Jesus Marveled

“And He marveled because of their unbelief…..” Mark 6:6

Did you realize that in Jesus’ last lengthy conversation with His disciples just after the last supper, after Judas had been excused from the table, He repeated the same promise several times?  Certainly all of Jesus’ words are important, but these are His parting thoughts and instructions to those closest and most dear to Him, and He was about to be betrayed and crucified, and He knew it!  Should knowing this cause us to lean in and pay close attention to what He is saying?  The discourse is found in the Gospel of John and it begins in chapter 13 and goes all the way through chapter 16, ending just before His great prayer that is chapter 17.  I am as convinced as I’ve ever been that this is critical for us to take notice of, otherwise Jesus would not have been so persistent with this idea…. this promise. 

I’m just going to list some of the verses that I’m referring to and ask you to let them soak in for a bit……

John 14:13  “And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”

John 14:14  “If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.”

John 15:7  “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.”

John 15:16  “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.”

John 16:23  “And in that day you will ask Me nothing.  Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.”

John 16:24  “Until now you have asked nothing in My name.  Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”

These are all the words of Jesus himself, the King of kings and Lord of lords.  The One who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think.  So why do we pray so little?

Do we trust Him?  Do we believe Him?

In the Gospel of Mark, chapter 6, we read that Jesus returned to Nazareth……to those who knew of Him and His family.  The text tells us in verse 2 that those hearing Him teach there were astonished at His wisdom and mighty works, and yet in verse 6: “And He marveled because of their unbelief.”  Did you get that?  They knew of Him and acknowledged His wisdom and miracles and yet He marveled at their unbelief.  I wonder if He marvels at our unbelief…..even in the church today.

As we begin another week, I pray that you would consider the vastness of our God and the surety of His promises, and may we be the ones who marvel as we approach His throne and witness His faithfulness in our lives and in our church.

Praying for You!

Pastor Chris Olson