Mark 6:2-3
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? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The astonishment of the crowd isn't just about Jesus' words; it's a complex mix of awe and suspicion. They're baffled by his profound wisdom and the "mighty works" attributed to him, questions that reveal their struggle to reconcile his divine power with the humble carpenter they thought they knew. This highlights how deeply ingrained their expectations were, making it hard for them to accept the extraordinary unfolding before them.
Jesus has just returned to his hometown of Nazareth, a place where he grew up and is known by everyone. He enters the local synagogue on the Sabbath and begins to teach, astounding the congregation with his wisdom and the reports of miracles he’s performed. Their astonishment, however, quickly turns to offense as they recall his humble beginnings, questioning how someone they know so well could possess such authority and power.
The people in Jesus' hometown were stunned. They knew him as a local guy, a carpenter. So where was all this amazing wisdom and power coming from?
Jesus' countrymen in Nazareth were completely thrown off by his teaching and miracles. They knew him – his family, his background. He wasn't educated in their usual ways, not from their religious schools.
The Shock of the Familiar
When Jesus taught in the synagogue on the Sabbath, it wasn't just the words that amazed them, but the source of his wisdom. They asked, 'Where did this man get these things?' and 'What wisdom has been given to him?' They knew Jesus the carpenter, not Jesus the divine teacher. This familiarity bred not contempt, but profound astonishment because his gifts defied their expectations. They couldn't reconcile the Jesus they thought they knew with the incredible wisdom and power on display.
This highlights a common human tendency: to limit God by our own understanding and experience. We often struggle to see divine power at work in ordinary people or familiar circumstances. Jesus, the very Wisdom of God, was right there, but their preconceived notions acted as a veil.
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It wasn't just Jesus' words that blew people away – it was the 'mighty works' that accompanied them. What does this tell us about the nature of God’s power?
The people in the Nazareth synagogue weren’t just surprised by Jesus' brilliant insights; they were also astonished by the 'mighty works' done by his hands. These weren't small parlor tricks; they were powerful demonstrations of divine ability.
Divine Power Revealed
The miracle of God's power, as demonstrated through Jesus, is meant to awe and convince. These mighty works were tangible evidence that Jesus spoke with divine authority. They were outward manifestations of God's kingdom breaking into the world, confirming the truth of Jesus' message.
However, for the people of Nazareth, this display of power, coupled with his wisdom, created a crisis. They knew his earthly, 'mechanical' background. The fact that 'such mighty works' were done by hands they associated with carpentry was profoundly unsettling. It forced them to confront the reality that Jesus was far more than they imagined, a truth they struggled to accept.
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.
tekton · Greek Noun
Refers to a skilled worker in wood, stone, or metal. Culturally, it implies manual labor, placing Jesus in the common class of society and highlighting the mystery of His divine authority coming from a humble earthly background.
skandalizō · Greek Verb
A stumbling block or a cause for indignation; it describes a reaction of disbelief and rejection that prevents someone from accepting the truth or the person presenting it.
Jesus' return to his hometown of Nazareth, after a period of ministry elsewhere, highlights a common prophetic experience: a lack of honor in one's own familiar surroundings, leading to astonishment and rejection rather than acceptance.
c. 4 BC - 1 AD
Jesus' Childhood and Early Life
Jesus grew up in Nazareth, a small town in Galilee, living a seemingly ordinary life. His family was well-known, and he likely worked as a carpenter alongside Joseph.
c. AD 27-28
John the Baptist's Ministry
John the Baptist began preaching a message of repentance and baptizing in the Jordan River, preparing the way for the Lord.
c. AD 28
Jesus' Baptism and Temptation
Jesus was baptized by John and then led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil, emerging to begin his public ministry.
c. AD 28-29
Jesus' Ministry in Galilee and Judea
Jesus traveled, teaching, healing, and performing miracles, gaining a following and attracting attention throughout the region.
c. AD 29— this verse
Jesus Returns to Nazareth
Jesus visited his hometown of Nazareth, likely after gaining significant recognition elsewhere. He entered the local synagogue on the Sabbath to teach and reveal himself.
c. AD 29
Rejection in Nazareth
The people of Nazareth, familiar with Jesus' humble background, were astonished by his wisdom and miracles but ultimately offended by him, refusing to believe.
This passage directly echoes the astonishment of the Jewish authorities, who marvel, 'How does this man know his letters, having never been taught?' This highlights the consistent surprise at Jesus' wisdom and teaching ability, even among those who rejected him.
Matthew 13:54-57This parallel account from Matthew details the Nazareth crowd's incredulity, explicitly asking, 'Is not this the carpenter's son?' and 'Are not his brothers and sisters with us?' It shows the deep-seated offense they took, stemming from Jesus' humble origins, which blinded them to his divine wisdom and power.
Isaiah 11:2This Old Testament prophecy describes the Spirit of the Lord resting on the Messiah, endowing him with wisdom, understanding, counsel, and might. The amazement at Jesus' teaching and works in Mark 6:2 is a direct reflection of this prophesied divine enablement.
John 10:37-38Jesus himself points to his works as evidence of his divine identity, stating, 'if I do not do the works of my Father, do not believe me.' The astonishment in Mark 6:2 is a recognition of these works, even as they struggle to reconcile them with Jesus' known human background.
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' words; it's a complex mix of awe and suspicion. They're baffled by his profound wisdom and the "mighty works" attributed to him, questions that reveal their struggle to reconcile his divine power with the humble carpenter they thought they knew. This highlights how deeply ingrained their expectations were, making it hard for them to accept the extraordinary unfolding before them.
Jesus has just returned to his hometown of Nazareth, a place where he grew up and is known by everyone. He enters the local synagogue on the Sabbath and begins to teach, astounding the congregation with his wisdom and the reports of miracles he’s performed. Their astonishment, however, quickly turns to offense as they recall his humble beginnings, questioning how someone they know so well could possess such authority and power.
Jesus has just returned to his hometown of Nazareth, a place where he grew up and is known by everyone. He enters the local synagogue on the Sabbath and begins to teach, astounding the congregation with his wisdom and the reports of miracles he’s performed. Their astonishment, however, quickly turns to offense as they recall his humble beginnings, questioning how someone they know so well could possess such authority and power.
"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? Is not this the carp…" — The astonishment of the crowd isn't just about Jesus' words; it's a complex mix of awe and suspicion. They're baffled by his profound wisdom and the "mighty works" attributed to him, questions that r…
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