Having Enough Faith
And He could do no miracle there except He laid His hands upon a few sick people and healed them. Mark 6:5 NASB
Could do no – Do miracles depend on our faith? If we don’t believe, does our unbelief hinder God’s ability to perform? Was Yeshua hampered because people in His hometown didn’t acknowledge Him as the Messiah? Do we have to believe before God can act?
Recently a man asked my opinion about the implications of this verse. Was it really true that the lack of faith of the villagers made it impossible for Yeshua to do miracles? What does that mean for us? What if we are skeptical or doubting? Can Yeshua still act on our behalf? I suggested that Mark’s passage be compared with the parallel in Matthew. That verse says: “He did not do many acts of power there due to their lack of emunah” (Matthew 13:58). The parallel in Matthew in Hebrew suggests that he did not do many miracles there, not that he could not do. The verb in the Greek text in Mark is from dunamai, which can mean both “to be able” and “to have power.” In Mark it is imperfect passive, indicating that it was a continuing action brought about by someone else. However, in Matthew the verb is poieo. It is aorist, active. It indicates that Jesus chose not to do miracles. We have a conflict in the implications of these two texts. That means we need to interpret the texts in the light of other indications about Yeshua’s character. While I cannot explain why Mark treats the incident as passive, it seems to me that Matthew captures what I know about Yeshua. Furthermore, it is noteworthy that Mark actually says he did do some minor healings, so in spite of Mark’s passive construction, it is obvious that Yeshua was not completely prevented from performing miracles.
If we step back just a bit, we recognize that Mark may be saying Yeshua did not perform any miraculous signs. The townspeople of Nazareth had already made up their minds. This man could not be the Messiah. They knew he was nothing more than a carpenter’s son. Under those circumstances, there was little point in demonstrating their error by providing them with a spectacle of power. They would not have accepted it anyway. And Yeshua never used miracles to prove a point. That would have been inconsistent with the humility of the Suffering Servant. Mark notes that Yeshua did heal a few sick people. This is mission-fulfilling work. But He is not interested in the crowd that only wants proof. Accepting Yeshua as the Messiah is not a matter of spectacle.
It seems to me that Matthew’s Hebrew gospel explains the situation with greater clarity. Yeshua chooses not to perform a miracle because the purpose of miracles is not to convince the skeptics. Miracles for skeptics are usually temptation; the same temptation we find in Yeshua’s confrontation with the evil one. Appropriately, he refused then and he refuses now. When they occur, miracles serve God’s purposes, not ours, although occasionally the two perspectives coincide. The point is that miracles are an act of grace, not obligation. If God acts with miraculous benevolence toward His children, we are blessed – and grateful. If He does not, we are nonetheless blessed – and grateful – because His purposes are fulfilled in either case. “Our God is able to save us from this fiery furnace, but if He does not, we are nevertheless still His servants.”
Topical Index: miracle, could not do, dunamai, poieo, Matthew 13:58, Mark 6:5
“Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” (Genesis 3.1)
“Now the serpent was more crafty” -crafty, shrewd, sensible
Original Word: עָרוּם
Transliteration: arum
Phonetic Spelling: (aw-room’)
Short Definition: man
crafty, prudent, subtil
Passive participle of aram; cunning (usually in a bad sense) — crafty, prudent, subtil.
see HEBREW aram
aram: become shrewd (1), make shrewd (1), sensible (1), very cunning (1).
very, beware, take crafty counsel, be prudent, deal subtilly
A primitive root; properly, to be (or make) bare; but used only in the derivative sense (through the idea perhaps of smoothness) to be cunning (usually in a bad sense) — X very, beware, take crafty (counsel), be prudent, deal subtilly.
May we review (and remember) the words of G-d? Here it is for plain viewing: “G-d hath said..” and when G-d speaks- we listen, right? When Martha Stewart says- “it’s a good thing”- we are oh so tuned in. Or how about my main man- Ben Franklin? His words are “keepers.” Such a witty fellow. A brilliant conversationalist, fun to talk with. Says the right thing, at the right time, and in the right way. (I sure could us some of that!)
How about when G-d speaks? “G-d hath said.” May we again “review?” Listen, (again, for the first time) G-d hath said. (did you see the period, after G-d hath said?) Yes, it was there (purposefully). “and the word of the LORD came unto.. and the word of the LORD came unto to.. and the word of the LORD came unto.- I think by now- maybe we “get it.” (then again.. -maybe not.)
Now to review the words of the slimy, stealthy,stinky angel of light.. er.. serpent.. (listen closely to his words)- “Hath G-d said?”- did G-d really say that? No way.. Why that’s ridiculous! Why would YHWH say a thing like that? -Why should we listen to Him? Just an ever so slight re-arranging of the order of G-d’s words. From “G-d did say” to “Did G-d say?” Our (first) introduction to the element of doubt.- “Did G-d really say that?” Did Elohim form the world and all that is within and upon it, the sun, moon and stars just by speaking?-(“let there be”- and there was!!). Yes, friends- He did. “Just speak the word LORD and your servant will be healed.” And the word of the LORD came unto..-(again..).
What is “unbelief?” It is the opposite of trust. “Only Trust Him” the wonderful hymn proclaims. “Only trust Him now..”
– I’ll ask it. -Why should we trust Him? What has this Man ever done for me? Carl..don’t you remember?- this One died on Calvary’s cross for you, was buried and was resurrected the third day.
He now lives and is your Intercessor, pleading your case before the Father. You should listen to Him and do whatever He says unto you, for blessed are they that hear the word of the LORD and keep it. Do what He tells you to do. Listen closely, intently and purposefully. Then do what He says. “Read and follow label directions.” Live according to the User’s Manual, the word of G-d, our Bible, Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.” Be a doer of the word and not a hearer only.
“Shema”- amen? -Did G-d really say that??
Excellent words, Gentlemen. Thank you for sharing…!
Thank you Skip for the excellent analysis of the character of Yeshua in relationship to seeing the bigger picture of who He is through the other parallel tractate in Matthew. Thank you for paying attention and bringing out what the text is saying and not saying in Mark. How we need to see the larger and more complete picture of the character portrait the gospels have painted for us to behold, in Yeshua, and allowing that to be the dominant frame of reference for our witness and demonstration of the Kingdom!
It seems to me that the answer to, does our lack of faith hinder Yeshua? I believe we can say “Yes” and “No.” Even though in a communal or large crowd setting, the lack of faith does seem to hinder the expression of His healing power, not His unwillingness. On a individual to individual basis it seems Yeshua has profound delight when he sees the peoples faith expressed in faithful persistance. Thanks again for the snapshot look within the larger frame of His life and mission.
“The point is that miracles are an act of grace, not obligation.”
I have wondered about the teaching on faith relative to the Biblical accounts of Mark 5 and 8, and Luke 8. It does not appear that the demon possessed man had any knowledge of Christ (although the demons knew!) The Word makes reference to the men not being in their right minds. The evidence of the demoniac’s “neighbors” fear of Christ and demanding He leave them also suggests they could not have had faith on behalf of the possessed man. So, this makes me wonder about todays faith teachers and their ability to decree this and that. Yes, the grace of our Father is truly marvelous and who are we to tell our Maker what He can and cannot do? I’m just askin’.
Wouldn’t we be more apt to fully trust the One who called all things to come forth for His plans and purposes, realizing He is King, rather than to think that we are entitled to or worthy to receive anything simply because we think we are deserving? Not being fatalistic, I’m just askin’.
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Php. 4:6,7
“Do miracles depend on our faith? If we don’t believe, does our unbelief hinder God’s ability to perform? Was Yeshua hampered because people in His hometown didn’t acknowledge Him as the Messiah? Do we have to believe before God can act?”
May it never be!!!!!!!!!
My husband and I are very simple folks. We don’t presume to know why YHVH has done what he has for us. But we have seen many miracles in our walk with Avinu (our Father). They most often follow an act of stepping out in simple faith in situations that are far beyond our ability to control (ie slaughtering the Pesach lamb before the exodus) or an answer to a simple prayer for a truly impossible physical NEED that only He can meet. (ie Springs of living water from a rock in the wilderness).
No matter what the miracle, it is always His grace and tenderness, not our goodness and righteousness that brings it about. He performs miracles because He loves his people, not because the vessel is spotless. That’s not to say that He walks with us when our conscience isn’t clear.
I’m sure that our belief that He can bring it about is a factor however He answers prayer in the most amazing ways (parting the sea of reeds) and it’s been our experience that we need to be open to His creative answers as they appear to us and be ready to walk into them (you want me to do what?) If we expect what we want to see, and think He should do it our way, we will always be disappointed.
We can honestly testify to the fact that He has answered every single one of our prayers. We just have to be humble enough to bow in love, fear, and awe when we hear “NO”.
Especially if we clearly hear it 3 times!
Jer 7:16 ’As for you, do not pray for this people, and do not lift up cry or prayer for them, and do not intercede with Me; for I do not hear you.
Jer 11:14 ’Therefore do not pray for this people, nor lift up 3 cry or prayer for them; for I will not listen when they call to Me because of their disaster.
Jer 14:11 So the LORD said to me, ’Do not pray for the welfare of this people.
2Co. 12:8 Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me.
9 And He has said to me, ’My grace is sufficient for you…………………………………………..
Here’s one of my favorite stories.
A friend of ours once had a sweet encounter with a wheat farmer. She asked him if he ever found tares in his field and he answered yes. Then she asked if he pulled them out and he said not until the harvest. Then she asked how he could tell the difference and he smiled and said “Oh that’s easy. When it’s time for the harvest the tare seeds are small and the heads stand up straight. But when the wheat is ripe the seed is heavy and the heads bow!” In other words you can’t tell them apart until the harvest so you don’t disturb things until they prove themselves in the end.
Grace to walk humbly in Torah in desperate situations glorifies Him even more than signs and wonders. Mi. 6:Mic 6:8 He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?
But it’s walking in His ways that cause us to know and grow in Him more and more.
Da 11:32 ’By smooth words he will turn to godlessness those who act wickedly toward the covenant, but the people who know their God will display strength and take action. NAS95
I’m so grateful for every one of you.
Shalom
Maybe Mark understood Yeshua better than Matthew! Yeshua did not want to cause the people of his town to die spiritually when they reject Him? He was most probably hampered by this.
I have a friend who asks endless questions. While she asks, I listen to the Spirits reaction before I answer her question. Many times the Spirit does not answer me. This puzzled me until one day when I realised that He does not want me to answer her because she is not ready for the answer, rejecting it because she is not willing to submit her own will. And me giving her all the most beautiful answers causes her to backslide more towards spiritual death than anything else, because she does not listen to the answer, she just carries on with another question. Therefore, because I love her, I could not answer her?
Shalom Ellen,
Thank you for you comments. I do not believe that Mark had a better understanding than Matthew per se, but they both give us different insight and a fuller picture of the character of Yeshua. So appreciate your love and sensitivity toward your friend. Immature believers need mature believers to walk and grow with them, under the leadership and sensitivity of the Holy Spirit, and hopefully there will be a day and many moments along the journey, that the immature believer will be able to bear the weight of a mature answer.
I do believe Yeshua is very sensitive toward people and their spiritual situation, yet He does not come to us on our timetable and situation, but on His Father’s. Yeshua came to us while we were yet sinners, He did not wait until we were ready to hear or not hear. Was Job ready for God to show up on scene? Yes, we can give answer that will cause others to run away from God, I have had others who have shared words with me in the past that has hurt me immensely and caused me to run away from God. These people usually were not in vital and ongoing relationship with me, were they right in what they said to me? God knows the answer to that one. I have had strong words from brothers who love me immensely, and what they said hurt me deeply, and I did not like what they said at the time, but faithful are the wounds of a friend, and their rebuking words showed their love for me. I am in no way saying that what you are doing is wrong! Love is expressed in different ways, relating to the season we are in, and how the Father has us walking with those who we are discipling and in on going relationship with. May our love for one another grow more and more in the fullness of Yeshua’s wisdom and character. In His Shalom.