The Vine: July 14, 2025

“Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the Vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing”

— John 15:4-5

This is a weekly reflection on the previous week’s sermon text. Each week there will be a devotional related to the scripture for the week, along with questions for reflection/discussion, as well as prayer. Feel free to make this a part of your individual spiritual growth throughout the week or utilize in small group settings (growth groups, Sunday school, etc.)

“On the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, “Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands! Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense[b] at him. Then Jesus said to them, “Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown and among their own kin and in their own house.” And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them. And he was amazed at their ”

— Mark 6:2-6

This scripture (with parallels in Matthew and Luke) is really our only reference to Jesus “at home in Nazareth.” It’s a “homecoming” story, and like many high school and college events, it doesn’t live up to expectations.

Mark tells it as showing Jesus declaring his wisdom, beyond human knowledge. It tells all we know about his human family, his occupation as carpenter. We cheer for him as the neighbors honor him with the responsibility of reading the scriptures. And we are stunned at their resulting anger.

But the account really tells us even more about Nazareth, and about us. His audience came with expectations. They thought they already knew all there was to know about Jesus. They knew the rules of the moment, they knew the commandments, tJhey expected nothing else. When Jesus tells them (and Luke especially tells us what he “revealed” to them) that the Kingdom was in their midst, they could not adapt.

So Jesus leaves, “unable to do more miracles” because of their unbelief. They lose their chance to see the blessings of God’s power at work in their midst.

And hearing from a distance of years, we have to wonder what new works God might be doing in our midst each day. This is an invitation to open our heart, our minds, our eyes to the wonders we are blessed with right now.

DISCUSS:

1. Have you attended a “homecoming”? What did you expect as you went? How did it really measure up?

2. We have lost our sense of wonder. How can we train ourselves to pay attention to any fresh blessing and grace we may be encountering in our daily lives. Isaiah writes “Have you not heard?...God is doing a new thing!...” are we alert to those new things?

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