And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.” And 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. And he went about among the villages teaching. Mark 6:4-6 ESV
Recently I heard a pastor talking about the great miracles he had seen in a foreign land. He was amazed that the same message and the same preacher did not produce the same results here at home. Obviously, Jesus had the same problem. Something powerful should happen when believers gather in faith and expectation. Jesus even promised to show up personally in our midst! (Matthew 18:20).
In Nazareth, Jesus identifies the problem: unbelief. This seems to be a common cause of powerlessness in the assembly of believers. I remember the 10 spies who talked Israel out of entering the promised land in Numbers 13. They heard the promise and saw that the land was exactly as described, yet they decided that the situation was too great: “We are not able.” Hebrews 3:19 tells us that “they were unable to enter because of their unbelief.”
After His resurrection, Jesus appeared in the midst of His disciples, fulfilling the promise of Matthew 18. There he was, standing in the midst of them! You would think they would be thrilled, but Matthew tells us that “when they saw him, they worshiped him, but some doubted” (Matthew 28:17). Mark gives us a glimpse of that first sermon to the assembled 11: “He rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen him after he had risen” (Mark 16:14). Oh, me!
As we prepare for church this week, we can make our meeting more than a lecture and a mini-concert. If we come with faith, Jesus will still show up. Take time to get 2 verses embedded in your heart:
- For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” (Matthew 18:20)
- Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)
Start saying it to yourself. “When I get to church, Jesus will be personally present in our service. He is the same Jesus now that He was then. He goes about healing the sick, casting out devils, and declaring that the Kingdom of God is at hand. Thank You, Jesus, for showing yourself alive in our midst!”
Now, let’s go expecting.
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