Sunday 7th July, 2024

Reflection:  "Who Was That Masked Man?"

Psalm 48

2 Samuel 5:1-5,9-10

Mark 6:1-13

2 Corinthians 12:2-10

Maybe the title of my reflection this week is a bit flippant, or even obscure to many of you.
But for those who remember watching the Lone Ranger on TV in the 1950’s, after he had mounted his white stallion, Silver and said the immortal words “Hi-yo, Silver, away”, someone in the crowd would say “Who was that masked man?”

Maybe that’s how it was for the Nazarene locals when Jesus, the great teacher and healer came to town, but they weren’t sure if it was the same man that they had grown up with. 

This week’s reading from Mark 6 actually gives us 2 stories, the first regarding the rejection of Jesus in his hometown and the second regarding the commissioning of the disciples to go out into the world, proclaiming repentance, casting out demons and healing the sick. 

By this time, the disciples had been with Jesus for about 3 years and, as he approached Jerusalem for the last time, he was preparing them to be his ambassadors, spreading the word far and wide, once he was no longer with them. 
Jesus had built quite a reputation as a teacher and healer and the crowds loved him.He could command audiences of over 5,000 men, as well as the women and children.

But it was a different story when he came back to his hometown of Nazareth.
Instead of being “Jesus the great teacher”, he was “Jesus, the son of Mary and brother of James, Joses, Jude, Simon and some unnamed sisters”.
That’s actually very interesting, because there’s no mention of Joseph, his earthly father.

The same story in Matthew, mentions that Jesus is a carpenter’s son and Luke mentions Joseph by name, but Mark either doesn’t want to, or doesn’t think it is important.
A bit strange in such a patriarchal society, as Israel was in those days.

But on with our story. 

The people in the synagogue that sabbath saw Jesus for what they remembered him to be, not what he now was.
They had trouble making the transition from knowing Jesus as the carpenter, to meeting Jesus the great teacher and we’re told that Jesus was amazed at their unbelief.

Jesus had built up quite a reputation during his travels around Galilee, so you’d assume that his friends and family in Nazareth would have heard about him and his deeds and should surely have been proud to associate themselves with such a great Rabbi. 

Leaving Nazareth behind, Jesus travelled through the villages teaching and he commissioned his 12 closest disciples to go out, two by two, to do likewise.
He even gave them authority over evil spirits and the ability to cast out demons, thus curing the sick. 

Maybe the disciples would have felt a bit surprised and confused when Jesus commissioned them to “go out two by two, with the authority over unclean spirits”.
He even ordered them to take nothing but a staff and a pair of sandals.He wouldn’t even let them have a change of clothes! 

When I think of how much gear Lynne & I used to load into the back of our 4wd when we went outback, I probably didn’t have as much faith in God’s provision, as the disciples did. 

Jesus warned the disciples that they wouldn’t always be welcomed with open arms.
In fact, he reminded them (as we’ve just discussed in our first story) about how he had been rejected by his own townsfolk and that they should just move on, in the face of such opposition. 

It’s interesting to note the subtlety of where Jesus told the disciples to do their ministry.
They weren’t told to go into the town squares, or even synagogues, to pass on their message, but into the houses of those they met.
Thus, they were reliant on hospitality and did not need to carry their own food or bedding.
But they were not to stay more than 2 days, or they may be accused of being “false prophets”, who were more interested in getting free food and board, than of spreading the Gospel. 

But we’re told that we will not be alone in anything we do in the Lord’s name.
We’re comforted by the Holy Spirit, whom God placed on earth after the ascension of Jesus back to Heaven, and that presence is here to guide and comfort us when things start to get a little rough. 

There are many wise sayings about taking the first step, doing things in little bites, etc. and I always remember my mother reciting an old Chinese saying from Lao-tzu, a Chinese philosopher (who lived from 604 BC - 531 BC), who said that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. 

We need to have faith that, on our journey, doing God’s work, we can handle it and we won’t be alone.
The Holy Spirit will be with us as we take each step and spread the Gospel - the Good News that Jesus came to earth to pay the price for our sins.
If we give our lives to following him, we’ll be led to the Kingdom that our Father God has prepared for us. 

Just as he did over 2,000 years ago, Jesus calls us all, and he may be calling you, personally, to do what is outlined in the second story in Mark chapter 6, where the disciples are sent out to minister. 

I’m guessing that most of you would be thinking to yourself
“There’s no way that I could do anything like that, I’m just an ordinary person.” 

I’m a firm believer that God doesn’t ask us to do anything that we haven’t been equipped for.
The problem is usually that we haven’t realised just what great gifts have been given to us and so we haven’t yet tried applying them to any tasks in the Kingdom.  

So my question is:
Are you prepared to take the first step?

Take some time to ponder what your role will be in God’s kingdom.Talk to God regularly in prayer and hopefully the way forward will be made clear to you. 

May God bless you all and keep you safe during these cold winter days and nights.

Perhaps you can think of someone you should get in touch with, to see how well they’re travelling.
​A call from a friend might be just the tonic they need in these wintry times.                    

Pastor Rick