“Jesus left that part of the country and returned with His disciples to Nazareth, His hometown. The next Sabbath He began teaching in the synagogue, and many who heard Him were amazed. They asked, ‘Where did He get all this wisdom and the power to perform such miracles?’
Then they scoffed, ‘He’s just a carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon. And His sisters live right here among us.’ They were deeply offended and refused to believe in Him.
Then Jesus told them, ‘A prophet is honored everywhere except in his hometown and among his relatives and his own family.’ And because of their unbelief, He couldn’t do any miracles among them except to place His hands on a few sick people and heal them.
And He was amazed at their unbelief.” —Mark 6:1-6 NLT
Awe or Naw?
if we’re not
assumed
Two practices to help us return to awe:
“Now Moses was pasturing the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian; and he led the flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. Then the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from the midst of a bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, yet the bush was not being consumed.
So Moses said, ‘I must turn aside and see this marvelous sight, why the bush is not burning up!’
When the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, ‘Moses, Moses!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’” —Exodus 3:1-4 NASB
Discussion Questions
How does Mark 6:1-6 illustrate the dangers of becoming too familiar with Jesus? Can you identify moments in your life where you might have underestimated His power or significance due to assumed familiarity?
What are some everyday scenarios where you might overlook the presence and power of Jesus because He feels too familiar or possibly irrelevant? How can we train ourselves to see Him afresh in these moments?
How has your faith been impacted by assuming you know all there is to know about Jesus (whether you’ve stated that or not)? Can you share an experience where this mindset prevented you from experiencing a deeper relationship with Him?
In what ways can you intentionally cultivate a sense of awe and reverence for Jesus in your daily routines? What specific practices or habits might help you move from overfamiliarity to deeper faith?
How can you better tune in to what God might be saying to you, especially in familiar settings or situations? Share practical steps or changes you plan to make in your life to ensure you are always open to His guidance and revelations.