No Mighty Work

In Mark 6, we find the account of Jesus visiting His own country, the place where He grew up. The people there were astonished, but not in a good way. Notice what they said:

“And when the sabbath day was come, He began to teach in the synagogue; and many hearing Him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this Man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto Him, that even such mighty works are wrought by His hands?

Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James and Joses and Judah, and Simon? And are not His sisters with us? And they were offended at Him.” (vv.2-3)

They saw the miracles, heard the teaching unlike any they had heard before, and were surprised, but as the old saying goes, their familiarity did indeed breed contempt. How sad that the very community who, of all people, should have known Jesus to be if nothing else, different from other people, could not accept that this one whom they had watched from childhood was, in fact, the Messiah, the very Son of God.

They could not explain the miracles He did, nor could they figure out where He would have gotten the education humanly necessary to the quality and depth of His teaching. Yet, instead of believing, they chose to reject Him and to take offense.

The next two verses express the sad consequences of their unbelief:

“But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in His own country, and among His own kin, and in His own house.

And He could there do no mighty work, save that He laid His hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.” (v.4-5)

He could do no mighty work there. The people’s unbelief hindered the work God was willing to do among them. We know from other places in the Bible that God will not force His working on those who choose to reject Him, as in this case. But the remarkable thing in this passage is that, while He could do no mighty work there, He did in fact do some work.

We tend to look for the big, the grand, the mighty, and feel discouraged when God’s working seems less significant than we had hoped for. But for those few sick folk whom Jesus healed that day, His visit held the greatest significance. You see, God will not force belief on anyone, but He does honor what belief exists, even when it seems lost in the tide of public opinion.

This passage should encourage us, particularly as we pray for revival in our nation, cities, neighborhoods, and churches. Revival doesn’t need to be a big event to be significant. The turning of a few sick souls to Christ, the changing of one solitary life, the returning of one distracted heart to following after God—each work of God is of great significance.

The big events of the book of Acts, with thousands of people accepting Christ as their Savior are wonderful, and it would be amazing to see such a moving of God today. However, let us not forget that even one soul saved from an eternity in Hell, one heart made right with God—each one is a work of God, and each is worth rejoicing in.

May you and I live this week as those “few sick folk” made well, rejoicing in the work of God, regardless of the unbelief of the offended world around us.   

“Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” (Romans 15:13)