There’s always something we can do!

Reflecting on Mark 6:1-6

“He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few.” (Mark 6:5)
As a Jesus follower, I look to Jesus with hope and expectation.
This does not mean that He always answers my prayers as I ask.
But it is not that Jesus cannot answer my prayers.
Here in Nazareth Jesus could not answer their prayers.
Because they were not coming to him in prayer.

Jesus did not randomly perform miracles over unwilling people.
His signs were in response to the desperate need and desire of the people.
They came seeking and expectant, fearful yet hopeful.
No doubt there was hesitation and doubt, but they still came.
But not here in Nazareth, instead “they took offense at him.” (Mark 6:3)
They could not honour Him with hope, for he was just one of them.

It is not that God’s healing power was weakened in this place.
It is that it was not welcomed and received.
Even when they saw a few sick people healed.
Jesus “was amazed at their lack of faith.” (Mark 6:6)

There are many people who do not see Jesus at work in their lives.
Not because He can’t, not because He won’t, not because He isn’t…
But because they choose not to look, not to accept it.
The better I know the goodness of Jesus, the more signs of it I see.
Everyday there are big and little signs of Jesus’s goodness at work.
Now that I am looking for it, I can see it.
Now that I am expecting it, the more of it I see.

Nazareth was known to be a difficult place.
Notice what Nathanael says to Philip, when Philip tells him about Jesus.
“Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” (John 1:46)
Sadly, it’s reputation made it hard for people to accept Jesus.
This reminds me of the church, and its reputation.
Many people have given up on Jesus because their experience of the church.
They do not experience miracles of faith, hope or love from that ‘Nazareth’.
“Church! Can anything good come from there?”
Sadly they do not see or expect goodness from Jesus.

As a Jesus follower, my goal is to help people see His goodness.
I can’t change ‘Nazareth’ communities, but I can point to Jesus.
I can highlight the small and big signs of goodness I see.
I can also reflect these signs of goodness, His light shining through me.
A helping hand, an encouraging word, unexpected kindness and mercy.
Some ‘Nazareth’ people may not accept it, and I can’t change that.
But I can still do it where it is welcome, among those who are open.
In time this may change even hardened ‘Nazareth’ communities.

Jesus loved His own community, even though they did not honour Him.
Jesus offered whatever goodness was welcome, and some were helped.
“Except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them.” (Mark 6:5)
Other peoples’ lack of openness may limit what we can do for them.
But there’s always something we can do!
Like Jesus we can still find a few to bless, help and heal.
We are to plant the seeds of Jesus’s goodness wherever we are.
Some seed will take, other seed will not; but still we plant!

Our world today is a hardened placed, many seeds will be rejected.
But there are still people desperate, eager, hopeful.
We can do signs of goodness and love among them.
We can witness to the goodness of Jesus, and open peoples’ minds.
And help soften the hearts of ‘Nazareth’ communities today.

PRAYER
Lord Jesus, I know people who do not expect goodness from You, or from the church. Use me to help them see, not by arguing with them nor by condemning them, but by doing whatever good I can do to soften their hearts to You. There's always something good I can do, even for the few!