Mark 6
Now 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. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching. Mark 6:5-6 NKJV
Jesus did not perform many miracles in Nazareth because of the lack of faith among the people in His hometown. If you are praying for a miracle in your life, it is very unlikely that you will receive it without genuine faith that God can and will do it for you. Instead of Jesus being “amazed at [our] lack of faith” (verse 6), let us allow Him to work miracles in our lives by living in such a way that He is amazed at the magnitude of our faith!
”And whoever will not receive you nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet as a testimony against them. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!” Mark 6:11 NKJV
In this verse Jesus teaches the twelve disciples to shake off rejection. This lesson applies to us today: do not be discouraged when you are telling someone about Jesus and they refuse to listen. Ultimately it is not you or your evangelism style that they are dismissing – they are rejecting Jesus, and therefore God Himself: “Then He (Jesus) said to the disciples, ‘Anyone who accepts your message is also accepting Me. And anyone who rejects you is rejecting Me. And anyone who rejects Me is rejecting God, who sent Me’” (Luke 10:16). Once you are shut down by someone, take a step back and pray about when, how, or if you should approach him/her the next time an opportunity arises. Give that person space and move on to the next person in the meantime. We should press on and keep trying to discuss Jesus with our friends and family, but it always needs to be done in a loving and non-confrontational manner. Be sure to stay away from any condemnation or judgment. It takes courage to share your faith with someone, especially when you are embarrassed and insecure about what they are going to think about you. If you feel this way, remember Paul’s wise words: “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ” (Galatians 1:10).
When the day was now far spent, His disciples came to Him and said, “This is a deserted place, and already the hour is late. Send them away, that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy themselves bread; for they have nothing to eat.” But He answered and said to them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to Him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat?” But He said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they found out they said, “Five, and two fish.” Mark 6:35-38 NKJV
The disciples panicked at first because they were focused on what they did not have. In contrast, Jesus concentrated on what they DID have, and was able to multiply it into abundance. We need to believe that if we give what we have to God, as little or as much as that may be, He can magnify it and use it to bless others and strengthen His kingdom. This is true whether it is our time, energy, money, or talents. Today, Jesus is asking you to examine and ask yourself “How much bread do I have?” Ask Him to amplify your talents and resources so that you can then use them to bless others. Remember that what God said to Abraham is also meant for us today: “And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing” (Genesis 12:2).
Immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while He sent the multitude away. And when He had sent them away, He departed to the mountain to pray. Mark 6:45-46 NKJV
Jesus made sure that His prayer time was a priority. He understood that this connection with God would keep His spirit strong and enable Him to accomplish what He was sent here to do. Jesus had a lot of pressure on Him, with enormous numbers of people seeking his teachings, miracles and healings. With all of the daily stress that burdens us today from a variety of obligations, there is only one sure way to have peace: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6,7). Continue to pray at all times, even with brief requests (Ex: HELP!) or prayers of thanksgiving, to keep that bond between you and God strong throughout the day.