Daily Journal: 6 December

Accepting Jesus

for Who He Is

Jesus Christ. Prophet. Priest. King. Teacher. Redeemer. Mentor. Brother. Friend. Saviour. God.

Mark 6:2-6 (NLT)

The next Sabbath he began teaching in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. They asked, “Where did he get all this wisdom and the power to perform such miracles?” Then they scoffed, “He’s just a carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon. And his sisters live right here among us.” They were deeply offended and refused to believe in him. Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honoured everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family.” And because of their unbelief, he couldn’t do any miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them. And he was amazed at their unbelief.

They were offended at Him because He wasn’t like them and they demanded He be less than who He was.

Isn’t that just like people? Don't people just love to pull others' down and keep them 'where they belong'?

Jesus was thought to be just 'one of them'. A carpenter, taking over his dad's business. Looking after his family as the eldest son, because that was his duty. He couldn’t be anything else. He wasn't to do anything that they didn't expect.

But He did do what they didn't expect. He was so much more than what they knew and were comfortable with. And because they didn't want Him to be, they couldn't receive all that He was and all that He could do for them.

Colossians 2:9 (TLB)

For in Christ there is all of God in a human body;

Jesus couldn't do miracles except heal a few sick people! He still healed people when they couldn’t have otherwise be healed. Those people received Him. Yet, He was limited because of the hardness of most people's hearts. Those people missed out.

John 14:6 (MEV)

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Do we miss out too, because we're uncomfortable with who He is?

Colossians 1:15-16 (GNT)

Christ is the visible likeness of the invisible God. He is the first-born Son, superior to all created things. For through him God created everything in heaven and on earth, the seen and the unseen things, including spiritual powers, lords, rulers, and authorities. God created the whole universe through him and for him.

Would you want God to be amazed at your unbelief? What if He says to you one day, ‘depart from me, I never knew you’? Is it possible that He will be ashamed of us in front of His Father because we were ashamed of Him here on earth? How terrible it would be to hear Him to say, ‘I could have done so much more in your life but you just didn’t believe’.

Would you rather discredit the things of God or be greedy for the things of God? Supernatural things. Faith-filled things. Empowered things. Would you rather see transformation in peoples lives - yours and mine?

Acts 10:38 (CEB)

You know about Jesus of Nazareth, whom God anointed with the Holy Spirit and endowed with power. Jesus traveled around doing good and healing everyone oppressed by the devil because God was with him.

Can Jesus move with freedom in your life or is He limited? Do you want to be known in heaven for being willing, obedient and thirsty? Do you want to be known for having an unwavering faith? Do you know what it's like to hear Him and walk in the train of His glory?

John 10:27-28 (NASB)

My sheep listen to My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give them eternal life, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.

Do we accept Jesus for who He is? Do we truly want to receive all of Him? Do we choose to be led by the Holy Spirit - not ‘sensing’ or ‘feeling’, but knowing? Are we giving Him full reign in our lives and experiencing the abundant life He promised?

Lord, forgive our unbelief, and break down the limitations we use like barriers to whatever you can do. Have freedom in our lives. Help us to learn to want you more - not always what you can do for us, but who you are.