Seeking Jesus First - May 1, 2023
What did Jesus do when people were not getting healed through His ministry? He taught them.
Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.
Every word of God is capable of producing life.
The words of Jesus are spirit and life.
Yes there were people whom Jesus could not heal, initially. Their hearts had to change first.
“Then He went out from there and came to His own country, and His disciples followed Him. And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, “Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands! Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house.” Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching. And He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits. He commanded them to take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bag, no bread, no copper in their money belts—but to wear sandals, and not to put on two tunics. Also He said to them, “In whatever place you enter a house, stay there till you depart from that place. And whoever will not receive you nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet as a testimony against them. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!” So they went out and preached that people should repent. And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them.” (Mark 6:1–13, NKJV)
Jesus visited a place where people did not have faith to be healed and He could not heal them or do any might work. The hearts of the people were offended and they would not believe.
This bears repeating. Jesus could do no mighty work and was only able to heal a few people. The people were offended in their hearts and did not have faith to receive from Jesus.
Offense and unbelief hinder miracles and healings. The Scripture says that Jesus, The Christ, could do no mighty work there.
What did Jesus do when He saw the condition of their hearts? When Jesus discerned their unbelief and their offense, Jesus went about the village in a circuit, teaching. Jesus proclaimed The Scripture. Jesus taught the people so that they could repent and believe.
After Jesus went around and taught everyone, He sent His disciples to them and they received deliverance and healing. They now had faith to be healed. Jesus knew that the anointed word of God being taught by Him would change their hearts. But is it possible that He sent His disciples to minister to the people who were offended because of Him? Is it possible that Jesus circumvents their offenses by sending His disciples to them?.
Is it possible that Jesus loves people so much that He thinks of ways to reach our hearts through our offenses and unbelief?
Let’s not make a mistake here, He still went around preaching the anointed word of God to all of them in spite of their unbelief and offense because faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.
It was not the miracles that changed their hearts. It was not the fact that Jesus had many disciples and followers. It was the teaching of the anointed word of God that helped them to repent and believe so that they could receive. Miracles and healings will get a person’s attention, but if we do not preach and teach the good news of the kingdom of God, they will not hear and believe and repent and be saved.
“For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:13–17, NKJV)