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.
Here Jesus goes home. Surely, we can identify with the tender feelings in His heart for the people of His hometown. What wonderful things He desired to do for them!
Sadly, it was not to be. Here the very Son of God is in their midst. He’s ready to do anything for them, but they have no faith in Him.
Why didn’t Jesus miraculously make all the needed improvements anyway? And just go ahead and better all their personal lives in spite of their unwillingness to trust Him!
Apparently God doesn’t work that way. There is the very important matter of freedom of choice God grants to every person. He will not force Himself into any life. He must be welcomed.
How different everything could have been for the town of Nazareth! But these relatives and former neighbors of Jesus limited God’s power by their own unwillingness to believe.
The problem in Nazareth that day was not Jesus’ lack of ability to change and improve their lives. The problem was their inability to accept and trust Him. Jesus is amazed by their lack of faith!
We think, what a waste! But are things all that different today?
Now the Teacher has come to our hometown. He is offering to take new students. He promises to change our lives to become like His.
Any takers?
No?
Then just call us honorary citizens of Nazareth! Because this is how we too are limiting the power of Jesus to change our lives.
Yesterday, Jesus saidd, "Don't be afraid; just believe."
ReplyDeleteAnd they were completely astonished.
Today, Jesus is amazed at their lack of faith.
Amazed in the Greek is to wonder or marvel at. I wondered if there was a negative connotation, but couldn't find it in the language, however it migth be there in the text.
Why is he amazed? At their lack of faith.
This past week we have seen the importance of faith. The woman who was healed, the dead girl raised, and here people who can't be blessed because their lack of faith.
Do we understand how important faith is?
How much more could God bless our lives if we had just a little more faith? Say in the amount about the size of a mustard seed.