Faith: Day 6

Devotion by: Carolyn Saba

Mark 6:1-6

He left that place and came to his home town, and his disciples followed him. On the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, ‘Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands! Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?’ And they took offence at him. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Prophets are not without honour, except in their home town, 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. Then he went about among the villages teaching.

This story reminds me of a news story that I saw written in the press and on television in the last year. A high school basketball team was up for championships. There was a young autistic player among the team. I don’t remember much of the story except that the team had fought very hard the entire game and the autistic player needed to replace a teammate that had fouled out. The crowd was skeptical and worried about the final score since they were behind by several points. No one expected to win now that the star player was benched. To everyone’s amazement, the new player scored again, and again, and again!!!!!!! The crowd was thrilled. Every basket was more and more exciting. And yes, the team came from behind and won the game. OFF TO HISTORY.

In many ways, I believe the situation was similar for Christ. Here is a man, the people think they’ve known all their life, performing deeds of great power and interpreting the Word of God in Scripture, better than the rabbis! How can this be? He has no education, no formal training. So his teaching, preaching and deeds are not recognized for what they are; the work of God in their midst.

What they failed to understand is that God is much bigger than our preconceived notions. God chose to live among us as Christ. So the person they thought was just a local carpenter was really the author of the Scriptures he read. And as Scripture shows again and again, faith and belief are the things that open our eyes to God’s work and power. Jesus was always the Son of God. The people’s disbelief prevented them from recognizing what was happening in their midst. Perhaps we need to stop and take another look. For God may be using one among us to do a great thing, and we may not even see it.

PRAYER: Gracious Lord, your work goes on around us all the time. Open our eyes that we may recognize your handiwork. This we ask in the name of the carpenter, who astounded many, Christ our Lord. Amen.