Why Couldn't Jesus Do Miracles in His Hometown?

In Mark 6:1-6, Jesus went with his disciples to His hometown of Nazareth. And on the Sabbath He began to teach in the synagogue.

Many who heard Him were astonished, saying, "Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to Him? How are such mighty works done by His hands? Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary whose family we know?" And they took great offense at Him.

And Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor, except in His hometown and His own household." And He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. He marveled because of their unbelief and went to teach in other villages.

Now, this part right here, where it says that He could do no mighty work there. This doesn't mean Jesus was powerless because the people lacked faith. Obviously it doesn't mean that because He did heal people. This also does not mean you must believe the Lord will do a mighty work for you to unleashing his blessings upon you.

Here's what we're meant to understand. Without faith in Christ, you will not be blessed to have the favor of God, nor be in fellowship with Him. No matter what Jesus did at Nazareth, they wouldn't believe in Him. They'd known of His miracles. But only those who believe His words will be His disciples. So He healed a few on whom He had compassion, then He left and did not return.

Hebrews 11:6 says without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would draw near to Him must believe in Him, and that He and rewards those who earnestly seek Him, when we understand the text.

Does the Bible Say Coexist?

Surely you've seen the COEXIST bumper sticker before: suggesting that Muslims, Hippies (I guess), the sexually confused, Jews, Wiccans, Taoists, and Christians should be more tolerant each other.

Before it looked like the Coexist logo you see on most VWs, first it included only the symbols for Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. It was made in 2001 by a Polish artist for a competition, later popularized by U2 on their Vertigo tour. This led to a legal dispute because you can't coexist when there's money to be made!

Yeah, it's hypocrisy. The facts coexisters don't want to discuss is that COEXI and S downright hate T, whom the sticker is directed at. I and S just prove atheists are religious. E wants to force everyone to bow to their sex gods. C's founder, Muhammad, killed people who wouldn't convert to his religion.

But Jesus and His apostles told Christians to live peaceably with everyone (Romans 12:18). Love your enemies and bless those who persecute you (Matthew 5:44). When Jesus was reviled, He didn't revile back, but entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly (1 Peter 2:23).

Jesus said, "My peace I give to you, not as the world gives" (John 14:27). No other religion or philosophy can give anyone peace. They are at enmity with others and with God. Only by believing in His Son Jesus do we have peace with God and will be saved on the day of judgment.

Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one gets to the Father but by me" (John 14:6). That message offends because it says all other beliefs are wrong. But this gospel of peace must be preached to the world so others may hear and coexist with God, when we understand the text.

Are You a Sinner?

By show of hands, how many of you are sinners? Yeah, everyone's hands should be raised. The Bible says, "All have sinned and fallen" way short of God's perfection (Romans 3:23).

Here's another question. How many of you are criminals? Raise your hand. The same hands should be raised. Most people might agree that they're sinners. Hey, no one's perfect, right? But hardly anyone thinks of themselves as a criminal -- even criminals! Yet that's exactly what sin makes us.
The Bible says. "Sin is lawlessness" (1 John 3:4).

You might say, "Wait, I haven't broken any laws!" But you have. You've broken God's law. You've committed perjury, you've slandered God's good name, you're a murderer... "Hey, I haven't killed anybody." But according to Jesus, you have. If you've ever hated anyone or even called them names, you've murdered in your heart and you're worthy of hell (Matthew 5:21-22).

Whoa, that's a little extreme. Sent to hell because I said a bad word? Yes. God is so holy sinners cannot stand in His presence. Sin is no small thing. You think it's no big deal because, hey, you're a sinner! But remember, Adam and Eve's sin resulted in all of creation being cursed. That's how serious sin is.

“To Adam, He said, ‘Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life.’” Genesis 3:17

“For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it...” Romans 8:19

It's so serious that you needed Jesus to live perfectly as your representative and die in your place as your substitute. Everyone who believes in Him will be forgiven and have eternal life. On the day of judgment you'll not be sentenced as a criminal but received as an heir of His kingdom!

Christ will send His angels to gather out of His kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. But the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of the Father (Matthew 13:41-42).

If God has pardoned you in Christ, live as someone who has been rehabilitated and do not return to a life of crime, when we understand the text!