Understanding Mark 6:5 - Jesus could do no miracle at Nazareth except few healings
Gospel of Mark Chapter 6, Verses 4 to 6, from: http://biblehub.com/mark/6-5.htm
Verse 4: Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and among his own relatives and in his own household." [Note hometown is Nazareth in Galilee]
Verse 5: And He could do no miracle there except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them.
Verse 6: And He wondered at their unbelief. And He was going around the villages teaching.
--- end Gospel verses extract ---
Many, especially, devout Christians, would interpret verse 5 as Jesus chose not to do miracles at Nazareth (except the few healings) because of their unbelief. [The people of Nazareth probably found it very difficult to accept that the person who they had known for many years prior to him becoming a prophet who could do miracles, had indeed acquired such miraculous powers.]
However, I humbly prefer to interpret it literally that Jesus could not do miracles at Nazareth (except the few healings) due to the unbelief (in Jesus' miraculous powers) of the people there. [I seek the kind indulgence of those people, especially Christians, who do not agree with and may be shocked by my view.] BTW I presume that the English translation provided in the Biblical scripture verse given in the above link (and copy-pasted in this post) from the original language in which the Gospel was written, is accurate in this regard.
Faith is a two-way street between the devotee and the god-person/divine power. Intense faith and prayer from a devotee for something from a god-person/formless divine power creates the atmosphere where miracles/paranormal events take place.
I have heard Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba (Swami) say it very simply in a public discourse in Sai Kulwant Hall that if you say Yes, I will also say Yes. He implied that if you have (deep) faith in Swami's miraculous powers then Swami will/can perform miracles for you.
Here is an old discourse of Swami, 23rd Nov. 1968, http://www.sathyasai.org/discour/1968/d681123.htm, which has a similar Yes, Yes statement by Swami:
'If you will accept me and say "Yes," I too will respond and say, "Yes, yes, yes." If you deny and say "No," I also echo "No." Come, examine, experience, have faith. This is the method of utilizing me.'
Verse 4: Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and among his own relatives and in his own household." [Note hometown is Nazareth in Galilee]
Verse 5: And He could do no miracle there except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them.
Verse 6: And He wondered at their unbelief. And He was going around the villages teaching.
--- end Gospel verses extract ---
Many, especially, devout Christians, would interpret verse 5 as Jesus chose not to do miracles at Nazareth (except the few healings) because of their unbelief. [The people of Nazareth probably found it very difficult to accept that the person who they had known for many years prior to him becoming a prophet who could do miracles, had indeed acquired such miraculous powers.]
However, I humbly prefer to interpret it literally that Jesus could not do miracles at Nazareth (except the few healings) due to the unbelief (in Jesus' miraculous powers) of the people there. [I seek the kind indulgence of those people, especially Christians, who do not agree with and may be shocked by my view.] BTW I presume that the English translation provided in the Biblical scripture verse given in the above link (and copy-pasted in this post) from the original language in which the Gospel was written, is accurate in this regard.
Faith is a two-way street between the devotee and the god-person/divine power. Intense faith and prayer from a devotee for something from a god-person/formless divine power creates the atmosphere where miracles/paranormal events take place.
I have heard Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba (Swami) say it very simply in a public discourse in Sai Kulwant Hall that if you say Yes, I will also say Yes. He implied that if you have (deep) faith in Swami's miraculous powers then Swami will/can perform miracles for you.
Here is an old discourse of Swami, 23rd Nov. 1968, http://www.sathyasai.org/discour/1968/d681123.htm, which has a similar Yes, Yes statement by Swami:
'If you will accept me and say "Yes," I too will respond and say, "Yes, yes, yes." If you deny and say "No," I also echo "No." Come, examine, experience, have faith. This is the method of utilizing me.'
I agree with the statement, "Faith is a two-way street between the devotee and the god-person/divine power..."
ReplyDeleteThanks Chandu for your comment.
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