Mark 6:6

‘And he marvelled because of their unbelief.'

Jesus was filled with wonder at the total lack of faith in Him among His neighbours. His own relationship with His Father was such that He found it quite incredible that they should be so unbelieving in the face of all that they must have heard about Him, and the witness that He had given them through His early years. But such is the power of prejudice. It was a salutary lesson. (We remember Jesus' similar astonishment that His father and mother had not known where to find Him when He was listening to the teachers in the Temple - Luke 2:49).

This reference to the negative side of things because of unbelief parallels Mark 3:31. In the midst of the enthusiasm and the exaltation of Jesus Mark constantly brings us back to man's unbelief. With success comes also suffering and derision. The Gospel is no easy ride. Later the Transfiguration will also be followed by an emphasis on His coming suffering, and then His final ministry will be followed by the greatest suffering of all. The pattern is clear. But from it all will come triumph.

‘And he went round about the villages teaching.'

But their unbelief did not cause Jesus to slacken off. Instead He patiently went on with the work for which He had come. He continued to proclaim the Kingly Rule of God in all the villages round about. ‘For that was why He was sent' (Luke 4:43).

‘And he went round about the villages teaching.'

Jesus' response to the failure of His neighbourhood to receive His words was to reach out wider and go through the villages teaching the Kingly Rule of God.