Devotion for Friday, March 17

The Jesus said to them, "Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown, and among their own kin, and in their own house."  And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them. And he was amazed at their unbelief. (Mark 6:4-6)

The first sermon I ever preached for my preaching class in seminary was on this text.  I remember I entitled it, "Jesus, no Hometown Hero".  I still find this story, especially Mark's version, to be quite comical and also poignantly confronting.  

We are told that Jesus "could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them."  Now, I don't know about you, but I find this to be a pretty impressive deed of power!  In fact, when Jesus does this same thing at other points of scripture, it is considered as much. I wonder if Mark is making a bit of a joke here; in effect saying that the issue is not that Jesus is unable to use his gifts of power amidst those familiar with him, but that, in fact, he still can, but they can not see it for what it is!

The question then becomes, why? What is it about them that did not allow them to see the power of Jesus to heal in their midst.  Perhaps it is because they felt that already knew all there was to know about him?  

Earlier in the reading the people say things like, "Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon?"  The issue, in my estimation, is that they were unable to see what Jesus was doing because they believed they already knew him.

Now, this can be a difficult for us too.  Do we not fall into the same trap? Do we not believe we have Jesus figured out from time to time? We know how Jesus should act, who he should bless, and what he will do in any particular situation?  "Is this not the Jesus we have known since Sunday school?"

We are called to be open to the ways Jesus is active and healing and saving the lives of those around us, especially those with whom we are not ready for Jesus to be in relationship.  As we do, we can see the active, living and healing power of Jesus in a new way.  A new way that calls us beyond our preconceived notions of the kingdom of God.

Lord Jesus, allow us to see you with new eyes and in new ways. Amen.