In one of his meetings, D.L. Moody was explaining to his audience the truth that we cannot bring about spiritual changes in our lives by our own strength. He demonstrated the principal like this: "Tell me," he said to his audience, "how can I get the air out of the tumbler I have in my hand?" One man said, "Suck it out with a pump." But Moody replied, "That would create a vacuum and shatter it." Finally after many suggestions, he picked up a pitcher and quietly filled the glass with water. "There," he said, "all the air is now removed." He then explained that victory for the child of God does not come by working hard to eliminate sinful habits, but rather by allowing Christ to take full possession.
In Matthew 13, there is a very disturbing passage. It is found in the last verse – v. 58: “And He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief.”
At first glance one would be tempted to ask, “Hey, wait a minute. If the people are having a problem with unbelief, then performing miracles would be a cure. People need help to overcome their unbelief and witnessing a miracle or two may be just the answer.” But let me show you the verses that precede verse 58.
53When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there. 54Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. "Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?" they asked. 55"Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? 56Aren't all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?" 57And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, "Only in his hometown and in his own house is a prophet without honor."
Jesus goes back to His home town of Nazareth. He goes into a local church there and begins to preach the Word in dynamic form. Everyone there is accosted with the truth. There is no denying it. Rather then believing Him and rejoicing in the privilege of hearing God Himself speak (it is one thing to hear someone speak for God, it is something totally different to hear God Himself speak), “THEY took offense at Him.”
It is important to understand who the “they” are. You may be tempted to think of the “they” as being those who were in the Synagogue. You know, those who had asked the series of questions in verses 55-56. But that’s not really so. The “they” were members of Jesus’ own family – “His brothers and sisters.” They were present. They were there. “Are they not all with us,” the people stated. It was “they,” Jesus’ brothers and sisters who took offense at Him. Jesus therefore left His own hometown because of their unbelief.
Nothing could be worse than to experience the rejection of family. Obviously, while in the Synagogue, surrounded by a lot of important and powerful religious people, not to mention, friends and acquaintances, Jesus’ family became embarrassed by Him. Rather than standing up, speaking up and supporting their own brother, they led in His rejection.
So when Jesus left, He did so because of their unbelief. This tells me that there are two kinds of unbelief in the world. First, there is the king of unbelief that exists because a person simply does not have enough evidence to make a rational decision. This person needs more light, more miracles, and more time. Second, there is a kind of unbelief that occurs simply out of an unwillingness to acknowledge the truth. This kind of unbelief does not need more light, more miracles, and more time. There is nothing stopping or keeping this person from believing except their own unwillingness to yield to the truth. Truth is starring them in the face but they are too embarrassed, too proud, too self-centered to believe and accept it. So they choose to go the way of the crowd.
This is the kind of unbelief that keeps God from working miracles among people. Those who simply need more light and who are seeking for answers, God is more than willing to show Himself great and provide miracle after miracle in order to help people to believe the truth and understand it. But those who have pretty much made up their own minds, would rather take offense at Jesus and protect themselves from being embarrassed and following the belief of the populace, it is those Jesus moves away from. For it would be a waste of time to do miracles among those who already have their minds made up.
It isn’t enough to blow the air of unbelief out of our hearts, for that would only create a void or vacuum. Rather, let God fill our hearts with His truth, so that as our hearts are filled, the air of unbelief dissipates and at the same time, the emptiness is quickly replace with divine truth. This comes when we are willing to yield ourselves over to God and not be embarrassed about it, and more importantly, ABOUT HIM!
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