LACK OF FAITH SUPPRESSES THE REVELATION OF GOD’S POWER
LACK OF FAITH SUPPRESSES THE REVELATION GOD’S POWER
Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.” And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith. —Matthew 13:54-59
The people in Jesus’ hometown thought they knew Him, but they did not. They only saw Him as “the carpenter’s son” or the son of “Mary” or the brother of “James, Joseph, Simon and Judas” and “his sisters.” They did not understand how He could have such “wisdom” nor “miraculous powers.” Jesus was an offense to them.
The same is true today. People who do not understand who Jesus is take “offense at Him.” They do not understand not only Who He is, but why He came. They do not understand why He had to go to the cross and they do not understand His resurrection, ascension and His coming again. They are offended at such things—- “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (I Corinthians 1:18). But for us who know Him we understand the power of God through the cross and resurrection.— “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile” (Romans 1:16) and “Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 1:1-4). Yes, we who have called on the name of the Lord to be saved understand the power of God in our lives.
It was unfortunate that it was “because of their lack of faith” that Jesus did not do many miracles in His hometown. Sad that those in the very place He grew up did not get to see the power of God displayed because of their unbelief. It is the same today. People will not see the power of God in their lives or the lives around them because of lack of belief. But let us be faithful in taking the message of the powerful, transforming gospel to them. Yes, may this be so!
Dear Father I thank You for the power of the cross and resurrection. I thank You for Your power in transforming lives, including my own. I am grateful. Now may I live out what You desire by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son Jesus. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oRfcEeLGyI