Devotions on F.I.R.E. Year Oneنموونە

And He marveled because of their unbelief (Mark 6:6).

How do you cause Jesus to marvel?

Jesus returns to His hometown of Nazareth. This visit displays the mercy and grace of God because one year earlier His former community rejected and sought to kill Him (Luke 4:16-29). Jesus’ teaching “astonished” its hearers (Mark 6:2). The verb “astonished” means to strike, and has an intensifier affixed to it. Although being strongly struck by His teaching, they stumble over His lineage. Jesus responds, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house” (Mark 6:4). Jesus brings the twin virtues of grace and truth to Nazareth, but “He could do no mighty work there” (Mark 6:5). Why? Mark answers, “And He marveled because of their unbelief” (Mark 6:6). Even though they were struck by Jesus’ words, He could only be astonished at their unbelief.

Employment Point: Cause Jesus to marvel because of your faith and not unbelief.