marvel
“And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.” And 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.”
Mark 6: 4-6 ESV
Jesus marvels at our faith.
Jesus didn’t marvel at art or architecture, He didn’t marvel at human invention or human piety nor did He marvel at the wonders of creation — but He did marvel at faith. To marvel means to be amazed. Jesus was amazed at faith that showed up in unexpected places and He was amazed at the absence of it.
In this section of Mark, Jesus returns home accompanied by His disciples. He began to teach in the synagogue of His hometown and while many were amazed, many were also offended by Him. Wasn’t this the boy they grew up with? The son of Mary? Wasn’t He just a carpenter? Jesus tells His disciples that “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown” and that He could not do any miracles there. He marveled at their lack of faith. They lacked faith because they had preconceived ideas of who Jesus was and despite what they had heard or seen, they refused to believe.
However, in Mark 5, right before Jesus returned home, there was woman who had been bleeding for 12 years. And this woman heard about Jesus and with full faith believed if she could only touch his cloak, she would be healed. So, she did and she was instantly healed (Mk 5:34).
What happens when we lack the faith that pleases God? Or what happens when we have extraordinary faith even when it doesn’t make sense? We look to Jesus.
Throughout His life on earth, Jesus demonstrated wild, bold, completely illogical, but absolute surrendered faith in His Father. As His followers, we are asked to exercise that same faith. Culture says, “Understand and see in order to believe.” Jesus says “Don’t be afraid. Just believe” (Mk 5:36).
For many of us the journey of faith feels long and wrought with hardship and trials, but when you feel like giving up remember Jesus has not left the throne. Our Savior stills reigns — forever and ever. And when our faith feels like it’s being tested it’s often because we’re on the brink of breakthrough.
I charge you Beloved, to live a life of faith that Jesus would marvel at.
in joy, peace + love,
Riley Rae Baker
additional reading:
Old Testament: Habakkuk 2:4, Isaiah 26:3
New Testament: Hebrews 11:6, Matthew 21:21, James 1:3, 1 Peter 1:7
reflect:
What areas of your life are lacking faith right now? How can you step out in bigger and greater faith? What does God want to reveal to you about a deeper, more rooted faith in Him?
centering prayer:
LORD, I pray for wild, bold, unreasonable faith. The kind that shakes culture. The kind that people stand in awe of because it doesn’t make sense. The kind of faith that You Jesus, would marvel at. amen.
