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.
(Mark 6:5-6)
Thoughts… This is one of the most amazing texts in the entire Bible. Jesus, the second person of the Trinity, the visible image of the invisible God; the one who existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation; the one through whom God created everything in the heaven and on earth, the things we can see and the things we can’t see—thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world; the one by whom all creation is held together (Colossians 1:15-17)…
This Jesus who had raised the dead, healed the sick, delivered the demonized, fed the five thousand, and walked on water, could do no mighty works in his own town because of the unbelief of the people who knew him.
And even he—the one who had seen it all—was amazed by their unbelief. I would say it must take an awful lot to stump Jesus!
What is the one thing Jesus can’t do? Violate a person’s willful unbelief, that’s what. He will help a person’s humble admission of unbelief (Mark 9:14-25), but he will not impose his Lordship on someone’s refusal to give him a chance.
Do you think we sometimes do that with Jesus? We’ve seen his glory; we’ve tasted his goodness; we’ve been touched by his love and grace and power. Yet we still question his right of Lordship over our lives. How? By doubt, worry, fear, depression, anger—engaging in any number of self-medicating, self-destructive acts—overspending, overeating, oversleeping, over-talking, over-sharing, over-indulging, sexually addictive behaviors, substance abuse…
Why would we surrender to any of those when we’ve touched the power and glory of the Lord Jesus Christ? I don’t know. Sometimes my own propensity to resist his loving Lordship amazes me.
Here’s what I do know: If we will take an honest look at where we are resisting his right to rule over us—both passively and willfully—and come to him with a humble request that he help our unbelief, even that crack in the door will be enough for him to do his might works in our lives.
Prayer… Jesus, there are still areas of my life where I resist your Lordship. Help my unbelief. I open the door of my heart to you, and invite you to burst through it to accomplish your mighty works in me.
One More Thing… “Beware in your prayers, above everything else, of limiting God, not only by unbelief, but by fancying that you know what He can do. Expect unexpected things, ‘above all that we ask or think’. Each time, before you Intercede, be quiet first, and worship God in His glory. Think of what He can do, and how He delights to hear the prayers of His redeemed people. Think of your place and privilege in Christ, and expect great things!” —Andrew Murray
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