Prophet without honor
Today’s reading is Mark6:1-5:
6:1 He went away from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. 2 And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands? 3 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. 4 And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.” 5 And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6 And he marveled because of their unbelief.
And he went about among the villages teaching.
1. Those closest to you will be the biggest obstacle to your walk. (Mark 6:1-4) Wow. Isn’t this true? Here we see Jesus teaching / preaching as is His call – and what is the result? Unbelief. Those very folks closest to Him, who you would think would lend the greatest support, are actually the largest stumbling block to His ministry.
What about us? Who in your life is your stumbling block? Who will not listen to the truth? Who will not support the decisions in your life made in much prayer for the glory of God? You should have people like that in your life. Why? Because it is the pattern we see here. It is a pattern that Jesus refers to in verse 4.
2. The absence of faith will result in the absence of the power of God. (Mark 6:5) Here, it’s interesting to note Luke’s account of this incident in Luke 4:16-30. Both in Mark and Luke we see that the people WILL NOT HAVE IT. Their lack of faith precluded the power of God from showing up among them.
What about in your family? How’s the faith level there? What about your workplace? How’s your faith level there? Church? When’s the last time you saw someone healed? Have the “gifts” truly ceased? Has God stopped being God? Why then do we not see a lot of this kind of movement among the people of God?
Matthew 13:58 And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.
Meditation: Where in my life do I need this God-honoring faith? Am I a stumbling block to someone else’s walk? How do I get more faith? SEEK HIS FACE – ASK FOR IT. Why? Because faith itself is a gift of God. Are there others in my life that are stumbling blocks for me? What should my response be? What was Jesus’ response?
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