Jesus said
to them, "Only in his hometown, among his relatives and in his own house
is a prophet without honor.
He could not do any
miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them.
And he was amazed at their lack of faith.” (Mark 6:4-6, NIV)
Observations:
I asked
myself what we learn about Jesus here.
-
Jesus could not do any miracles in His
hometown of Nazareth except lay his hands on a few sick people and
heal them.
-
Jesus was amazed at their lack of faith.
Interpretations:
I asked
myself what is the significance of the phrase ‘could not do any
miracles’.
It is very interesting that the
phrase does not say ‘did not do any miracles’ but ‘could not do any
miracles’. This is very significant because it tells us a lot about the
character of Jesus. For Jesus to have done miracles there would have
gone against His nature so that was not possible.
The majority of His hometown
could have been saturated with unbelievers who did not want to believe
in Jesus because they thought of Him as one of them so how could He be
different. This created a chain-reaction.
If they were not going to
believe even after all they saw and heard, Jesus would not force them to
believe by doing miracles just to prove who He was to them. Jesus never
wants converts to come to Him by force or manipulation.
Jesus has emphasized the
importance of having faith and believing. Jesus’ miracles are grounded
on people’s faith and belief. Even if they had lack of faith but wanted
to believe or chose to believe, then Jesus would have still been able to
do the miracles. Instead, those in His hometown did not want to even try
to believe.
Why would Jesus even bother to
do miracles there then! It would be like buying people of who did not
believe. Jesus was not about that and that is why Jesus could not do
miracles.
It is important to realize here
that ‘could not’ does not mean Jesus did not have the ability to do the
miracles. He has the ability and capability to do miracles as has been
shown time after time through the chapters I looked at. Just recently, I
studied about Jairus’ daughter being raised from the dead. Jesus had the
capability alright but also was obedient to the Father.
By doing miracles to those that
did not believe would have messed up His ministry. He could have done it
if people chose to believe and asked Jesus to help their unbelief. When
the storm came on the waters, the disciples were afraid but at least
they had a sense of belief that Jesus could do something.
I believe ‘could not’ can be the
same as ‘did not want to’. We can think of examples where ‘could not’
does not mean ‘no capability’ but ‘have the capability but did not want
to’. Jesus laying His hands on a few people and healing them shows Jesus
had the power if He chose to do miracles.
I asked
myself why Jesus was amazed at their lack of faith.
Jesus grew up in Nazareth and
had done miracles and teachings in different places before coming back
to His hometown. Here Jesus teaches with wisdom and people have come to
know that Jesus does miracles but people continue to have lack of faith
in Jesus. This bothered Jesus because of everything that He has done and
yet He does not see their faith blossoming instead it is lacking.
Implications:
I saw important implications for
my own life. There has been a lot going on in my life right now. I wish
the answers would come quickly one way or the other. The hardest thing
is waiting and waiting and waiting. At times I feel like I am lacking in
faith in the situation but I choose to believe and fight to believe. I
see the Lord reaching out to me through His Word because even if we have
faith as small as a mustard seed, He does work in our lives.
After spending time in prayer
again this morning about the situation I want resolved one way or the
other, I was reminded to read Psalm 42 this morning. Jesus used the
Psalm to uplift me and build me up in the pain.
I felt Jesus asking me, “Don’t
you remember all the times I helped you and got you through what you
were going through? What is the difference now! I am still the same
yesterday, today, and tomorrow. What I did for you getting you through
then, I can still do. Don't be afraid. Just believe.”
I need to do that but waiting
has been so hard for me and am really tested in my faith but there is
hope in Jesus and I am going to stand on the promise of God’s Word for
His Help.
Jesus wants me to hold on to
this promise He has given me from Psalm 42:
Oh my
soul, don’t be discouraged! Don’t be upset. Expect God to act! For I
shall again praise Him for all that He will do for me. He is my Help! He
is my God!” (Psalm 42:11, TLB)
In my doubts not knowing the
answer to what I am waiting for, I continue to wait and wait knowing and
believing God will act. He will act in His timing. I need to hold on to
the promise Jesus has given me, “Do not be afraid!
Just believe”. If what I am hoping for and praying for is
according to the will of God, no matter how long I have to wait, He will
allow it to happen!
I ask you
now dear friend, how is your faith?
Dear friend, if you are growing
strong in your faith that is so awesome and a blessing. Sadly, that is
not always the case even among Christians. Things can happen in our
lives that sometimes make our faith fragile. At other times it seems
like it has shattered or fallen.
I do not know where you are
right now in your own faith but this I know, Jesus loves you and wants
you to seek Him! No matter how downcast you are, how hopeless a
situation might seem, you can choose to have faith and remain in faith!
It will not be easy always but holding on to what Jesus has already
accomplished in your life and knowing that He can continue to work in
your life can give you that peace to continue. Having faith no matter
how small that faith is, even the size of a mustard seed, has the
potential to move mountains!
We cannot always understand why
things happen the way they do. Sometimes what happens gives so much
pain. This does not change Jesus’ love for us. When we are in pain I
believe He is in pain with us. When we are in sorrow, He is in sorrow
with us. I do know whatever we go through if we are in the Lord, we are
not alone and He will get us through. He does not want us to be afraid
but to believe.
Won’t you
do that friend?
I do not know what you are faced
with right now but Jesus knows what you are going through and what you
have been waiting for. There are many times He gives us what we wait for
as we seek Him. At other times, He tells us ‘No’ because He loves us and
has a plan we cannot understand in the present situation.
Will there
be pain and will a person’s faith be shaken?
Yes, that is very possible but
also it is important to remember whatever the Lord allows in our lives,
when we are His, He will not let us go through it alone. He will provide
the support and strength to get through. The important thing is not to
give up on the Lord and what you have been waiting for. Even if the
present situation does not work out, He will open another door of
blessing for you friend.
When you are tempted to give up
on what you have been waiting, you need to saturate yourself with the
Word of God. You see His Word will comfort you and give you promises you
can hold on to. As you wait on the Lord in faith, no matter how long you
wait, it will not be a waste of time because you are depending on the
Lord. Do not look at the days that have gone by but look to the bright
days the Lord will bring your way and will give you an answer for what
you wait for.
He has His perfect will for your
life and His timing for your life. Wait on the Lord friend and let Him
guide you and lead you. There were a married couple who were praying to
have a child but she could not get pregnant. They continued in prayer
and prayer and prayer, waiting on the Lord. Five years later, they had
their own child as his wife became pregnant. When the answer comes after
prayer and waiting and when we see the Hand of the Lord on the
situation, the result and outcome is that much more sweet and savoring.
Miracles are available friend so
wait on the Lord and in His timing. I intend to wait on the Lord for the
answer I am seeking whether the answer is a ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ for the Lord
knows what it should be in my life. He knows the answers for your life
too.
Few years ago, it was put upon
my heart to write a poem to help the fallen find faith. I hope it
ministers to you if you are struggling in your faith. I hope you can
share it with those who you believe would benefit from it. It is taken
from a counseling book I wrote for students faced with different
situations in their lives.
Finding Fallen Faith
By Ramesh C. Reddy
Nothing is going your way?
At each new day
On bed, you just want to lay?
Whether it be Jan, Feb, Mar, etc or May
Don’t know if with Christ you want to stay?
There is so much pain
Nothing to gain
Your faith seems to be in vain?
Filled with problematic stain?
You feel Christ does not care?
But He wants to your burdens bear. (Matt 11:28-30)
And you He will from the pain soon spare.
Please in Christ, have faith.
(Psalm 37:5)
To backslide from Jesus, problems Satan uses as bait.
Whoever loves the Lord, the devil will hate.
Please do not lose hope but upon the Lord wait.
(Isaiah 41:10)
Jesus knows how you feel
(1 John 3:20)
And your wounds Jesus will heal. (Isaiah 53:4-5)
And help you with your problems deal (1 Cor 10:13)
Purchasing you by His precious blood, the New Covenant He does seal!
Amen!
May you rest in the Lord for
answers in the Heavens!
“For
Answers In The Heaven!” (F.A.I.T.H)/”How is
your faith?”
PRAYER
Lord Jesus I love you so much. Thank you Jesus for loving me so much. I
praise you and worship you Lord. I am sorry for my sin. Please forgive
me Lord. Thank you Lord Jesus you hear me. I pray for those that are
backsliding and are struggling in their faith. I pray OH Lord that you
would restore them. Lord Jesus they maybe facing circumstances in their
life that's hindering their faith. They need you Lord. I need you Lord!
Sadly, we rely on ourselves many times. When the devil tempts us, we
forget you are there to help us. When we are faced with trials and
tribulations, we forget you are with us through it all. Sorry Lord for
forgetting so easily. Please Lord change circumstances in people's lives
and please Lord help them feel your love. You brought me back when I
backslid years ago. Thank you so much Lord. Thank you Lord Jesus, you
can do the same now too. I turn each one who is struggling to find you
over to you Lord. I trust in you Lord Jesus with everything. Thank you
Jesus, when we wait upon you, you will rescue us and mount us up with
wings like eagles. Thank you that even if our faith is so small, you
still work in our lives. We need your help to build our faith. Help us
Jesus please. No matter how many years have gone by, we need your help
to continue to grow in you Lord. Thank you Jesus, we can expect you to
act in our lives. You are our help and our God! Thank you Jesus, you
hear and answer. You have washed us clean and look after us. We trust in
you and wait upon you with all our concerns and problems. Thank you for
cleansing us with your precious blood. Thank you Jesus for the New
Covenant. We give our life to thee and renounce any idols or gods that
have crept up in our lives that go against your Word. Forgive us and
help us! We acknowledge you as our Lord and Personal Savior! Thank you
for being our Lord and Personal Savior! Thank you that you have heard
our prayers and answered us! In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!
If
you would like to invite Jesus Christ into your heart and make Him a
daily part of your life, you can this very moment. You will never be
alone. You can claim God's promises for you in the Bible and see them
come true, before your eyes, in His wonderful timing. You don't have to
wait for a special time to come to the Lord. You can come right now as
you pray this prayer, meaning it in your heart.
Prayer:
Dear Jesus, I am a sinner Lord. I am so sorry for
my sins. I confess my sins to you. I confess the wrong things I have
done and messed up my own life. I need you Lord right now and in the
years to come. I have gone my own way and have not found what only you
can give me. You alone have the words of Eternal Life. You alone love me
unconditionally for who I am. I thank you Jesus. I accept you Jesus into
my heart. Thanks Jesus for coming into my heart. Thanks for forgiving me
of all my sins. Thanks for giving me a new identity in you. I
acknowledge you as my Lord and Personal Savior as I believe in my heart
that you died and came back to life to save me now and forever. I give
myself to you and ask you to be in control of my life. Thank you Jesus
through the days, we can do things together. Thanks for being my
Lord and Personal Savior. Thank you Jesus you have heard my prayer and
answered me. Thanks Jesus for changing me and helping me through life's
storms and winds. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!
(You can start your Christian adventure by reading the Gospel of John)
