A few sick people healed or many - The choice is ours.

 Jesus went out from there and *came into His hometown; and His disciples *followed Him. ² When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue; and the many listeners were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things, and what is this wisdom given to Him, and such miracles as these performed by His hands? ³ Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? Are not 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 hometown and among his own relatives and in his own household.” ⁵ And He could do no miracle there except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. ⁶ And He wondered at their unbelief.

And He was going around the villages teaching.

The Twelve Sent Out

⁷ And He *summoned the twelve and began to send them out in pairs, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits; ⁸ and He instructed them that they should take nothing for their journey, except a mere staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belt— ⁹ but to wear sandals; and He added, “Do not put on two tunics.” ¹⁰ And He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave town. ¹¹ Any place that does not receive you or listen to you, as you go out from there, shake the dust off the soles of your feet for a testimony against them.” ¹² They went out and preached that men should repent. ¹³ And they were casting out many demons and were anointing with oil many sick people and healing them.

Today's text begins with Mark's account of the lack of faith of the people of Jesus home town of Nazareth. What is amazing to me is that it was really not just a matter of unbelief, they acknowledged the miracles and Jesus wisdom. The text says they said,  “Where did this man get these things, and what is this wisdom given to Him, and such miracles as these performed by His hands? They questioned how He came to have the power or authority. He had grown up among them. They knew His family. The text says that rather than being honored that Jesus had come from their town to have this great ministry,  they took offense at Him.

Offense is one of the greatest hindrances to individuals, and churches alike. There is a tendency for us to believe that it is our right to be offended by others and to hold onto that offense, even to the extent of letting the other person know they have offended us. I am not talking here about sin on the part of the other person, but rather when we are offended by something about them. Perhaps it's the way they talk, too much, too little, too loud, too quiet or the way they act, their personality, too outgoing, too withdrawn. We might even take offense at the way they pray or worship, it's different than the way we do it.  Jesus tells us what to do with offense that we feel toward others. ²⁵ Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions. ²⁶But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your transgressions.”(Mark 11:25)   Being offended and holding on to offense is choosing to live in sin. The sin of held offense separates us from God and from our fellow believers. That division and separation causes weakness in the body. Is it any wonder why in the church today just as in Jesus home town, He could do no miracle there except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. I wonder if Jesus feels the same about many of our churches today,  He wondered at their unbelief. Does He wonder at ours?

If we will truly die to self, crucifying our flesh as we are called to do, we will feel no offense. A dead man can not be offended. We then can become united with each other in Christ. The text today continues with Jesus sending out the twelve disciples in pairs  and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.   There is an increase in the power and authority we have when we are united with  fellow believers. Jesus says:  I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. ²⁰ For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.”(Matthew 18:19-20)   There is also an exponential growth in the power we have when we are united. Leviticus 26:8 says:  five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand, and your enemies will fall before you by the sword. 

Jesus gave them authority and sent them out in unified pairs, where they were together Jesus was with them and what they agreed together the Father did for them. The text says: They went out and preached that men should repent. ¹³ And they were casting out many demons and were anointing with oil many sick people and healing them.

Jesus has likewise given us authority and sent us out.  “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. ¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”(Matthew 28:18-20)   Jesus sends us out with authority. He says:  Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. Part of the reason we can do greater works is because of the exponential increase in power and authority we have in unity. There is no limit to what Jesus church can do if we are united with Him and each other. Jesus says: I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. ¹⁹ I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16)

The choice is ours,  a few sick people  healed or casting out many demons and  anointing with oil many sick people and healing them. 

Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit forgive me where I have allowed offense and disunity to weaken the church, Your church. I choose this day to forgive every sin and offense against me. I choose to walk in  unity with You and my fellow believers. Thank You for all You have done and may we Your church truly begin to walk in all the power and authority You have given.  Amen