Day 11 – Too ordinary… too costly

Opening Prayer

Father, keep me from unbelief; give me eyes to see Jesus truly, and strength to follow him faithfully.

Headline

Jesus is rejected in his hometown, sends the Twelve on mission, and John the Baptist is silenced by a king’s cowardice.

Mark 6:1-29

6 Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. ² When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed.

“Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? ³ Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.

⁴ Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” ⁵ He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. ⁶ He was amazed at their lack of faith.

Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. ⁷ Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits.

⁸ These were his instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. ⁹ Wear sandals but not an extra shirt. ¹⁰ Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. ¹¹ And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.”

¹² They went out and preached that people should repent. ¹³ They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.

¹⁴ King Herod heard about this, for Jesus’ name had become well known. Some were saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”

¹⁵ Others said, “He is Elijah.”

And still others claimed, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of long ago.”

¹⁶ But when Herod heard this, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!”

¹⁷ For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, whom he had married. ¹⁸ For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” ¹⁹ So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to, ²⁰ because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled; yet he liked to listen to him.

²¹ Finally the opportune time came. On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. ²² When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests.

The king said to the girl, “Ask me for anything you want, and I’ll give it to you.” ²³ And he promised her with an oath, “Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”

²⁴ She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?”

“The head of John the Baptist,” she answered.

²⁵ At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”

²⁶ The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her. ²⁷ So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison, ²⁸ and brought back his head on a platter. He presented it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother. ²⁹ On hearing of this, John’s disciples came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

Comment

A “homecoming” should be warm: local boy made good. Instead, it’s one of the saddest scenes so far. Jesus teaches in Nazareth and people are struck by his wisdom and power—yet they refuse to trust him. Their problem isn’t lack of evidence; it’s familiarity. “Isn’t this the carpenter… Mary’s son?” (v.3). Jesus is simply too ordinary for them. And so the King who has come close is written off as “one of us,” safely filed away, easily dismissed.

It’s a chilling warning, especially for those who’ve been around church for a long time: you can be near the gospel and still be numb to it—inoculated rather than transformed. Jesus is amazed at their unbelief, and Mark notes that he does not do many miracles there. Not because Jesus lacks power, but because stubborn unbelief refuses the open hands of faith.

Then the pace shifts. Jesus sends out the Twelve. Notice what he gives them (authority) and what he withholds (comfort). They go with dependence, simplicity, and urgency—preaching repentance, casting out demons, healing the sick. This is what the kingdom looks like as it spreads: ordinary people, commissioned by Jesus, doing Jesus-shaped ministry in Jesus’ name. It’s a reminder that discipleship is never just private spirituality; it moves outward—word and deed, proclamation and mercy.

But the mission is framed by another story: Herod’s court. Herod hears about Jesus and his conscience starts to scream. He fears John has risen—guilt is a terrible counsellor. And Mark then tells us why: Herod had arrested John for speaking the truth about his unlawful marriage. Herod respected John, even protected him at times, yet he was trapped by his own weakness—by image, by oaths, by the opinion of dinner guests. A foolish promise, a cruel request, and a righteous man is beheaded.

Put the two halves together and Mark’s message is clear: the kingdom of God advances, but it meets resistance—from comfortable familiarity in Nazareth, and from corrupt power in Herod’s palace. And yet, even here, God is not losing control. The Word is rejected, but the mission continues. The prophet is silenced, but the King still speaks.

Reflect ·    

• Where are you most at risk of thinking Jesus is “too familiar” to be astonishing—and how might you listen afresh today? ·     
• What is one small, concrete step of “sent-ness” you could take this week—prayer, courage, service, a gospel conversation? ·    
• When faithfulness feels costly, what comfort is there in knowing God sees, honours, and will finally vindicate his servants?

Closing Prayer

Lord Jesus, forgive me for the dullness that can come from familiarity. Give me a heart that marvels at you and trusts you. Make me willing to be sent—dependent on you, courageous in witness, and generous in love. And when truth is costly, strengthen me to stand firm with humility and grace, remembering that you are the King who will have the final word. Amen.