GFT #9 - Faith Versus the Norm of Human Experience

“Jesus…went to his hometown…he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed.” “And he was amazed at their lack of faith.” Mk 6:1-2; 6

“And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.” Mt 13:58

The people of Nazareth’s lack of faith had its roots in the “norm of human experience.” They recognized Jesus’ wisdom and that he even did miracles. But the “norm of human experience” was … if you live in a small “hole-in-the-wall” town where everyone knows each other and watches each others kids grow up, none of the kids you watch grow up will be the long awaited Messiah. The lack of faith was easy because it most closely fit the “norm of human experience.”

Faith marches to the beat of a different drummer. Sometimes the drum beat is consistent with the “norm of human experience” and other times it is not. The “norm of human experience” for Joshua, was to defeat heavily fortified cities like Jericho with military might. But faith in this instance dictated that they march around the city for 6 days, blow trumpets and shout. This was God’s instructions.

The “norm of human experience” is if you are diagnosed with cancer and the doctor says you have a short time to live, you resign yourself to the fact that you will die very soon. James wrote “Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”

Do you lack faith? It doesn’t have to stay that way. James, in the passage quoted above, was the brother of Jesus. He likely was among the unbelieving of Nazareth. There must have been a change. Now, he writes about healing the sick through the prayer offered in faith.