Have you ever wondered about the story in Mark 6:1-5, where Jesus goes back to his hometown, but is unable to effectively minister there?
The Bible tells us that, as Jesus was teaching in the synagogue, many were amazed at his wisdom and the remarkable miracles he performed, yet they took offense at him. Why? Verse 3 gives us some insight: They were remembering their familiarity with him, how they knew his family and knew him when he was young.
So, what was the outcome of this?
Jesus said to them, “Only in their hometowns, among their relatives and in their own homes are prophets without honor.” He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. He was amazed at their lack of faith. Mark 6: 4-5
So what do we take away from this story? If someone you know personally is trying to minister to you and share something that God wants to say or do, don’t let your familiarity and/or preconceived notions about them hinder what God can do through them, or you will miss out on his blessings.
Jesus tells us elsewhere in scripture that it is our faith (in God and what he can do) that allows God to move in our lives, even faith as tiny as a mustard seed. Your blessings and miracles are not based on the perfection of the one being used by God to minister to you; they are based on the perfection, mercy and grace of the Creator of the Universe, and no other. And while we are ALL sinners and in need of a savior, God still uses ordinary (fallen) people to minister to others.
It’s a bit difficult to see this truth in this story because we know that Jesus WAS perfect (sinless), and he WAS God incarnate in the flesh. But the perception of his friends and relatives wasn’t focused on his identity in that regard. They saw him as an ordinary person, potentially remembering his mistakes of youth and the fact that he was a tradesman, a carpenter’s son (not someone groomed and instructed by the religious leaders of their day), so they labeled him in their minds-eye as incapable of being used by God to correctly interpret scripture and perform miracles. And because their focus was on the vessel that God was using rather than God himself, it hindered their faith and what Jesus could do in their presence.
May we strive to seek our heavenly Father in whatever methods of delivery he wants to use in order to reach us. As long as what is being taught or exhibited is not in violation of scripture, then we should attempt to remain open to it to see what God will do.
Until next time, be blessed!
CHOOSE YOUR ETERNITY 