[Sidenote: In His own country.] And yet, when He left the seashore and returned to Nazareth and His own country, Jesus was rejected by His own. "When the sabbath day was come, He began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing Him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto Him, that even such mighty works are wrought by His hands? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us? And they were offended at Him. "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. And He could there do no mighty work, save that He laid His hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. And He marvelled because of their unbelief." THE REFERENCES Mark 3:7-12 Matt. 8:5-10, 13. Mark 4:33-41. John 11:1-44. Mark 6:1-6. {260} THE QUESTIONS 1. What kind of man was Jesus physically? 2. What kind of man was Jesus spiritually? 3. What quality made Jesus a great leader? 4. What was the condition of Galilee--and all Palestine--at the time of Jesus? 5. How did Jesus manifest His divine power? 6. Describe some miracles wrought by Jesus. 7. Why is it surprising that all Palestine did not believe in Him, and accept Him? 8. What principle did Jesus teach concerning a prophet in his own country? 9. Why could Jesus do no mighty work in His own country? {261} {262} PICTURE: JESUS HEALING THE SICK, Schoenherr {263} XXXIV THE MEANING OF MIRACLES After reading of the wonderful miracles that Jesus performed in Galilee, one begins to wonder what a miracle really is. One begins to wonder by what power a miracle is performed. The miracles of Jesus are in the main so unusual, so extraordinary, so apparently in violation of all known laws of nature, that one begins almost to wonder how Jesus could upset the laws of nature. [Sidenote: The explanation of the scribes.]