So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there, apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them. He was amazed at their lack of faith.
Mk 6:1-6
Organization of the Text
Son of Mary is a strange designation. No one is ever referred to as a son of a certain mother. Jesus would have been called the son of Joseph. This particular deviation from the custom has been explained in two ways. First, Joseph might have been dead by then. The second and the probably the correct one is that Mark wanted to highlight the fact the Jesus was not the biological son of Joseph, that he had God as his Father.
There is a problem in this particular verse. It seems to contradict the perpetual virginity of Mary found in Catholic teaching.
The first explanation can be found in Biblical usage. Brother and sister are terms not exclusively used for blood brothers and sisters. We shall use Abraham and Lot as an example, In Genesis 12:5, it says that Lot was Abraham's nephew. But in Genesis 14:14, it says that Lot is Abraham's brother.
The second explanation lies in the Hebrew and Aramaic languages. The terms "brother" and "sister" are also applied to nephews, nieces, cousins, half-brothers, and half-sisters.
A third explanation. If Jesus had blood brothers and sisters, then why would Jesus before dying on the cross entrust Mary to John. And John we know is a son of Zebedee.
Finally a fourth explanation at least regarding James as the brother of Jesus. In Galations 1:19 St. Paul wrties: "But other of the apostles [besides Cephas] I saw none, saving James the brother of the Lord." This James then is an apostle. We know from the list of the apostles that he is a son of Alphaeus and Mary is never called the wife of Alphaeus. James then is not the blood brother of Jesus. We may assume that this is the case with the other brothers and sisters mentioned in v. 3.
Three Things for Consideration
Stories of Rejection
The story of Jesus is the story of rejection that led ultimately to his death. We find other such stories of rejection and death in the history of the world.
Martin Luther King was assassinated for promoting equality of all human beings irrespective of race. Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated because in spite of the fact that he was a Hindu, he was friendly with the Muslims. Bishop Oscar Romero did because he denounced the exploitation of the poor by the rich who had the backing of the military. And finally, Dietrich Bonhoeffer. He was executed by the Nazis because he attacked the evils of fascist Nazism.
We should too should expect rejection and even violence when we take a stand on the side of what is right.
Two catechists (brother and sister) suffered verbal abuse from their elder brother who got angry when they told him to stop playing a pornographic video.
If Jesus suffered rejection and violence, should we, his disciples, expect to not suffer rejection and violence when we take a stand for what Jesus taught?
- Jesus goes to his hometown, Nazareth.
- Jesus taught in their synagogue. It was the Sabbath.
- His town mates didn't accept him because they knew him, his family, and his background.
- Jesus explained this rejection.
- As a consequence of their lack of faith, he couldn't work many miracles there.
Son of Mary is a strange designation. No one is ever referred to as a son of a certain mother. Jesus would have been called the son of Joseph. This particular deviation from the custom has been explained in two ways. First, Joseph might have been dead by then. The second and the probably the correct one is that Mark wanted to highlight the fact the Jesus was not the biological son of Joseph, that he had God as his Father.
There is a problem in this particular verse. It seems to contradict the perpetual virginity of Mary found in Catholic teaching.
The first explanation can be found in Biblical usage. Brother and sister are terms not exclusively used for blood brothers and sisters. We shall use Abraham and Lot as an example, In Genesis 12:5, it says that Lot was Abraham's nephew. But in Genesis 14:14, it says that Lot is Abraham's brother.
The second explanation lies in the Hebrew and Aramaic languages. The terms "brother" and "sister" are also applied to nephews, nieces, cousins, half-brothers, and half-sisters.
A third explanation. If Jesus had blood brothers and sisters, then why would Jesus before dying on the cross entrust Mary to John. And John we know is a son of Zebedee.
Finally a fourth explanation at least regarding James as the brother of Jesus. In Galations 1:19 St. Paul wrties: "But other of the apostles [besides Cephas] I saw none, saving James the brother of the Lord." This James then is an apostle. We know from the list of the apostles that he is a son of Alphaeus and Mary is never called the wife of Alphaeus. James then is not the blood brother of Jesus. We may assume that this is the case with the other brothers and sisters mentioned in v. 3.
Three Things for Consideration
- The rejection of Jesus by the people of Nazareth is a foreshadowing of his rejection by the people of Israel.
- Familiarity can breed contempt.
- Faith is the key to unlock the warehouse of God's blessings and graces.
Stories of Rejection
The story of Jesus is the story of rejection that led ultimately to his death. We find other such stories of rejection and death in the history of the world.
Martin Luther King was assassinated for promoting equality of all human beings irrespective of race. Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated because in spite of the fact that he was a Hindu, he was friendly with the Muslims. Bishop Oscar Romero did because he denounced the exploitation of the poor by the rich who had the backing of the military. And finally, Dietrich Bonhoeffer. He was executed by the Nazis because he attacked the evils of fascist Nazism.
We should too should expect rejection and even violence when we take a stand on the side of what is right.
Two catechists (brother and sister) suffered verbal abuse from their elder brother who got angry when they told him to stop playing a pornographic video.
If Jesus suffered rejection and violence, should we, his disciples, expect to not suffer rejection and violence when we take a stand for what Jesus taught?
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