Are You Being Used?

Mark 6:1-13
Length: 14:26

This is a message given on July 5, 2009 at the Bowdertown United Methodist Church.

Are You Being Used?

Last week, we left off with Jesus healing Jairus’s daughter. From Capernaum Jesus returns to his hometown of Nazareth. But he doesn’t return home to take a rest or just to visit his family. He comes as a teacher.

The people of Nazareth were astonished by his teaching, wondered at his wisdom and were amazed at his power. But they rejected him. Why? Because they were all too familiar with him.

The people of Nazareth thought of Jesus as a craftsman who carried on his earthly father’s work. This caused the people to stumble and they refused to see Jesus as higher than themselves, simple common people.

Surely this hometown boy isn’t the Messiah they thought. No doubt, like all proud family and townspeople they are happy to see their family, friends, and neighbors go out into the world and make it big. But when they return home, they are still remembered for the things they did growing up.

In response to their rejection, Jesus didn’t do many miracles in his hometown. Not because he couldn’t, but because the people didn’t come to him for that. Jesus often chose to heal people because of their faith as we saw last week and miracles were performed among people who were ready to believe.

The miracles he did had little effect on the people because they did not accept his message or believe that he was from God. Jesus wondered at their unbelief.

He was astonished and amazed at the people of Nazareth and their reaction to him, his teachings, and his miracles. The people claimed to know him, but rejected him when they should have stood out in faith.

They rejected Him because of their pride and unbelief. They looked at Him as one of them, a peer. They thought they knew Him, but they could not accept His message.

The same thing can happen to us today. We have preconceived notions about things and people and it can blind us to the truth. As you grow in your faith, don’t let preconceived ideas about Jesus hold you back. Ask God to open your eyes and see Jesus for who He truly is.

Jesus leaves Nazareth and continues to teach in the area of Galilee. He sends his twelve disciples out in pairs to teach and heal the sick and the possessed. Before they leave however, Jesus gives them some instructions, which are specific only to this particular ministry opportunity.



Jesus gives them these specific instructions for a variety of reasons. First, this will be a short, quick trip for them. They won’t need much in the way of supplies. As they enter a village they will be able to find accommodations easily and should focus on ministering to the needs of the people.

When they find a welcoming home, they are to give it a blessing and stay there for the duration of their ministry in that village. Contentment with their host and accommodations would be a testimony to others.

If, on the other hand, they were rejected the disciples were to shake the dust off of their feet. This was like cursing the village. It was a warning sign to the village saying, “If you are rejecting us, then you are rejecting the one who sent us.”

Second, Jesus gives them these instructions because there is no real threat to their lives, yet. There is some annoyance with Jesus, but no widespread persecution against the disciples. Thirdly, this gave the disciples a chance to truly trust God to show that He will provide for their needs.

Notice what the disciples preached, they preached that all men should repent. Isn’t that interesting. They preached the same thing the Old Testament prophets preached. They preached the same thing John the Baptist preached. They preached the same thing that Christ preached. You know what? That should be the same thing we preach today.

The twelve were obviously successful in their first mission. They cast out demons and were anointing the sick with oil for healing. They were doing what they were supposed to do. They were proclaiming the Gospel and caring for the sick.

The question this morning is are you doing what you are supposed to be doing? Are you obeying the call of Christ in your life?

The disciples were nobody special. There were some fisherman, some political activists, and at least one tax collector. They weren’t saints. They weren’t scholars. They weren’t the religious elite.

He called the common people to carry out His work. He still does the same today. God can and does use anyone today.

As we prepare to commune together at the Lord’s Table, ask God to use you in this world for His purposes.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly father, we ask that you cleanse us. Purify our minds, bodies, and souls so that you may use us for your heavenly work. Open our eyes to the opportunities around us to minister for you in this world. Make us available for you to use for your glory and honor. AMEN.