Mark 6:1-6
A Prophet Without Honor
1 Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. 2 When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed.
“Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? 3 Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.
4 Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” 5 He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6 He was amazed at their lack of faith.
Luke 11:29-32
The Sign of Jonah
29 As the crowds increased, Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation. It asks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. 30 For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation. 31 The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom; and now something greater than Solomon is here. 32 The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and now something greater than Jonah is here.
Luke 23:8-11
A Sign for Herod
8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform a sign of some sort. 9 He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10 The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him. 11 Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate.
John 20:24-29
Jesus Appears to Thomas
24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”
But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
God can at anytime do a miracle or sign to show us He exists...This miracle could make all non-believers believe in Him...What would be wrong, if God would give the whole world a sign in the sky and prove once and for all that He exists?...He does not want to, or He would have done this long ago...One would think that He would want this -for non-believers to believe, but He doesn't if it requires a miracle...It appears God can do miracles, but is reluctant to do them...God does miracles and has done miracles for large groups of people, only when the time is perfectly right...He did them in the time of Moses...Then Jesus did a number of miracles, when faith and the time was right...
The top three verses are when Jesus refused to give a sign or a miracle to unbelievers...Jesus chose not to do a miracle or miracles, when the situation He was in, was a climate of little or no faith...Even though a miracle in His hometown, and to His discussion to the Pharisees about Jonah, and to Herod -would change what and how these people there believed, or maybe thought about Him, He refuses to do any miracles in these places...There is little faith in these places...Someone in each of these places just want to see something for themselves...
What do these three verses have in common with each other?...All three places are people and places of little faith...In His hometown, they even take offense to Him not doing miracles...Faith comes before miracles...This is why we need to be reminded, stop doubting and believe...Jesus wants us first to have faith, before He does a miracle and even then, He reluctantly does miracles...He wants us to believe in Him without miracles...You do not have to be an eyewitness to a miracle for God to be God...Thomas would not believe that Jesus had resurrected until he saw Jesus himself...Jesus was upset with the Doubting Thomas, and tells us blessed are those who not seen Me and yet have believed...Stop doubting and wanting another miracle and just believe, He tells Thomas...
When you pray and talk to the Father and Son, remember your faith...Miracles need faith...Miracles do not happen in a climate of no faith...Believe (stop doubting) and your prayer will happen...Have and keep the atmosphere of faith...Keep the faith in Jesus in His Teachings and His miracles...