Matthew 13:54-58

Coming to his home town, Jesus taught the people in their synagogue in such a way that they were astonished and said, ‘Where did the man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers? This is the carpenter’s son, surely? Is not his mother the woman called Mary, and his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Jude? His sisters, too, are they not all here with us? So where did the man get it all?’ And they would not accept him. But Jesus said to them, ‘A prophet is only despised in his own country and in his own house’, and he did not work many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

The people who knew Jesus best are still unable to see him for who he is. Even for us with the knowledge of the resurrection and two thousand years of witnesses to who Jesus truly was, it can be hard to accept that God became flesh and walked amongst us as a human being.

Yet, the teaching is powerful. The miracles are astounding. But, for God to truly change us it is not enough to hear the teachings and know about the miracles. We have to accept Jesus into our hearts. Only then can Jesus work miracles in us. God will not force us, we have to believe and accept him.

Sometimes for us scripture just seems like stories, familiar, well known heard it before. But here is a reminder that we should listen. Not assume we know who Jesus is, but believe and allow God to work in our hearts. Let’s open our hearts and give room to Jesus.