Just Jesus?
Jesus Unrolls the Book in the Synagogue - James Tissot The text for this Sixth Sunday after Pentecost is Mark 6:1-13. Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God the Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! As usual, St. Mark gets right to business. He tells us that right after healing the woman of a 12-year hemorrhage and raising a little girl from the dead in Capernaum, Jesus returns “to His hometown” (Nazareth) with His disciples. It is not a family visit or social call, a chance to renew old acquaintances and catch up with the homefolks. Jesus returns as a rabbi. And so that Sabbath, He can be found teaching in the synagogue. The worshipers all know Him well. He comes to share the Gospel with them. But the question is: Are they ready to receive the Gospel from Him? Or perhaps better stated: “Are they ready to receive Him as the one who embodies the Gospel in His person and ministry?” Unlike Luke’s ...