Rev. Joel Heckmann, pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Okarche, OK, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Mark 6:1-13.
When Jesus returns to Nazareth, the town where He was raised, the reaction is sinister. The people there believe they can know Jesus according to His family or His profession, and they stumble into unbelief when they hear Him preach. They do not recognize Jesus as the Prophet He truly is, and His judgment against their unbelief is a strong warning. Such rejection will not stop Jesus, however, from bringing God’s reign. He sends His disciples with His own authority to say and do what He has been saying and doing. They go out with faith that, even though there will be many who do not believe, their Heavenly Father will provide for their needs. They proclaim the Law in all its harshness and the Gospel in all its sweetness so that people will hear and believe in Jesus. The Lord’s authoritative Word shows its effectiveness yet again as the disciples do as He has commanded.
“The Gospel in Action” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the Gospel according to St. Mark. The Evangelist hits the ground running with the very first verse of his Gospel account, and he never lets up the pace. As one deed of Jesus comes right after another, always paired with His authoritative Word, St. Mark proclaims the good news that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, revealed conclusively by His death on the cross.
