He went away from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse highlights that Jesus' disciples followed him, suggesting their unwavering commitment even as Jesus returned to a place that would reject him. This emphasizes that their loyalty wasn't based on the crowd's acceptance but on their personal devotion to Jesus himself.
He went away from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has just finished teaching and performing miracles, and now he leaves the Capernaum area with his disciples. He travels to Nazareth, the town where he grew up, to share his teachings with his own people. However, instead of acceptance, he encounters disbelief and offense from those who knew him as a humble carpenter.
Why is it so hard to be recognized by those who know you best? Jesus faced this head-on in his own hometown.
The Danger of Overshadowing Grace
Jesus returns to Nazareth, the place where he grew up, and his disciples follow him. It's a poignant moment, but also a deeply challenging one. The people there knew him as 'the carpenter's son,' 'the son of Mary,' with brothers and sisters they could point to. Their familiarity with his earthly life blinded them to his divine mission.
Jesus, who calmed storms and healed the sick, found his power limited. What was the cause?
When Faith Opens Doors (and Unbelief Closes Them)
The Gospel writers highlight a sobering reality: Jesus 'could not do mighty work there' (Mark 6:5), except for a few healings. This isn't because Jesus's power failed, but because the deep-seated unbelief of his hometown created a spiritual barrier.
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This passage highlights a poignant moment where Jesus, after experiencing significant ministry success elsewhere, returns to the place where he grew up, only to face rejection from those who knew him best. It underscores the often-difficult reality that familiarity can breed contempt, making it hard for people to recognize the divine in the ordinary or in someone they've known their whole lives.
c. AD 28
Jesus begins public ministry
After his baptism and temptation, Jesus begins his public ministry in Galilee, teaching and performing miracles. This marks the start of his wider public activity.
c. AD 29
Jesus visits Nazareth early in ministry
Earlier in his ministry, Jesus had visited Nazareth, his hometown, and preached in the synagogue. His relatives and townsfolk rejected him, and he performed few miracles there due to their unbelief.
c. AD 29
Jesus teaches and performs miracles in Galilee
Jesus spends considerable time teaching, healing, and performing mighty deeds throughout the region of Galilee, building a significant following and reputation.
c. AD 29— this verse
Jesus departs from Capernaum
Following a period of intense ministry around Capernaum, Jesus leaves that area, having previously ministered in nearby Nazareth where he was rejected.
c. AD 29
Jesus returns to Nazareth
Jesus returns to Nazareth, his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. This visit is marked by his countrymen's disbelief and offense at his familiarity.
c. AD 29
Rejection at Nazareth
In Nazareth, Jesus's teachings and miracles are met with astonishment but ultimately disbelief and rejection due to their familiarity with his humble origins. He performs few miracles there.
This passage parallels Mark 6:1 by describing Jesus returning to His hometown of Nazareth and the rejection He faced due to His familiar background. It highlights the proverb that a prophet is not without honor except in his own country.
Luke 4:16-30Luke provides a detailed account of Jesus' visit to the synagogue in Nazareth, directly after His temptation in the wilderness. It shows the initial positive reaction turning to outright hostility when Jesus claimed the prophecy of Isaiah applied to himself, leading to His rejection.
John 4:44Jesus Himself states, 'A prophet has no honor in his own country.' This saying, quoted directly in John, underscores the principle that familiarity can breed contempt, making it difficult for people to accept spiritual authority from someone they know intimately.
Galatians 3:28This verse speaks about unity in Christ, where distinctions of background are dissolved. It provides a theological contrast to the rejection Jesus faced in Nazareth, where His earthly connections blinded His countrymen to His divine identity and mission.
barnesMark 6:1: "And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him."
See this passage explained in the notes at Matthew 13:54-58 .
calvinMark 6:1-6: "And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him."
- And it happened, when Jesus had concluded these discourses, [342] that he departed thence. 54. And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were amazed, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom and these miracles? 55. Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary, and his brothers James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? 56.…
The verse highlights that Jesus' disciples followed him, suggesting their unwavering commitment even as Jesus returned to a place that would reject him. This emphasizes that their loyalty wasn't based on the crowd's acceptance but on their personal devotion to Jesus himself.
Jesus has just finished teaching and performing miracles, and now he leaves the Capernaum area with his disciples. He travels to Nazareth, the town where he grew up, to share his teachings with his own people. However, instead of acceptance, he encounters disbelief and offense from those who knew him as a humble carpenter.
Jesus has just finished teaching and performing miracles, and now he leaves the Capernaum area with his disciples. He travels to Nazareth, the town where he grew up, to share his teachings with his own people. However, instead of acceptance, he encounters disbelief and offense from those who knew him as a humble carpenter.
"He went away from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him." — The verse highlights that Jesus' disciples followed him, suggesting their unwavering commitment even as Jesus returned to a place that would reject him. This emphasizes that their loyalty wasn't base…
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Last reviewed October 2026