Refuse to Believe?

Prayer – Lord Jesus, how could anyone refuse to believe in You…and in Your power to heal and do miracles? I believe in You and Your power! I love You with all of my mind, heart, soul, and strength. 

Jesus left that part of the country and returned with his disciples to Nazareth, his hometown. The next Sabbath he began teaching in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. They asked, "Where did he get all this wisdom and the power to perform such miracles?" Then they scoffed, "He's just a carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon. And his sisters live right here among us." They were deeply offended and refused to believe in him. Then Jesus told them, "A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family." And because of their unbelief, he couldn't do any miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them. And he was amazed at their unbelief. Then Jesus went from village to village, teaching the people. Mark 6:1-6

Meditate. Consider Jesus’ blood shed for you.

Jesus had just done some awesome miracles in the region of Gerasene which is in the northern area of the Sea of Galilee. It was mostly a Gentile area—that’s where the pigs ran off the hillside and drown in the Sea of Galilee. He also healed a demon possessed man and raised a little girl from the dead. Now He and His disciples were in Nazareth, where He’d grown up. The people there refused to believe in Him. Refused. Rejected Him. Denied Him. Have you ever been rejected? Not like Jesus was rejected…but maybe you weren’t picked for a sports team, or as a cheerleader, or even for some job promotion? Opportunities went by the wayside and doors closed. It was a little deeper than that for Jesus. If you read this account in Luke 4:16-30 you’ll see that those people of Nazareth wanted to throw Him off a cliff. To kill Him. That is pretty extreme—but it wasn’t His time to die yet and He escaped.

When they heard this, the people in the synagogue were furious. Jumping up, they mobbed him and forced him to the edge of the hill on which the town was built. They intended to push him over the cliff, but he passed right through the crowd and went on his way. Luke 4:28-30

Jesus isn’t here with us now—but if He were, would you believe? Do you believe in His power without Him being right here? Jesus spoke to His disciple, specifically Thomas, who didn’t believe without seeing Jesus after His resurrection.

Jesus said, "Blessed are those who believe
...without seeing Me."
Drama of the Last Supper
Richland Nazarene Church

Then Jesus told him, "You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me." John 20:29

Be blessed. It is your choice—but I hope that you don’t refuse to believe in Jesus. He has the power to save all who call on Him. Ask Him to forgive your sins. He won’t refuse.

Verse of Salvation ~ Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you. 1 Timothy 4:16

© 2024 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. 
All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted. 
New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 
Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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