Mighty Works Versus Ordinary Works

We left yesterday’s offering with a hanging question. If Jesus is God Incarnate, if Jesus is God, and He and the Father are One, will not Jesus be able to do such mighty works also? This mind of curiosity on the adjective, mighty, has been the quest of some of us, in that we believe that deeper treasures and truths are being unearthed for us as believers. Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid hands on a few sick and healed them. Mark 6: 5

Having been reminded in Moses’ Song of the mighty, marvellous and glorious works of God, which had Moses and all the people really awed, we are looking at Jesus.

Here is one mighty work of Jesus, which had His own totally in awe. Jesus’ disciples, those who lived with Him, worked with Him and witnessed Him healing all kinds and manner of ailments and diseases, yet are stupefied when they see Him still a raging storm. Haven’t they heard their Master speak words of command before, to even demons, who obeyed Him? Yet, when He now speaks His word of command to the ferocious winds and angry waves, and they promptly obey Him, these disciples are really taken back. And the men marveled, saying, Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him? Matthew 8: 27. 

There must be things for us to be made aware of, in the works of Jesus, which are more than those we think of and look for. Was this understanding included in Jesus’ words to His disciples, when He spoke to them about the works they are to do? Moreover assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. John 14: 12. There must be many things going on in our heads and convicting our hearts that we must run fast to God in prayer. I know for sure that I need wisdom, understanding and obedience in this matter, as never before. 

In response to a question posed earlier, I strongly believe that Jesus was looking forward to sharing big time, all stops unplugged, if you will, with His own dear people of Nazareth.  Who would not want to give of their resources and service to those at home, as they have been doing to those abroad? I believe that Jesus did want to do mighty works among His people. Alas! He could not do those mighty works.

What was He able to do? He laid hands on a few sick and healed them. There’s learning, self-searching and high stakes in this also. At the risk of reading too much into the above quoted Scripture, we look closely at what is happening. Miracles of healing, though few, have taken place, in a town of unbelief. 

Why is Mark so conscientious and focused on letting us know how they were healed? He could easily have just said that Jesus healed a few sick persons in Nazareth, but he does not. He lets us know that Jesus had to touch the sick, for to lay hands on them, is to have physical contact with them. Could it be that even among the sick in Nazareth, only a few came to Him to be healed? Was it that only a few dared to be different, and sought to go, or be taken to Jesus for healing?

Whatever the reason or reasons, we are made to seriously think of ourselves and why only a few people in our present Nazareth are being healed. We must diligently seek God, to find out if there is any reason other than unbelief, blocking and stopping our Lord’s mighty works, when He has come among us.

Whether we care to accept it or not, the works of Jesus, like the works of God come to us with different degrees of force or greatness. Moreover assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.

Tomorrow, we shall return to our initial text with closer and more personal attention.