Read Matthew 13:53-58
53 When Jesus had finished these parables, he left there.
54 He went to his hometown and began to teach them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?
55 Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother called Mary, and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas?
56 And his sisters, aren’t they all with us? So where does he get all these things? ”
57 And they were offended by him. Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his household.”
58 And he did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief. -- Matthew 13:53-58 (CSB)
This account of Jesus going to His hometown to teach is heartbreaking. When people, who perhaps knew him best, heard Him, they were astonished. However, their astonishment did not lead them to respond to His teaching in obedience and faith. Their lives could have been radically changed for the better. Their community could have been radically changed. However, no positive changes occurred in the people or the town of Nazareth. Why?
The Scripture gives the reason, “Because of their unbelief.”
Unbelief shuts the door on the transformational power of Jesus. Faith opens the floodgates to that same transformational power. In contrast to this passage of Scripture are countless others where Jesus worked miracles in response to the faith present in the lives of people. (Read Matthew 9:2; 9:22; 15:28; Mark 10:52; Luke 8:48)
When Jesus looks at your life what does He find? An attitude of faith? or unbelief? Do you believe Jesus can do a work of renewal and revitalization in your church? Do you believe He will? Do you believe that to the extent you are praying for Jesus to bring renewal to your church? If your unbelief is a roadblock to Jesus working in your church, confess the sin of unbelief.
