Welcome to week 2 of reading Through the New Testament in 40 days. Our readings today are Mark 5:22-9:13.

What does it take to amaze Jesus? Only 2 times in the Bible do we wever see Jesus being amazed. One of them occurs in todays readings. The context is Mark 6:1-6. Jesus was back in His hometown of Nazareth. Many people were offended by who Jesus turned out to be. They still saw Him as the ordinary carpenter’s son–little Jesus that they watched grow up. They had seen Him in diapers. They had seen Him play in the dirt. Now He was being proclaimed as some sort of super rabbi and miracle worker. And they were offended.

Mark says of Jesus at this point: “And he was amazed at their lack of faith.” And furthermore, in this climate of unbelief, Jesus could perform no miracles (vs. 5). Their lack of faith had either limited the power of Jesus or it had limited His willingness to use His power.

A human parallel might be seen in the parent/child relationship. A parent has the power to bless his or her child with something–some special treat. But because of the child’s attititude or behavior, the parent chooses to withhold the blessing. The same can be said of Jesus. Our lack of faith or lack of faithfulness can limit the blessings that He gives us.

I mentioned that there were two times in the Bible that Jesus was amazed. We will be reading about the other one on Monday, but I will give you a preview today. The second time Jesus was amazed, the circumstances were almost totally opposite. It happened in Luke 7:9. Jesus was in the company of a Roman centurion who knew that Jesus had the power the do anything.

When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.”

In the case the faith of the centurion allowed Jesus to heal the centurion’s servant.

What Biblical truths does God show me in these verses?
The only thing in all creation that can limit Jesus’ power is our faith (or lack of it).

Since God tells us in the book of James to be doers of the Word and not merely hearers, how can I apply these Biblical truths to my life?
Today, I will see Jesus as my Savior who has unlimited love and unlimited power. I will, by the power of the Holy Spirit, have no doubt as to what Jesus can do and will live my life faithfully and boldly as His child.