This is the story of why I hate (oh, wait, I’m a Christian—I’m not supposed to hate) strongly dislike Steve Young.

First, some background. Growing up in Northern California in the 1980s, I witnessed firsthand the golden era of 49ers football. With superstars like Ronnie Lott, Jerry Rice, and the greatest quarterback of all time, in my opinion, Joe Montana, it was impossible not to get swept up in the red and gold frenzy. So, the day they announced that Joe Montana was leaving the 49ers and the backup quarterback, Steve Young, was going to be the new starter, it broke my heart. But still, I was a 49ers fan, so I was willing to keep an open mind and give this new QB a shot for the sake of the team.

That is, until one summer day a couple of years later, when my friend Tony Salvo and I decided to attend a 49ers training camp near our hometown. We spent all day watching the Niners scrimmage and run drills. At the end of the practice, the players retreated to the locker room. All of us fans grabbed our autograph books and headed to a chain link fence that was closest to their path to the locker room. Fans would hold their books above the six-foot fence, and players would grab them, sign them, and maybe give a couple of brief words to the star-struck fans.

When Steve Young was heading toward the locker room, all the fans headed to the fence. I stood there in anticipation as Steve worked his way down the line, grabbing book after book and signing autographs. After a few seconds, he was right next to me. He grabbed my friend’s book and signed it. The crowd started to press in more on the fence, yelling Steve’s name. Steve handed back my friend’s book and reached for mine. Here we go! I was about to get future Hall of Famer Steve Young’s autograph. With his hand hovering over my outstretched book, Steve looked up at the crowd shouting his name and said, “Y’all are just too wild.” Steve did not grab my book. Instead, he left and went to the locker room, and I was left standing on the other side of the fence with an empty book. I was rejected.

I decided at that moment that I hated strongly disliked Steve Young.

The Gospel of Mark follows up its trilogy of authority and power in chapters 4 and 5 with a trilogy of rejection and persecution in chapter 6. It starts with Jesus heading back to his hometown of Nazareth to continue his ministry of bringing God’s kingdom near, only to be rejected by the community in which he was raised.

“A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home” (Mark 6:4).

Immediately after this, we get the story of Jesus sending out his disciples, two by two, to minister in his name. The writer of Mark wants us to see Jesus sending out his disciples in light of his rejection in Nazareth. It is a warning about the cost of discipleship.

“And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them” (Mark 6:11).

Our final story in this trilogy is the beheading of John the Baptist, which Mark uses as a gruesome reminder of the ultimate cost that will be paid by some who follow Jesus.

Just like the parable of the sower taught us back in Mark 4, when we follow Jesus and share his Gospel message of salvation, there are those who will hear it, receive it, and believe, and there are those who will completely reject it.

The key for us is to keep our hearts soft in the midst of rejection and our skin thick. We will receive condemnation and maybe even persecution for being followers of Jesus. But don’t be like me with Steve Young—don’t give up on them. This world needs to hear the Gospel, and we have been commissioned to tell them.

Prayer:

Lord, I pray that you keep my heart soft to this world. Don’t let their response shut me down. Lord, I also pray that you thicken my skin to help me withstand the arrows of rejection that come my way. Jesus, help me to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything you have commanded. Amen.

Reflection:

  • Do you have a story of a time when you felt rejected? What happened? How did you get through it, or how are you still working through it?
  • How has familiarity with Jesus blocked you from seeing who he really is? What helps you get a fresh look?
  • Where might God be sending you to share his Gospel message of salvation and hope? With whom might he be sending you?