He Was Not Able

He left there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished. “Where did this man get these things?” they said. “What is this wisdom that has been given to him, and how are these miracles performed by his hands? Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And aren’t his sisters here with us?” So they were offended by him.

Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his household.” He was not able to do a miracle there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. And he was amazed at their unbelief. He was going around the villages teaching.

Mark 6:1-6 (CSB)

Maybe it’s just me but I find it interesting that Jesus goes home to Nazareth after performing miracles and attracting large crowds in and around Capernaum and he basically gets the cold shoulder. He has been demonstrating his power and authority every where he goes but the hometown crowd is not impressed. In fact, they seem a bit annoyed that he is there. This is the Jesus who casts out demons, heals the sick, calms the storm, and ever raises the dead. However, his family and the folks at home see him as nothing more than that kid from up the street.

Many of the people (including the religious leaders) are astonished by the things Jesus has been saying and doing. Even those who oppose him recognize that he is out of the ordinary. They aren’t quite sure how to deal with him. Those folks in Nazarene though, they are amazed that Mary’s boy dares to stand in the synagogue and preach they way he preaches. He’s just a carpenter. Who told him he was the Messiah? Where is all this stuff coming from? Is he really performing miracles? Really? Look, there are his brothers and sisters. They don’t even buy it. Why should we?

They are actually offended that Jesus would have the gall to come home and pretend to be some kind of prophet. This time it is Jesus who is amazed. I’m not exactly sure how God in the flesh is amazed by a bunch of hard-hearted Nazarenes but that’s what it says. It’s not that he doesn’t have the ability to perform miracles there either. He does. He’s still the Son of God. But they have rejected him and the response is divine rejection. They shut themselves off from the power of God. Jesus does heal the handful that proclaim faith and then he moves on.

I hope and pray that we don’t reject Jesus. I hope we recognize him for who he is. I believe the power he demonstrated while he was here on earth is still available to us if we simply believe. I hope he isn’t amazed by our lack of faith.

Grace and peace.