Title: Overly Familiar
Author: Christopher Harbin
Text: Mark 6:1-13
We've heard familiarity breeds contempt. In another sense, we tend to stop looking at what has become overly familiar. We are often blind to what we assume we already know. It is difficult to turn fresh eyes on things we have long ago assessed and determined we know or understand. When what we have assumed to be true is challenged, it can be difficult for us to take stock and seriously evaluate our preconceived ideas. Those assumptions have seemingly served us well, bringing us to this point. What do we do when we are surprised by Jesus, with whom we are already well familiar?
Officially, at least, I've been driving since I was fifteen. My sister got me behind the wheel of a car when I was twelve. I've driven well over fifty different car and trucks, along with a tractor or two. I never really learned, however, to recognize when something might be going wrong with a vehicle I'm driving. Perhaps it's that I have had so many different driving experiences in vehicles and driving conditions. Beyond fuel, oil, filters, and air pressure, all I really know about cars is getting behind the wheel and driving. I tend to ignore the mechanics. I have strong expectations of cars obeying, so when something is out of sorts, I often don't notice. When Pat hands me the keys to Taylor's truck, I expect to get behind the wheel, crank the engine, and drive. I'll check lights and the response of steering, brakes, and accelerator before I'm out of the driveway. Other details fall aside, chalked up to differences from one vehicle to the next. It often takes someone else to draw my attention when something needs a mechanic's intervention. If the vehicle drives, it's working just fine! It's what cars do.
When Jesus comes to his hometown in today's passage from Mark, there are expectations placed upon him, as well. The townsfolk knew who he was. They had seen him grow up among them. Jesus was already a well-known ...
Author: Christopher Harbin
Text: Mark 6:1-13
We've heard familiarity breeds contempt. In another sense, we tend to stop looking at what has become overly familiar. We are often blind to what we assume we already know. It is difficult to turn fresh eyes on things we have long ago assessed and determined we know or understand. When what we have assumed to be true is challenged, it can be difficult for us to take stock and seriously evaluate our preconceived ideas. Those assumptions have seemingly served us well, bringing us to this point. What do we do when we are surprised by Jesus, with whom we are already well familiar?
Officially, at least, I've been driving since I was fifteen. My sister got me behind the wheel of a car when I was twelve. I've driven well over fifty different car and trucks, along with a tractor or two. I never really learned, however, to recognize when something might be going wrong with a vehicle I'm driving. Perhaps it's that I have had so many different driving experiences in vehicles and driving conditions. Beyond fuel, oil, filters, and air pressure, all I really know about cars is getting behind the wheel and driving. I tend to ignore the mechanics. I have strong expectations of cars obeying, so when something is out of sorts, I often don't notice. When Pat hands me the keys to Taylor's truck, I expect to get behind the wheel, crank the engine, and drive. I'll check lights and the response of steering, brakes, and accelerator before I'm out of the driveway. Other details fall aside, chalked up to differences from one vehicle to the next. It often takes someone else to draw my attention when something needs a mechanic's intervention. If the vehicle drives, it's working just fine! It's what cars do.
When Jesus comes to his hometown in today's passage from Mark, there are expectations placed upon him, as well. The townsfolk knew who he was. They had seen him grow up among them. Jesus was already a well-known ...
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