Perhaps amazed at how great it was, rather than at its existence. . .as in Luke 7:9.This makes sense. Without the Holy Spirit, faith is not possible. But isn't it odd that Jesus would be surprised by their lack of faith. Perhaps that's due to his human nature?
Well, how did you fare from the discussion?It could be, but I'll leave the rest of the contemplation on this issue to your theological expertise since, at this juncture, this is where I typically jump into the awaiting ocean of non-systematic existence.
I don't have the answers either way, but I look forward to seeing what other folks in this thread have to say on this topic.
Well, how did you fare from the discussion?
Well, how did you fare from the discussion?
I think that in most possible instances if He had healed someone that did not have faith, it would not be for the best.I am curious how those who hold to a strong notion of divine sovereignty, i.e. God pre-determines all aspects of an individual, would explain the following situation:
"He left that place and came to his home town, and his disciples followed him. On the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, ‘Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands! Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?’ And they took offense at him. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Prophets are not without honour, except in their home town, and among their own kin, and in their own house.’ And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them. And he was amazed at their unbelief. (Mark 6:1-6).
I would say a prima facie reading of the text indicates that Jesus could not heal many because of their lack of faith. These are people who knew Jesus well and simply could not believe he was anything except the hometown boy they always knew.
More to the point, the implication is that Jesus could not heal without some faith on the part of the one being healed. Why could he do only a few "deeds of power" there? Well, because of their unbelief. Is there another reading of this text that eliminates this implication? If not, how does one square this passage with a strong notion of divine sovereignty?
I’m just going to piggy-back this one.Hey PH! Excellent inquiry! I can't quite remember where I read it, but one commentator I came across said that this passage you've cited (and those like it) implied that those folks spoken of in the text didn't receive healing because they refused to come to Jesus for any healing.
In other words, because they lacked faith, they stood aloof and away and thus didn't get close. If this is the case, we could surmise that this 'lack of faith' was a form of skepticism with manifested aversion.
I’m just going to piggy-back this one.
In that I couldn’t have said it better.
Yes, it does.Yeah, I think we're in agreement that there's nothing much more than can keep a person from receiving healing from Christ....than to run away from Him if and when He's literally standing right in front of that same person.
Seems kind of senseless, doesn't it?
A little the worse for wear, nothing a cup of coffee won't take care of.
PH did a good job, and is super capable.
Perhaps "surprised" isn't the best word to describe his disappointment with the situation.This makes sense. Without the Holy Spirit, faith is not possible. But isn't it odd that Jesus would be surprised by their lack of faith. Perhaps that's due to his human nature?
Perhaps "surprised" isn't the best word to describe his disappointment with the situation.
Then why was Jesus unable to do in his own hometown what he had done elsewhere? Because he didn't want to? Is that what you are claiming?The verses in the OP don't say God is incapable. The Lord does His will. If something isn't His will, He won't do it.
"Jesus healed people when there was no evidence of faith at all. Martha did not believe that Jesus would raise her brother Lazarus from the dead (John 11:23–24, 39), but our Savior resurrected him anyway (vv. 40–44). The miracles of Jesus bore witness to His identity as the Son of God, but the people in Nazareth had rejected Him. Consequently, Jesus could give no further confirmation of His identity that they would accept." The Obstacle of UnbeliefI am curious how those who hold to a strong notion of divine sovereignty, i.e. God pre-determines all aspects of an individual, would explain the following situation:
"He left that place and came to his home town, and his disciples followed him. On the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, ‘Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands! Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?’ And they took offense at him. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Prophets are not without honour, except in their home town, and among their own kin, and in their own house.’ And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them. And he was amazed at their unbelief. (Mark 6:1-6).
I would say a prima facie reading of the text indicates that Jesus could not heal many because of their lack of faith. These are people who knew Jesus well and simply could not believe he was anything except the hometown boy they always knew.
More to the point, the implication is that Jesus could not heal without some faith on the part of the one being healed. Why could he do only a few "deeds of power" there? Well, because of their unbelief. Is there another reading of this text that eliminates this implication? If not, how does one square this passage with a strong notion of divine sovereignty?
That's a good point. Although Martha was not the one being raised from the dead."Jesus healed people when there was no evidence of faith at all. Martha did not believe that Jesus would raise her brother Lazarus from the dead (John 11:23–24, 39), but our Savior resurrected him anyway (vv. 40–44). The miracles of Jesus bore witness to His identity as the Son of God, but the people in Nazareth had rejected Him. Consequently, Jesus could give no further confirmation of His identity that they would accept." The Obstacle of Unbelief
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