Today we finish reading from Mark 6: 1-6:

He left that place and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. 2 On the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, “Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands! 3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. 4 Then Jesus said to them, “Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown, and among their own kin, and in their own house.” 5 And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them. 6 And he was amazed at their unbelief.

One of the interesting comparisons (and Mark loves a comparison in his Gospel) is to see the difference between the people who didn’t know Jesus with the people who did.  It seems as though the ones who knew of Him, but didn’t know Him were more able to believe in Him than the ones who knew Him.   

There is a comfort in the familiar.  We all like the way the old, familiar things make us feel.  But, there is also a danger in the familiar. We can stop paying attention to what is happening.  We can be so used to something, or someone, that we don’t look for God to speak to us through it, or them.  

We say, how can they miss Jesus in their midst?  But friends, how often do we read our Bible not really paying attention, not really looking for Him? How often do we miss Him there?  

How often do we go to church not really paying attention, not really looking for Him? How often do we miss Him there?  

How often do we go into the world not really paying attention, not really looking for Him? How often do we miss Him there?  

They missed God’s power through Jesus today because they were too familiar with Him. They weren’t looking for it. Today, let’s not make the same mistake.  Let’s look for Jesus, in every way that we can find Him.  Even if it seems too familiar for us to pay attention.  Let’s pay attention, in all things.  

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