Jesus - a failure?

Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. And He marvelled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching. – Matthew 6.5-6

I am a bit familiar with this passage, but saw something today for the very first time, I love the living nature of God’s word that makes this possible.

Jesus’ ministry back home was not working out. The people there knew Him. They remembered Him growing up there. They knew His family. He was ‘the carpenter.’ A friend suggested in a comment to yesterday’s post that perhaps they rejected Him because they saw Him as an ‘illegitimate child.’

Anyhow, Jesus could ‘do no mighty work there.’

Wait a minute – Jesus could do no mighty work there? Jesus’ ministry at home was a flop? He must have been doing something wrong?

But He is God – so He can’t fail and He can’t do anything wrong.

If He were a missionary in a difficult field His churches would have been talking about dropping His support or sending someone over to sort Him out.

Jesus could not do many great works. Jesus marvelled at their unbelief. Jesus does not make people follow Him. He doesn’t force people to turn to Him, He tried, He preached, He healed a few, but nothing big happened there. Revival didn’t break out after He preached.

In our world of success measured ministry He would have been a failure.

I don’t think a whole lot more needs to be said. There are times and places where people are so hard hearted that even Jesus Himself could not reach them.

But it is the end of verse six that caught my eye. There is a truth here that I had never noticed before.

‘And He went about among the villages teaching.’

Jesus could do no great works – but He went on teaching.

What a lesson for all of us. What an encouragement to those who struggle in the areas of unbelief.

Serving in a difficult place? Not seeing any ‘great works?’

Keep on teaching and preaching and sharing.