Passage: Matt 13:58 (KJV)
"And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief."
Breakdown in Ability?
Take another good look at the Scripture for this devotional. Read it again... perhaps several times. Now ask yourself... why?
You see - on the surface, we might be inclined to believe that the "unbelief" of the people, (the people of Jesus' hometown - Nazareth), was the cause of Jesus' inability to perform many mighty works. But then, if we consider that against what we know to be true of who Jesus was (is), we must come to an altogether different conclusion.
It is theolgically sound to say that Jesus Christ, while fully man, was also fully God during the 33 years He spent on this earth. We understand that He was always "able" to perform miracles, but even as he suggested to his own mother (John 2:4), He was more interested in the overall picture - not willing to jeopardize the prophecies written about the Messiah.
To suggest that Jesus was in any way, "unable" to perform miracles because of the lack of faith of those around Him, would be to suggest that Jesus was "limited", which He was not. Rather than limited... Jesus was submitted. He was submitted to the Father, and submitted to His role in this world. Everything He did, was a deliberate act of submission to the reason He had come - that being to become the perfect sacrifice for our sins.
A Different Point of View
On 23 different occasions in the Scriptures, the Word tells us that Jesus, "healed them all", and "every one". He was uniquely able, and willing to heal all who came to Him. He was certainly able to perform miraculous events when the circumstances merited such things to happen, and when it would bring about the glorification of God.
It was not his "ability" that was in question... it was the lack of opportunity that prevented many miraculous things from happening in Nazareth.
Unbelief = Apathy
You see... the unbelief of the people was the real culprit here. They did not believe that Jesus "could" help them. They did not believe that He "could" heal them. And as a direct result of their unbelief, they simply did not come!
Let's face it... if no one believed that Michael Jordan could do unbeliveable things with a basketball, do you really think people would pay thousands of dollars just to see him do it? Of course not. If we did not really believe that Tiger Woods could play golf like no other... would he be recieving the multi-million dollar endorsements that he's getting? No way.
And the fact is... the people of Nazareth simply didn't believe that Jesus "could" heal them, or perform miracles. And because of their unbelief... they did not bring their sick to Him. They did not turn out in record numbers to hear what He had to say, and there was no call for Him to suspend the natural order of things, in an effort to point the way to the glory of God.
What About Today?
More specifically... what about YOU? Who do YOU believe Jesus is? Do you believe that He can heal you? Do you believe that He can accomplish the impossible in your life? Do you REALLY?
You see, all too often, we are guilty of the same thing that the people of Nazareth were guilty of. We recognize Jesus as a mighty teacher - maybe even a holy man... but when the rubber hits the road, we hesitate to believe that He can really do impossible things... miracles... in our lives.
As a result, we do not ask. We do not seek. We do not knock.
Let us regain our faith in who Jesus is, and then let us begin to activate that faith to see many mighty works begin to happen in our own lives! Let us look at the impossible things of life, and call them possible in Christ. Luke 1:37 tells us that "with God, nothing is impossible". If we really take that to heart, we will begin to step out of the boat, so to speak, and walk upon the waters of impossibility, in Jesus' name!
Prayer: Heavenly Father, forgive us of our unbelief. Please forgive us of our apathetic approach to the things of your Kingdom. Please help us to step out in faith, and to begin witnessing the impossible things, made possible by You. Teach us to ask, expecting the answer. Teach us to seek, expecting to find. Train us to knock, expecting the door to be opened. Lord, help us to be the church that is ready and waiting upon your return, and we will shine forth your light so that people will see our good deeds, and give glory to You, in heaven! In Jesus' name, Amen!
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Eric Reamer is an evangelist, and full time Christian
Illusionist. If you enjoy this devotional, please e-mail Eric at: Eric@IllustratedIllusions.com.
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