The FaithOfJesus2 Daily Devotional

Focus:

kjv@Revelation:14:12 @ Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

( FaithOfJesus thread begun by rRandyP )

Today's Verse:

kjv@Matthew:13:53-58

kjv@Matthew:13:53 @ And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence.

kjv@Matthew:13:54 @ And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?

kjv@Matthew:13:55 @ Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?

kjv@Matthew:13:56 @ And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?

kjv@Matthew:13:57 @ And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.

kjv@Matthew:13:58 @ And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

Today's notes: His Own Country

Context:

Before - do you understand this? collection of parables
After - head in a charger

What is man believing/doing?:

going to synagogue
becoming astonished
disbelieving in Jesus and His claims
(I suggest - not taking their ill to Jesus to be healed)

What is making man to believe/do as he is doing?:

a continued devotion of at least these people to the traditions and rituals, a remembrance of former glory, a hope for revival and sense for reform, a recent repentance conducted by the Baptist.
undeniable observance of special powers and authority, yet curious ability to detach the fact of specialness of power from their decision and attitude toward the person possessing it.
offense by reasoning, familiarity with family and whereabouts, detachment of Jesus from His wisdom and mighty works because of His perceived roots, such a belief would demand from them repentance, well documented historical tendency of men and prophets
complete disassociation with Jesus

Notes:

Jesus is shown over and over to have healed all of those brought to Him. This does not say He did not any, it says that He did not many, therefore we can assume that not many are coming or being brought to Him.

In the thousands of healings and mighty works already brought to our attention kjv@Matthew:8-12 by Jesus direct or by proxy the participants belief is only mentioned three times, yet all were healed. No instruction is given to His enabled proxies as to how to determine a potential recipients level of belief prior to, nor any prohibition given to healing if not found. It is obvious that this sharp reduction of works is human imposed by the unwillingness of the individuals and or those that would bring them to Jesus.

Astonishment rarely results in belief, it nearly always results in disbelief or fearful recoil. In the case of a magician we are amused and entertained by disbelief, even curiosity as to how the offense is performed. With a comedian offense likewise is anticipated and pleasurable. This is because the astonishment is predicted to be confined to safe limits. In the case of a potential messiah however it is both a prerequisite and an absolute deal breaker especially as the possible limitlessness is detected and repentance called for.

The word dict:strongs G570 disbelief also can denote disobedience. If the calling or the impulse is to come, then the intellect here is causing a road block to obedience.

Where does the body of mighty works go in our minds during these rationalization? Are they hiding? Their weight in our decisions has been lifted. And because of what?

Key Messages:

What does this say about our present condition?

That the sense of offence can be stirred so easily amongst the people so as to convince a person needing healing not to go forward toward a sure thing.
That the image we hold of another can be completely detached from the realities presented by the image certain other people want us to hold or the image that holds us safely at a distance from change/best interest.
Familiarity/commonality at least in this case has little to do with knowledge as it deflates proper and due reverence. Two thousand years later our supposed familiarity has had the same effect.

Further Resources:

Comment Board:Matthew:13:53-58
index:FAITHOFJESUSDEVOTION - Devotional Index
strkjv@Matthew:13:53-58 rwp@Matthew:13:53-58 mhcc@Matthew:13:53-58
FaithOfJesus2 - Devotion Index

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