Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Mark 6:1-7 - Booing the Works of Jesus?

At that time, Jesus came to his own country; and his disciples followed him. And on the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue; and many who heard him were astonished, saying, "Where did this man get all this? What is the wisdom given to him? What mighty works are wrought 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 at him. And Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house." And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands upon a few sick people and healed them. And he marveled because of their unbelief. And he went about among the villages teaching. And he called to him the twelve, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits

Rage in Red
Not a receptive crowd in Nazareth
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Jesus went preaching throughout Israel  proclaiming the Kingdom and healing the sick where ever He went.  And every village saw a mighty work in its midst. But when Jesus came to His hometown, the place where He grew up, the people were not receptive and had little to no faith. The result?  Only a few healings occurred and there was no mighty work.  You see, Jesus required faith to show forth the Glory of God in their presence.

Jesus was not at all interested in "proving" His power and deity. He could have.  He could have healed against their will and it would have been a 'mighty work" but then you have to wonder how the people would have received the imposition of miracles among them. Would have it increased their faith? I don't think so because their attitudes were wrong. They were not in a place to receive Christ as the proclaimer of the Kingdom because their hearts were hard towards Him. They thought they knew all about Him already, since they watched Him grow up....but they didn't really know Him.

In my life today, may my heart be open to the Kingdom of God.  Not so I can see miracles but so I can know Christ.  I may think I know Him already because I have been following Him all these years but, like the native Nazarethites, I could be wrong.  Make my heart soft towards You, O Christ. Amen.

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