We are often asked, “How are you?”
Introspectively, how often do we ask ourselves, “Who are you?”
This question intros the “Who You Are” sermon series which begins this Sunday, July 7th. The series looks at who Jesus is, and, in turn, who we are.
The basis for this sermon series begins when people from Nazareth wonder who, in fact, Jesus is.
To identify (or place) Jesus, his siblings are mentioned.
Commentary on the likelihood of Jesus having full siblings, half siblings, or cousins has been a point of contention since scripture began to form from oral traditions. Sources remain divided. What is clear is Jesus’ role as a sibling is not expanded upon in scripture. It won’t be expanded upon this Sunday, either.
To find out who Jesus is (and, in turn, who we who follow Jesus are), we will look at Jesus being welcomed with amazement and then unwelcomed when misunderstood. The text does say the neighbors who listened to Him in the synagogue are amazed at first. Wow! Jesus! He is a powerful, influential, and encouraging voice of inclusion and liberation.
This amazement doesn’t last long, however. They cheer their hometown celebrity in verse 2 of our Lectionary text. In verse 3, a single verse later, they turn on Him.
This hero to zero triumph to tragedy storyline foreshadows Holy Week. We remember Holy Week. Jesus is received as He enters Jerusalem for Passover. He is royalty! Palms and coats wave and then rest like a carpet at the donkey’s feet! He is lauded as a champion.
Days later, the innocent, sinless Lamb of God is the One the crowd insists be killed as a criminal.
So, who IS Jesus? We will answer this question each week as we also answer who we are. We will find that how we define ourselves reveals how we define (and relate to) Jesus.
Join us each Sunday in July. I promise this will be a sermon series that will equip, inspire and encourage you.
Mark 6:1-6 NLT
Jesus Rejected at Nazareth
6 Jesus left that part of the country and returned with his disciples to Nazareth, his hometown. 2 The next Sabbath he began teaching in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. They asked, “Where did he get all this wisdom and the power to perform such miracles?” 3 Then they scoffed, “He’s just a carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon. And his sisters live right here among us.” They were deeply offended and refused to believe in him.
4 Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family.”
5 And because of their unbelief, he couldn’t do any miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6 And he was amazed at their unbelief.
PRAYER:
Dear Jesus,
Some never understood who You are because they didn’t want to understand how You could touch, teach, and treasure them as gifts from Your Father, our Creator.
As this text this Sunday speaks to who You are, we ask that You speak to each of us so that, yes, together, we can answer who, in fact, we are.
Amen.