lifeless body of a twelve-year-old girl. But there’s also an 800-pound gorilla in the room as well. Is the Lord too late?

Time to Get up

Our Savior reaches down to Jairus’ dead daughter. “Holding her hand, He said to her, ‘Talitha koum,’ which means ‘Little girl, get up!’” (v41). Those two weird words aren’t some sort of mystical abracadabra. It’s actually Aramaic, the language of First Century Israel.

While both Luke also records Jesus’ visit to Jairus’ home (Lk 8:49-56), Mark is the only one who tips us off as to the Son of God’s actually words to his little girl. Why’s that such a big deal? Because early followers of Christ believe the author got his info straight from the apostle named Pete.

Amazed with Amazement!

What happens next is one for the record books. “And the girl, who was twelve years old, immediately stood up and walked around! They were overwhelmed and totally amazed” (v42).

A dead girl opens her eyes, hops up off her death bed, and struts around the room. “Overwhelmed and totally amazed” seems like a massive understatement. So much so that the original language here actually doubles down on just how dumbfounded they were.

Mark actually uses two different forms of the same word to get across the marvel of the moment. You could just as easily translate this as they were “amazed with amazement” or “astonished with astonishment.” When a dead girl sits up and walk around the room, it’s hard to come up with the words to describe what just happened!

Keeping It on the Down Low

Instead of telling Mr. and Mrs. Jairus and their freshly resurrected daughter to start spreading the news of God’s kingdom, Christ does just the opposite. “Jesus gave them strict orders not to tell anyone what had happened, and then He told them to give her something to eat” (v43).

Believe it or not, this is a consistent them in Mark’s Gospel. Instead of wanting the world to know, Jesus makes a point of telling people to keep things on the down low (Mk 1:34; 7:36; 8:26).

Jesus Has a Job to Do

What’s the dealio? Isn’t Jesus all about telling as many people as possible about God’s amazing grace? But He’s early in His ministry. Remember, the Lord has just three and a half short years to accomplish His mission.

If the word gets back to the Hebrew home office in Jerusalem or Roman officials too soon, Christ will have to cut things short. But there’s much to get done before He heads for Calvary. People to meet. Sermons to preach. Demons to exorcise. Diseases to heal.

The Ultimate Game Changer

But before His earthly mission is over, our Savior will repeatedly snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. He’s the ultimate Game Changer. No matter how much time is left on the clock, Christ makes all the difference. Just ask the Jairus family.

And we should tattoo the Lord's words on our forehead.

Don't be afraid.

Just trust me.

Because it’s not over until Jesus says it’s over.