Today’s Bible Verse
Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching.
Mark 6:5-6 (NKJV)
An Atmosphere for Miracles
Let me set the scene. Jesus has been off on a widespread ministry tour teaching with authority and performing impressive miracles. Then He took a turn to go through His hometown, Nazareth, as a part of His journey. Jesus was always in tune with the Father in what to say and where to go. I believe Nazareth needed a move of God and the Lord was responding to their cry by sending His Son, Jesus, to come through as the answer.
Imagine a hometown reception for a returning war hero, or a big-time celebrity, or world champions: parades down main street, political figures out to greet you, and being given the key to the city. In sports, they always look forward to getting the home field advantage as the hometown fans will show up strong and cheer for their hometown heroes. Jesus was returning home with an entourage of twelve. What type of reception did Jesus find back in Nazareth?
No crowds gathered around to receive Him. The people of Nazareth did not flock to Him as He arrived. They did not give their returning townsman an excited welcome. They simply did not take Him seriously. Our Lord returns to this small town for one final visit to the people who were most familiar with Him and they rejected Him. They missed out on their God appointment and miracles because of the wrong atmosphere. (Pastor Fika Esau)
An Uncommon Life
The atmosphere of a place will determine what miracles will take place there. In verse 5, “Now He could do no mighty work there…” because the enemies of their miracles were present. This is the spirit of familiarity, lack of honor, lack of faith, and unbelief
Familiarity breeds contempt. Jesus experienced this in Nazareth. In verse 3, “Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” They saw Jesus for 30 years before His ministry and familiarity says that If you know someone very well or experience something a lot, you can slowly stop respecting them. Familiarity says that the more you know something or someone, the more you start to find faults and dislike things about them. They became overly familiar with Jesus. In their hearts, He was no one special.
They recognized His wisdom and His mighty works, but it didn’t make a difference in them because of their lack of honor with who He was in their eyes. Honor is an internal attitude of respect and reverence, it should be accompanied by appropriate attention and obedience. Honor without action is incomplete; it is lip service (Isaiah 29:13). The source of all honor is God, and God the Father has bestowed honor on His Son, Jesus Christ, whom they had rejected and seen as illegitimate.
Lastly, their lack of faith and unbelief made the working of the miracles impossible. The absence of faith and the presence of unbelief neutralized their breakthroughs and miracles. It wasn’t that Jesus was powerless apart from men’s faith, but that in the absence of faith He could not do mighty works. This led to unbelief and man’s unbelief hampers and hinders them from receiving Christ’s power and miracles.
Therefore, Jesus moved on. In verse 6, “Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching.” The people of Nazareth missed out on their breakthroughs and miracles because Jesus will never force His benefits upon unwilling hearts.
Today’s Declaration
Thank You, Lord, for Your miracle working power in my life. I renounce the spirit of familiarity from operating in me. I am a man/woman of honor. I honor You, Jesus, as my Lord with all of my heart of obedience to Your Word daily. I am a man/woman of faith that sets an atmosphere for miracles daily in my life, in Jesus’ Name. Amen!
Today’s Bible Reading
- Old Testament: Deuteronomy 22-26; Psalms 68
- New Testament: Matthew 27:27-44; Romans 13
