Love Within the Church
Kenneth Kroohs
July 09, 2000
Ezekiel 2:1-7
MAY THE WORDS OF MY MOUTH ... AND THE MEDITATIONS OF ALL
OUR HEARTS ... BE ALWAYS ACCEPTABLE TO YOU --- OUR STRENGTH AND
OUR REDEEMER AMEN
Sometimes I wish the Scriptures were written in ways which are more clearly understood. Today is a good example. For many years I "heard" the crowd in Mark speaking with amazement .. astonishment .... "Wow!! Who is this dude?? ... How did he become so wonderful??"
Lately my cynicism has taken root and I hear the crowd speaking with a different attitude. Sarcasm. "Yeah right! Who does he think he is?? The man does a couple special things and he thinks he knows it all!!"
Either reading is defendable. Almost certainly the crowd included people with both attitudes. The results from the entire incident are interesting. First, I was comforted to read one scholar explain that the reason Jesus "could" do no miracles was NOT because He lacked the ability -- the power. We can easily read this and other passages as saying that it is our faith which provides the power for the miracle. Many times Jesus said: "Your faith has healed you."
Instead it means that the person must open themselves up .. have the faith to turn to God ... or the miracle can not occur. Apparently most of the people in Nazareth would not open themselves to receive these gifts.
But notice that a few people apparently did open themselves -- He cured a few sick people. Despite that the other people still refused and Jesus was amazed at their disbelief -- and left.
Notice particularly what did not happen ... the people did not listen and believe what Jesus was teaching. Some, maybe most acknowledged His power. A few accepted His healings -- but none are recorded as believing His teachings and following Him. Not even His family. At least not right away.
Which makes me wonder what happened after Jesus left? I suspect there w ...
Kenneth Kroohs
July 09, 2000
Ezekiel 2:1-7
MAY THE WORDS OF MY MOUTH ... AND THE MEDITATIONS OF ALL
OUR HEARTS ... BE ALWAYS ACCEPTABLE TO YOU --- OUR STRENGTH AND
OUR REDEEMER AMEN
Sometimes I wish the Scriptures were written in ways which are more clearly understood. Today is a good example. For many years I "heard" the crowd in Mark speaking with amazement .. astonishment .... "Wow!! Who is this dude?? ... How did he become so wonderful??"
Lately my cynicism has taken root and I hear the crowd speaking with a different attitude. Sarcasm. "Yeah right! Who does he think he is?? The man does a couple special things and he thinks he knows it all!!"
Either reading is defendable. Almost certainly the crowd included people with both attitudes. The results from the entire incident are interesting. First, I was comforted to read one scholar explain that the reason Jesus "could" do no miracles was NOT because He lacked the ability -- the power. We can easily read this and other passages as saying that it is our faith which provides the power for the miracle. Many times Jesus said: "Your faith has healed you."
Instead it means that the person must open themselves up .. have the faith to turn to God ... or the miracle can not occur. Apparently most of the people in Nazareth would not open themselves to receive these gifts.
But notice that a few people apparently did open themselves -- He cured a few sick people. Despite that the other people still refused and Jesus was amazed at their disbelief -- and left.
Notice particularly what did not happen ... the people did not listen and believe what Jesus was teaching. Some, maybe most acknowledged His power. A few accepted His healings -- but none are recorded as believing His teachings and following Him. Not even His family. At least not right away.
Which makes me wonder what happened after Jesus left? I suspect there w ...
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