Reading Mark 6 today,
"Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed.
"Where did this man get these things?" they asked. "What's this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph,Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him.
Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home." He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. He was amazed at their lack of faith." Mark 6:1-6(NIV)
I have to admit I have never seen myself in this story. It was more of an account that informed me of something that happened in Jesus' life.
But then one verse kept jumping out at me, "He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. He was amazed at their lack of faith."
That made me stop... Does a lack of faith in my own life prevent Jesus from doing a work?
Have I come to see life a certain way, and expect less and less from the Lord? Do I think I know so well what Jesus would and would not do in my life, that I no longer expect great things from him?
The town's people grew up with a Jesus that didn't do miracles. And now they were not open to seeing him for who he really is. And because of this lack of faith, he could not do anything in the lives of all but a few of them.
In fact, it would seem a Jesus with the power to change circumstances or bring healing was actually offensive to them.
Have we become complacent, thinking, "this is all there is how it will always be in our lives, Jesus hasn't done anything before now, why should I believe he ever will?"
Could it be, the reason Jesus hasn't moved in certain areas of our lives is because we simply don't believe he will?
