If You Need a Miracle, You Must First…

Today's Three-minute Bible Study
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Title: If You Need a Miracle, You Must First… ------------------- Date: 1/16/2003
Keywords: "belief" "believe" "miracle" "trust" "unbelief"
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Passage: Mark 6:1-6*

1. Jesus went out from there and came into His home town; and His disciples followed Him.

2. When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue; and the many listeners were astonished, saying, "Where did this man get these things, and what is this wisdom given to Him, and such miracles as these performed by His hands?

3. Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? Are not His sisters here with us?" And they took offense at Him.

4. Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and among his own relatives and in his own household."

5. And He could do no miracle there except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them.

6. And He wondered at their unbelief. And He was going around the villages teaching.

Questions

1. Looking at the last two verses, why was Jesus not able to heal more people in these villages?

 

2. Do you think your "familiarity" with the story of Jesus may have jaded your ability to know him at a deeper level? What are possible solutions, if this is indeed a problem you or someone you know is facing?

 

Practical help

How could such a normal appearing person like this particular carpenter from Nazareth be so extraordinary? It isn’t just Jesus who has had to struggle with this identity problem. At some level all of us deal with being typecast by those who know us best. For example many adults have trouble with their parents who still treat them like 16 year-olds.

Sometimes, our familiarity with ourselves is the biggest problem. We believe that once we have failed sexually it is an ironclad law of life that we must always be identified by the sin or sins we have committed. If you are suffering from guilt and shame over your sexual mistakes, you are in need of something that will transform your life into that of a healthier and happier person. But this is not possible as long as your belief system is stuck in a self-destructive mode.

What do I mean? Well, first of all, it’s reasonable to feel guilt and shame over sin, but this then should move you to actions that will take you out of these feelings in time. Note that I said, "In time!" There is no instantaneous fix for emotional pain as a result of the chronic ingestion of sickening and degrading images and ideas.

The battle being waged in your mind (and for your mind) is one that will last a lifetime. But mental, emotional, and spiritual health can be obtained once you have decided to believe in Jesus’ words and actions on your behalf, (whether you understand them or not). You must decide to trust him more than you trust your own intuition, your own intellect, your social connections, your economic means…etc. If you need more information along this line, click here.

Note that Jesus wondered what others thought about him (verse 6), but it didn’t stop him from carrying out his responsibilities. He didn’t stand around trying to convince them they were wrong. Your friends may not understand you, but this is no reason to hide away hoping you will eventually spontaneously recover.

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*"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, © Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission."