Mark 6:2
And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands?
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The astonishment of the crowd isn't just about Jesus' wisdom, but the sheer source of it. They're questioning where this authority and power even came from, especially from someone they thought they knew so well. This highlights their struggle to reconcile his ordinary background with the extraordinary revelation and works he's now displaying.
Jesus has returned to his hometown of Nazareth, and after a brief initial encounter (Mark 6:1), he takes the opportunity on the Sabbath to teach in the local synagogue. The people are astonished by his words and the evident power behind them, but their familiarity with him as a local carpenter’s son quickly breeds contempt, making them stumble over their own disbelief. This astonishment and questioning sets the stage for Jesus' pronouncement that prophets are rarely honored in their own homeland.
Jesus’ hometown folks were blown away by his teaching. They knew him as the carpenter’s son, not a scholar. How could he possibly teach like this?
The people of Nazareth were stunned because Jesus’ wisdom didn't seem to come from any earthly source they recognized.
A Familiarity Trap
They knew Jesus from his childhood. He hadn't gone to the renowned rabbinical schools, nor had he apprenticed under any famous teacher. His hands were known for carpentry, not for holding scrolls of deep learning. So, when he stood in the synagogue and spoke with authority and profound insight, it was completely baffling to them.
The Divine Source
Their questions – "Where did this man get these things? What wisdom is given to him?" – reveal their confusion. They couldn't reconcile the man they thought they knew with the divine wisdom he displayed. They were right to recognize that such wisdom was a gift, but they missed that it came directly from God, not from human training. This points to Jesus as more than just a skilled teacher; he was the embodiment of divine wisdom.
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Not only was Jesus’ teaching astonishing, but so were the mighty works attributed to him. Yet, this awe quickly turned into something else.
The astonishment over Jesus’ teaching was closely tied to the "mighty works" (or "powers") performed by his hands. This connected his authoritative words with undeniable demonstrations of divine power.
Power and Origin
The people were amazed that such powerful deeds were done through him. They knew his hands were used for manual labor, not for channeling supernatural power. Their question, "How are such mighty works done by his hands?" shows their struggle to understand the source of this ability.
Offense Over Insight
However, this amazement didn't lead to faith. Instead, the context in Mark (and other Gospels) reveals that their familiarity bred contempt. Because they knew his human background – his family, his trade – they were "offended" by him (Mark 6:3). They saw the wisdom and power, but because it came from someone they deemed ordinary, they rejected its divine origin. Their astonishment was superficial, quickly overshadowed by a refusal to accept Jesus as God’s special emissary.
Understand the original words
shabbath · Hebrew Noun
The weekly day of rest and worship commanded by God in the Mosaic Law, commemorating God's creation and the deliverance of Israel from Egypt. In the New Testament, it serves as a context for Jesus' teaching and demonstrations of His authority as Lord of the Sabbath.
sophia · Greek Noun
The Greek word denotes an intellectual and spiritual capacity for divine understanding, insight, and the ability to apply truth to life in a way that aligns with God's will. In the context of Jesus, it refers to the profound and authoritative revelation of God's kingdom.
dynamis · Greek Noun
In the Gospels, this refers to supernatural manifestations of divine power (often translated 'miracles') that serve as signs of the breaking in of the Kingdom of God and the authentication of the messenger.
The astonishment of the Nazarenes highlights a common human tendency: it's harder to recognize the extraordinary in the familiar. Jesus, whom they knew as 'the carpenter's son,' was now demonstrating divine wisdom and power, but their familiarity bred contempt, preventing them from fully embracing his message.
c. 4 BC - AD 30/33— this verse
Jesus' Early Life in Nazareth
Jesus grew up in Nazareth, a small town in Galilee. He lived a relatively private life, likely working as a carpenter alongside Joseph, his earthly father, and becoming known to the local community.
c. AD 27-30
Jesus' Public Ministry Begins
Jesus' public ministry commenced with his baptism by John the Baptist and his subsequent temptations in the wilderness. He then began calling disciples and proclaiming the arrival of God's kingdom.
c. AD 30
Jesus' Ministry Spreads Through Galilee
Jesus traveled throughout Galilee, teaching in synagogues and villages, and performing numerous miracles of healing and deliverance. His fame grew, drawing crowds and attracting the attention of religious leaders.
This passage describes the same event in Jesus' hometown of Nazareth, highlighting the astonishment of the people and their offense at his familiarity, showing how his own people struggled to accept his divine wisdom and power.
John 7:15The Jewish authorities are astonished, asking 'How is it that this man has learning, when he has not been educated?' which parallels the astonishment in Mark 6:2 about the source of Jesus' wisdom and teaching.
Isaiah 53:2-3This prophecy speaks of the suffering servant who would have no beauty or majesty that we should look at him, and he was despised and rejected by men, which resonates with the people in Nazareth who knew Jesus' humble background and couldn't reconcile it with his divine teaching and mighty works.
Acts 4:13When Peter and John are questioned about their boldness and teaching, the authorities note that they were 'uneducated, common men,' yet spoke with great wisdom and performed miracles, mirroring the surprise at Jesus' abilities despite his known origins.
pooleMark 6:2: "And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?"
See Poole on "Mark 6:1"
gillMark 6:2: "And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?"
And when the sabbath day was come,.... For it seems that it was on a weekday, or on one of the common days of the week, that he entered into the city, where he remained without making himself known, till the sabbath day came: a…
The astonishment of the crowd isn't just about Jesus' wisdom, but the sheer source of it. They're questioning where this authority and power even came from, especially from someone they thought they knew so well. This highlights their struggle to reconcile his ordinary background with the extraordinary revelation and works he's now displaying.
Jesus has returned to his hometown of Nazareth, and after a brief initial encounter (Mark 6:1), he takes the opportunity on the Sabbath to teach in the local synagogue. The people are astonished by his words and the evident power behind them, but their familiarity with him as a local carpenter’s son quickly breeds contempt, making them stumble over their own disbelief. This astonishment and questioning sets the stage for Jesus' pronouncement that prophets are rarely honored in their own homeland.
Jesus has returned to his hometown of Nazareth, and after a brief initial encounter (Mark 6:1), he takes the opportunity on the Sabbath to teach in the local synagogue. The people are astonished by his words and the evident power behind them, but their familiarity with him as a local carpenter’s son quickly breeds contempt, making them stumble over their own disbelief. This astonishment and questioning sets the stage for Jesus' pronouncement that prophets are rarely honored in their own homeland.
"And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands?" — The astonishment of the crowd isn't just about Jesus' wisdom, but the sheer source of it. They're questioning where this authority and power even came from, especially from someone they thought t…
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