Key Verse: And He did not do many miracles there because of
their lack of faith.
Matthew 13:58
This is now the second time that scripture records that
Jesus has come home. The first time that He came home it was to begin His
ministry. He had hoped to bless the home folk first. Now, Jesus has gained a
reputation. During His first visit, He had proclaimed that He was the
fulfillment of the prophecy about Messiah in Isaiah 61:1-3, but no
one had believed Him. In fact, they had actually tried to kill Him as a
blasphemer!
Now, Jesus has been out and about. He has taught thousands.
He has performed miracles. He has healed many. Perhaps He was hoping that His
reputation had preceded Him. Maybe now, they would believe. If this was His
hope, He was only to experience disappointment as His own people continued to
reject Him. "He came to that which was His own, but His own did not
receive Him." (John
1:11)
So many of us can relate to this. The people whom we love
the most and want with us most in eternity, reject our faith when we try to
share. Why? Because they know us. They know our past. They are most familiar
with the mistakes we've made. They carry a "Who do you think you are?"
attitude instead of appreciating how we have changed in Christ.
The people knew that Jesus had not trained to be a Rabbi. He
was just a simple carpenter. Besides, his own family wasn’t following after him
as if he was something special. They were
still at home in the village here, living their same old quiet lives. "Who
does this guy think He is?" If his
own mother doesn’t believe in him why should anyone else?
The people thought they knew. They allowed their knowledge
of their history with Jesus to blind them to the truth. Sadly, because of their
lack of openness, they were the ones who truly lost. Their lack of faith, there
it is again, prevented Jesus from blessing them as He would have wanted to do.
You understand this. You too understand how your loved ones
are missing out on the greatest joy they could ever know! Here too, Jesus
understands your grief. He knows your pain, for it is His. The rejection that
He experienced in Nazareth, is infinitesimal compared to the rejection that He
experiences by this world every day. "He came unto His own," the
ones that He had lovingly created, "and His own did not receive Him,"
even though He died for them.
Never doubt, Jesus is on your side in the battle to win
others to Himself. He knows your pain. He has experienced your frustration, and
He needs you to keep trying. As long as there is life there is hope. The
mightiest One of all is on your side and cheering you on to victory.
Hymn: "Hark, the Voice of Jesus Calling"
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