and He marveled at their unbelief. . ."
Mark 6:5-6
At a church youth gathering, the pastor was answering questions from the youth. A teenage girl asked, "Why doesn't Jesus save everybody?" The pastor answered, "Jesus will save anybody and everybody who believes in Him." Another youth asked, "Why would anybody not believe in Jesus?" The pastor responded, "Many people choose not to believe in Jesus. God gives us choice."
Jesus preached to many people who did not believe in Him. "He could do no mighty works there." It's not that He didn't have the power to do mighty works, but the people chose not to believe and receive. Jesus never forced Himself upon people. He didn't then and He doesn't now. He stands at the door and knocks, but He never knocks the door down (Revelation 3:20). Faith opens the door to Christ in our lives (John 1:11-12). Unbelief says no to Christ.
The Holy Spirit convicts people of the sin known as unbelief. Jesus said, "Of sin, because they believe not in Me" (John 16:9). When anyone repents or changes his mind about Christ, the Holy Spirit enables him to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 10:17; 12:3). To sin against Christ is to refuse to believe in Him. Because of unbelief, many reject the love and grace of Christ.
Prayer: God, we confess our faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Amen.
