WordLive - Year OneSample

Prepare: ‘Lord, please speak to me through your Word today.’ Taking offence People were frequently amazed by him, but Jesus was not amazed all that often. How unfortunate that Nazareth gets bottom billing for its lack of faith (v 6). The people recognised the wisdom with which Jesus taught and that wisdom is a gift from God (‘… that has been given him’, v 2, NIV). They also recognised that he performed genuine miracles. Again, they would have known that this signified God’s blessing and approval of Jesus (see John 3:2). So why the disconnect? Why did they go on to focus on Jesus’ humble beginnings, finally taking offence at him (v 3)? Unbelief Because of unbelief. We know from Luke 4:14–28 that Jesus’ earlier visit to his home town at the beginning of his public ministry had not gone well. When he made it clear that God was concerned for Gentiles as well as Jews the people had tried to kill him. So on this second visit, although Jesus’ fame had spread more widely by now, the people still rejected him and his claim to be the Messiah – just as his own family had done (see Mark 3:21). Respond: Think for a moment about your heart and your life. Where are the ‘faith disconnects’ – the attitudes and actions that betray the presence of unbelief rather than faith in Jesus? Repent of any unbelief and ask Jesus to become more real to you than any doubt, fear or obstacle. http://www.wordlive.org/Session/Classic/2012-06-21