Because of their unbelief he couldn’t do any mighty miracles among them!

Mark 6:1-6

Soon afterwards he left that section of the country and returned with his disciples to Nazareth, his hometown. The next Sabbath he went to the synagogue to teach, and the people were astonished at his wisdom and his miracles because he was just a local man like themselves. “He’s no better than we are,” they said. “He’s just a carpenter, Mary’s boy, and a brother of James and Joseph, Judas and Simon. And his sisters live right here among us.” And they were offended! Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his hometown and among his relatives and by his own family.” And because of their unbelief he couldn’t do any mighty miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them. And he could hardly accept the fact that they wouldn’t believe in him. Then he went out among the villages, teaching.

Food for Thought!

YOU CAN’T GO HOME AGAIN
Thomas Wolfe wrote a novel entitled “You Can’t Go Home Again.” The book is about a man named George Webber. He is an author who has written a bestselling book about his hometown. When he returns home, he expects to receive a hero’s welcome. Instead, he is driven out of town by his own friends and family. They feel betrayed by what he has written about them in his book. Webber is shaken by their reaction to his work and decides to leave his hometown behind to go elsewhere. George Webber discovered, just as Jesus found out, that those who know you best tend to respect you the least.
Our text finds Jesus returning to Nazareth. He is going home again. Our Lord’s return to His hometown does not go the way one might expect it to. After all, Jesus is something of a celebrity by this time. He has been going around the countryside preaching, teaching, healing the sick, casting out demons, raising the dead and controlling the forces of nature. He has proven that there is something very special and very different about Him.
As the people of Nazareth heard the message Jesus was preaching, they rejected His message because they thought they knew everything there was to know about Him. He had grown up among them and was one of their own. Then, they started to ridicule Jesus: "He’s just a carpenter, Mary’s boy, and a brother of James and Joseph, Judas and Simon. And his sisters live right here among us." These people did what many people do when they dislike or disagree with someone. They resorted to ridicule! Ridicule is the final refuge of a small mind! When you don't like or disagree with someone, don't resort to ridicule or character assassination. No one likes it. Not even Jesus did, not even you would.

Because of their lack of faith, Jesus was unable to perform many miracles there. Only a few sick folks were healed. This fact shows us that without our faith Jesus can't do much; just a little; "because of their unbelief he couldn’t do any mighty miracles among them." Without our faith Jesus is can't help us. It means that faith is the starting point and the basis of all “miracles.” Faith is the only known antidote for failure! Faith is the element, the “chemical” which, when mixed with prayer, gives us direct communication with God. Faith is the only agency through which the divine force of God can be harnessed and used by you and me. We miss much by our lack of faith in Jesus.