Why Jesus Marveled

On any given week some 56 million Americans participate in some kind of worship gathering and hear some kind of teaching or preaching from the Bible. Many times the people are inspired, comforted and even convicted by such messages.

Sadly some of those 56 million will listen to boring, uninspiring and powerless messages as well. Truth may be dispensed but something seems lacking. The listeners are not brought into an encounter with God. Preachers may be eloquent, polished and professional but they can be all of that and still be powerless. Ineffective. Impotent.

Jesus did not teach that way. He taught with power and authority often leaving the listeners astonished. They wondered where He got His insights. When Jesus showed up it was not religious routines as usual. He brought life and power. He transformed lives.

Even though He taught so effectively I read a passage today that left me puzzled. Jesus marveled at a group of people in a synagogue. They also marveled at His teaching. People heard Him and were again astonished. They were also offended by Him. Jesus in turn marveled at them and did very little powerful work among them because of their unbelief. Their lack of faith. Their doubt.

Mark 6:1-6 (NKJV)
1 Then He went out from there and came to His own country, and His disciples followed Him.
2 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!
3 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?" And they were offended at Him.
4 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."
5 Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them.
6 And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching.

How could they doubt and lack faith when they heard Jesus teach? Jesus marveled, or was astonished at them for doubting. They did doubt Him. We do too. How often do we doubt and lose heart in Jesus and His word even while hearing that very word taught and preached? We may gather for worship consistently and yet still be filled with unbelief. UNBELIEF IS SIN. We are commanded over and over again to trust God. May our unbelief be quickly repented of and cast away to embrace faith and belief in Jesus to come through. May His mighty work not be hindered in our lives and gatherings because of unbelief.