Mark 6:1-6. "The Hometown Skepticism of Jesus."

In this episode guest preacher Mark Birkholz, a WELS Mission Counselor from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, delivers a sermon discussing Mark 6:1-6, where Jesus visits his hometown with his disciples and teaches in the synagogue on the Sabbath. The locals are astonished by his wisdom and miracles but are skeptical due to their familiarity with his background as a carpenter and his family. They take offense at him, leading Jesus to remark that a prophet is honored everywhere except in his own town and among his relatives. 

Mark explains that Jesus, being human and obedient to his parents, faced skepticism from those who knew him.  Despite this, he was a legitimate speaker in the Jewish community according to their customs, being 30 years old, the same age as when he was baptized. The skepticism stemmed from the locals' perception of him as just a regular person, not divine. Jesus confronted skepticism and tough situations without resorting to violence. His perfect life and sacrificial death for the forgiveness of sins emphasizes that he lived a human life but ultimately provided salvation, offering his perfect life to us as he calls us his children.

 This Sunday sermon, based on Mark 6 verses 1-6, was preached at Grace of God Lutheran Church on July 8, 2024.  This sermon is preached by guest preacher Reverend Mark Birkholz, a member of WELS (Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod) serving as a Mission Counselor. Scripture selections come from the New International Version.

Our services are at 9:30am every Sunday morning, at our campus in Dix Hills on Long Island. Visit our website for more information, at www.graceofgod.church 

Intro Music "On the Way" by Vlad Gluschenko https://soundcloud.com/vgl9
Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0

Outro Music "Divenire" by Ludovico Einaudi
copyright (℗) by: Ludovico Einaudi (in 2006)