1 Jesus went out from there. He came into his own country, and his disciples followed him. 2 When the Sabbath had come, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many hearing him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things?” and, “What is the wisdom that is given to this man, that such mighty works come about by his hands? 3 Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judah, and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” They were offended at him.

4 Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, and among his own relatives, and in his own house.” 5 He could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people, and healed them. 6 He marveled because of their unbelief.

Mark 6:1-6 - World English Bible

Jesus went home, but could not go home.

Like Luke 4, Mark 6 presented Jesus surrounded by his followers in his hometown (Nazareth?). Immediately, a controversy arose. He scandalized his family with the audacity of his rise up the social ladder. He dared to transcend his humble roots and become a religious celebrity. In modern culture, we expect social mobility upward, but, in the static society at the time of Jesus, people reacted to such mobility at best with suspicion, at worst with derision. The implicit question his contemporaries asked was: How dare he?

Yet, there was a more fundamental question found in 6:2: What is the wisdom that is given to this man, that such mighty works come about by his hands? Notice the wisdom led to the power of healing and exorcism. The believer would answer the wisdom came from God. To ask the question, however, implied a denial of faith. The skeptic would not know the origin of his teaching and healing power. And, his own extended family contained many skeptics.

Jesus answered with a phrase that used a double negative for emphasis. The phrase translated poorly into English as: a prophet is not without honor. In other words, a prophet has honor, except with those who were familiar with the local boy who made good. And, as the old saying goes, "familiarity breed contempt."

Yes, Jesus went home, but could not go home.

Have you faced a lack of faith from loved ones? How have you reacted?