We pick up our walking-stick again today as we continue our Journey through Mark. This man Jesus, that Mark writes about is doing great things; crowds are following Him and He is becoming quite the successful Rabbi. As we join Him today, we walk home to Nazareth with Him. Will the town name streets after Him? Are there children named in honor of Him? Will his name be in paint on the market walls – Vote for Jesus!?

• Mark 6:1-6, Jesus comes to His hometown to teach about God’s Kingdom
• Mark 6:7-1, Jesus sends the twelve out to the villages in twos
• Mark 6:14-29, Herod beheads Jesus’ cousin, John the Immerser
• Mark 6:30-44, Jesus feeds a multitude of over 5,000
• Mark 6:45-52, Jesus walks on water
• Mark 6:53-56, Jesus heals many in Gennesaret

I know something about you. If you are able to access the internet and read this message, I know something. No, I do not have any tracking software on your computer that feeds me information. No, I cannot see you through your web-cam. I am not spying on you. But, I do know something about you. I know that somewhere in your life you FAILED. You have a failed relationship, you failed a test in high school or college, you may have failed an entire class. There was a job or task you simply could not or did not do. You FAILED!

Failure! Failure is common to all of us.  Failure hurts – DEEPLY!  Jesus knows and understands your failure.  He failed too!

No, that is not sacrilegious. Jesus failed in Nazareth.  Read Mark 6:1-6. There are few critics as severe as hometown critics.  “I know Him.” “Who does He think He is?” “Does He think He is better than us?” “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” “He can’t be important, He is one of us.” “He made me a table when He worked with His father, Joseph. The legs didn’t match, I ended up using it as firewood.”

So Jesus could do very few miracles in Nazareth. The attitude and atmosphere of the village was not right. Jesus failed and he faced failure with disappointment. “And he marveled because of their unbelief.” Mark 6:6a. I see Jesus shaking his head and maybe even doing a face-palm. Yet, He stuck to His mission, “And he went about among the villages teaching.” Mark 6:6b.

There are three lessons I learn from Jesus and His failure at Nazareth:

1. Failure will come to all of us.
2. Failure does not have to paralyze me, I must keep working.
3. “Shake off the dust that is on your feet . . .” and move on.

– Scott