To Be Stuck in Your Past

Mark 6
A Prophet Without Honor
1Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. 2When 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, that he even does miracles! 3Isn'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.

4Jesus said to them, "Only in his hometown, among his relatives and in his own house is a prophet without honor." 5He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6And he was amazed at their lack of faith.

You’re only as good as your past, never what you can become. If we are honest we still do that. It sure can limit the call of God. It sure can limit where and how God’s word is heard.

Maybe we even do the same thing with Jesus. We know him too well. We think we know what he's about and what his message is. Maybe we should listen and read and pay attention to him as if this were the first time and we didn't know him when we were younger.

That would be an interesting experiment. Perhaps we only see him as good as OUR past.