Jesus Is Amazed

What would it take for Jesus to be amazed? Read on to find out how Jesus is amazed at a lack of faith in a synagogue.

Jesus is Amazed at a Lack of Faith

This is what we read in Mark 6, verses 2 through 6:

“Many who heard him were astonished, saying, ‘Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary?’ … And they took offense at him. 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 … And he marveled because of their unbelief.”
Mark 6:2-6 ESV

Like Jesus, preachers can get a bad reaction from an audience. There was a Scottish preacher by the name of A. J. Gossip – interesting name for a preacher, yes? Gossip told his friend Alexander Whyte that he found a certain church very cold. “Cold,” said Whyte, “Cold? I preached there two years ago, and I haven’t got the chill out of my bones yet.”

hopestreamradio · Jesus Amazed Part-10

Cold Toward Jesus

In Mark 6, the people in this synagogue are very cold toward Jesus: They wonder where Jesus gets his teaching and authority. They ask who has given him his wisdom. They question how Jesus can do miracles. Obviously, they don’t think he gets any of this from God.

Often, we see Jesus perform miracles when people show faith. Here we see the opposite. Refusing to believe in Jesus means he is not able to do great miracles among them. Isn’t it frightening to know that our unbelief can limit God’s work?

Jesus is Amazed

Jesus is amazed. It is not a happy amazement. What does it take to amaze Jesus? Both faith and the lack of faith can amaze him. In one case he is amazed at the great faith of a Roman centurion, a Gentile, who says Jesus can just say a word and his servant will be healed. Matthew 8:10 says, “While Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, ‘Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith’”

Later in Mark 6 is more unbelief, by Jesus’ own disciples: “When they saw (Jesus) walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost, and cried out, for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, ‘Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.’ And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded.” (Mark 6:48-52)

Follow Jesus and All Will Go Well?

Some people say that if you follow Jesus, everything will go well. These disciples would not agree with that. They are not having a nice, relaxing float on the water. They are out at sea, in an open boat, their feet soaked in icy salt water, working at their oars for hours. It is the 4^th watch – about 3:00 a.m. Jesus comes to them in the darkest part of the night, in the deepest wave of the sea, at their most fearful moment and at their worst physical weakness. They cry out – they scream. The same waves that frighten them, float Jesus.

Peter Sinks

Peter is not mentioned. Peter is the only one who sinks in the water and he is the only one besides Jesus who walks on water, and not just at this time. He is the only one besides Jesus who ever walks on water. There is a book with the title, If You Want to Walk On Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat. If you never try to climb a mountain, you will never tumble from the mountain – but you will never grab that mountain-top, breath-taking view. If you never lace on skates, you will never land splat on the ice – but you will never blast the puck into the net and get the glory of that great shot.

Never obey the Lord Jesus Christ and you may avoid storms of tough times – but you will never feel the wind fill your sails with the power of the Holy Spirit or see violent wind and waves settle down around your boat. Is Jesus amazed by my faith or is he sad that I don’t believe in him when life becomes a bad storm? Lord Jesus, I do believe in you. Please help my unbelief.

Have you ever experienced a time when you were unsure if you were going to sink or soar? Contact us at HopeStreamRadio, or comment below.

Brian Stapley

Brian Stapley is the husband of Margaret and “Christian-proud” father of Tabitha, Ben, Jeremy and Joel. He has been director of the Boys JIM Club of America since 1981 and a “JIM Clubber” since 1958, the year he became a Christian. The mission statement of the JIM Club is, “Discipling boys to love Jesus deeply and express him vividly.”

He has been an educator since 1970, primarily as a high school English Teacher. (Don’t dangle your participles.) He has been in fellowship at Scottlea Gospel Chapel, St. Catharines, since 1976 and travels to preach about three dozen times a year, in Ontario and New York State. He is a ventriloquist, in company with Casey, Theodore, Dodo, Grumpa, and a menagerie of others. Also, a bit of a magician.