‘And many hearing him were astonished, saying, “From where has this man learned these things?” and “What is the wisdom that is given to this man and what mean such mighty works (‘powers') wrought by his hands? Is this not the carpenter (or ‘craftsman'), the son of Mary and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are his sisters not here with us? ” And they took offence at him.'
To begin with many were amazed at the things that He seemed to have learned. Others at the wise things that He said. And others at His miraculous powers and the mighty works He did (Mark is here bringing out that, few though His mighty works were here, they were still impressive). Thus it is apparent that to begin with things were going smoothly, although even here there is possibly the hint of dissatisfaction. Nevertheless His preaching was being listened to, they knew about His mighty works and some healings did occur. On the other hand in their eyes it did not sit well with the person that they knew Him to be. They could not reconcile it with what they knew about Him. And when He spoke on and began to speak of introducing the Kingly Rule of God, it was something that they could not accept of one they knew so well. Their question was, Who did He think He was?
Behind their amazement lay their unwillingness to accept that this local boy could be anything special. They remembered that He was after all only a village carpenter, an artisan, that they knew all His family well, and that He was but a local lad. How could He then be so special? Was this because His words had begun to stir their consciences, and they did not like it, especially from One Whom they had known all their lives? Was it because His demands were too great and He seemed to be above Himself? So quickly, through prejudice and disparagement, can a powerful ministry be halted. How wary we should be when we openly disparage a preacher.
Then they finally took offence because, having pulled themselves up sharply and dismissed His claims, they felt as though He had somehow deceived them. Their early interest had turned sour and they began to feel ashamed of it. And as men will in such circumstances they blamed Him for it. But underlying their whole attitude was their sin. In the end it is sin treasured and held on to that makes men avoid the truth.
What a contrast with what has gone before. The Lord of the elements, Lord over evil spirits and Lord of life and death, but now rejected because He was too well known.
‘To His own country.' Possibly stated in this way to give effect to the saying in Mark 6:4. This was the prelude to what would be His later rejection by His own people (John 1:11). But it may also indicate that while he visited His own neighbourhood He cut Nazareth out of His itinerary because of what had happened there before.
‘Many hearing Him.' Many is ‘hoi polloi' or just ‘polloi'. Omission of the article is strongly supported. It might thus mean all the people, many of the people or just some of the people.
‘From where ---- what is the wisdom ---- what mean such mighty works ---- is this not ---.' There were differing views and questions among the people, but underlying all was the fact that He was but a local carpenter. Perhaps then they were beginning to suspect some doubtful source for His powers, for they no doubt knew what the Doctors of Law from Jerusalem had said (Mark 3:22).
But Mark wants his readers to ask the same questions, and answer them correctly, for as we know he is now seeking to emphasise Jesus' wisdom and His power.
‘Is this not this the carpenter, the son of Mary?' The textual authorities vary considerably here. Many have ‘the son of the carpenter and of Mary' (but then why not mention Joseph by name?). The former is more probably correct. It is in all the major manuscripts (but not papyrus 45) and we can see why it might be changed later. Calling Jesus an artisan may later have been seen as degrading Him (Origen argued with Celsus that Jesus was never called ‘the carpenter' demonstrating how deeply the issue was felt). And ‘son of Mary' was a slur as it was not normal among the Jews to describe a man as the son of his mother, even when his father was dead, unless he was of doubtful birth (compare Judges 11:1). But the people were trying to be disparaging. They wanted to see Him as an artisan and of doubtful birth (an indirect testimony to the virgin birth) and not a scholar.
‘Brother of James and Joseph and Judas and Simon.' See 1 Corinthians 9:5. They were all familiar in the district. There is no reason for doubting that they were his blood brothers (see on Mark 3:31-35).
‘And are not his sisters here with us?' This change of expression may naturally suggest that this was not Nazareth, but a nearby town, and that Jesus' sisters had married and taken up residence in this place. However this inference is not necessarily required.
‘And they took offence at Him.' Literally, ‘they were caused to stumble'. He had become a stumblingblock to them (compare 1 Peter 2:8). Their attitude to Him caused them to stumble in their obedience to God.