And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. Mark 6:5

Having been rejected in His home town, Jesus ‘could there do no mighty work’. This does not mean that the divine Saviour was incapable of performing miracles due to the obstinance of men. Jesus was unable to perform mighty works in Nazareth because it would have been improper for Him to do so. In Matthew’s account of the same events, we read: ‘And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief’ (Matthew 13:58).

Using their familiarity with Jesus’ early years and His family as a pretence, the Nazarenes hardened their hearts in unbelief, and rejected Jesus as the Messiah. Although miracles are powerful tokens of divinity, the performance of one in such a circumstance would be productive of no good. Not only would the people maintain their rejection of Jesus, but greater condemnation would rest upon them for having rejected greater light.

As it was for our Lord, the most trying mission field is often found to be the home circle. While our past example may not serve as a great endorsement, it is important to bear in mind that even with His perfect childhood and youth, our Lord was unable to break the cords of skepticism that tied His hands in Nazareth. Yet among our families there may be found ‘a few sick folk’ to whom the Lord’s healing power can be revealed.

Christopher Sparks