Astonishing Wisdom

 

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARK

ASTONISHING WISDOM

Mark 6:1-6

6:1 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, that he even does miracles! 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, "Only in his hometown, among his relatives and in his own house is a prophet without honor."  5 He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6 And he was amazed at their lack of faith.

NIV

Here we find Jesus in the town that he grew up in, and of course, the obvious insight is the people were only looking from their memories of Jesus as a boy playing in the streets with his brothers, just another one of them, nothing divine about him. Yet on the Sabbath Jesus was in the temple and he was teaching as he usually did. Mark or at least this translation of what Mark recorded says the people were amazed. However, the Greek word carries more of the sense that they were astonished, stunned, surprised that this son of a carpenter who himself worked among them as a carpenter and had brothers and sisters living in town, just a common carpenter would have so much wisdom. Where did he get this wisdom, who gave it to him? Was he gone that long that he had time to study under some Rabbi, go attend a Rabbinical School, or sit at the feet of one of the teachers of the Law? What is this wisdom that has been given to him, for he could not have gotten it on his own? However, Jesus is full of wisdom as he is the author of wisdom being the Son of God, He who was there before the beginning of time, He who nothing that was created was not created without Him. Jesus is full of Grace and Wisdom, but as with everyone, they must see Him as he is. These people could only see him as he was, when they knew him as only a man, like them. Still, His wisdom is given to men as well. James, one of his own disciples write this letter and gives us this truth:

James 3:13-18

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. 17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

NIV

 The two types of wisdom, earthly and heavenly are so different and so opposed to one another. Here James tells us that any wisdom we might think we have based on the standards of this world is unspiritual and thus of the devil. He described the attitudes of the heart that dictate how this is earthly wisdom. However, he also tells us the pure wisdom comes down from heaven, from the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, who, in fact, resides within us. As then as we rely on the Spirit, His wisdom is manifested in and through us. Yes, we can learn knowledge from the world, education comes from the thoughts of men, but wisdom and understanding come from the Lord. We can fill our heads with knowledge, but only God can fill our hearts with wisdom. It is no surprise those people only had the knowledge of Jesus the carpenter, for they had no wisdom to discern his true nature. There is one more truth within this narrative regarding their disbelief that Jesus did not do many miracles and heal all their infirmities. Believing is the key that opens so many blessings from the Lord. Perhaps we should further investigate this, but for now, let us simply rejoice in the fact that Jesus will give us wisdom if we only will receive it if we only but listen to that voice of the Spirit within. Maybe then some people would be astonished.