We read of numerous occasions Jesus performed wondrous miracles of healing, casting our demons, controlling thunderstorms, multiplying fish and loaves, yet Mark 6:1-6 describes an incident where Jesus’ power was ‘curtailed’, if we could call it so.
On this occasion, Jesus visited his hometown, and even though the people were initially impressed by him, they soon turned against him. This was when Jesus famously declared that a prophet is without honour in his hometown (vs 4, paraphrase).
“And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. And he marvelled because of their unbelief.” (Mark 6:5-6).
Why was Jesus’ power ‘curtailed’? Jesus could “do no mighty work there” because the people rejected him. At face value, this phenomenon could be reduced to an annoying platitude: “you are not healed because you do not have faith.”
But if we move beyond the platitude, we arrive at this: Miracles of healing, redemption cannot occur without our participation. Our attitude, faith, willingness to change, be healed, be redeemed – these are pre-conditions for such miracles.
God’s Power + Believer’s Participation èMiracle. If the above both ingredients must be present, perhaps both are equal in importance for a miracle??!?!
To be clear, I suggest this idea not to diminish God’s power or importance. (May it never be said!) Instead, it is to highlight the value of our being.
God has indeed created us in His image! He has given us free will. Our achievements, ability to transform, to do mighty works… are all limited only by our own choosing and our own actions. As beings created in His image, we hold so much consequence and value. God values us; He loves us. He awaits our participation as individuals. He awaits our participation as a church.
Let us allow God to do mighty work at BC. Jesus himself did not expect this result. “he marvelled because of their unbelief”. Did he marvel at the fact that these familiar people rejected him? Or did he marvel at the potency of their unbelief – that it could curtail his good work?
Kim
