The Gospel of Mark is filled with action. From the beginning Jesus is teaching, healing, and casting out demons. By the time we get to chapter 6, we have witnessed many miracles which Jesus has done. Then he comes home to Nazareth. Nazareth, that little backwater town that is despised and looked down on by the rest of Israel. Here is their big chance to show that something good can come out of Nazareth. We would expect that the Nazareth Gazette would run the headline, "Local Boy Makes Good" or that there would be a parade with Jesus as the grand marshal. We might expect them to name a street after him or to at least to invite him to be the guest of honor at the Rotary club.

Yet, we soon discover that this is not the case. Jesus comes into town and goes to the synagogue on the sabbath. He…