Honour-From Other People and Places
by an Old Disciple
“But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.”~ Mk. 6:4
Ordinarily our text holds true, though there may be exceptions from time to time. Jesus makes this statement in His hometown Nazareth, where He was brought up. They knew Him only after the flesh as the son of Joseph, not as the Son of God, by faith. That would involve great humility in admitting such a thing. As it still does with kin who have God’s precious elect people dwelling among them. The sad results then, as now was, “He did not many mighty works because of their unbelief,”~ Matt. 13:58. O, what such people miss!
It would seem Mary had other children by Joseph after Jesus’ virgin birth. He had four brothers, who are named, and at least two sisters; the word is used in the plural; but indications are none believed in Him till after the resurrection. See Mk. 6:3; Jn. 7:5; Gal. 1:19.
Phillips Brooks made a great statement along these lines, “Familiarity breeds contempt, only with contemptible things or among contemptible people.” Another said, “The contempt shown by the Nazarenes said nothing about Jesus, but said a great deal about them.”
But contempt is not the only way one can dishonor the godly, but also by a total disregard for their person.
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