If Jesus had put all of His hope and faith in the willingness of people to do the right thing, listen, change, He would have given up His mission for God when He went back to teach in His own hometown among family and friends. They were offended by His wisdom, questioned His authority, belittled Him as just a carpenter, and lacked faith in His healing power. The ones who knew Him best from birth did not accept Him for who He really was in God, treated Him disrespectfully, and were not interested in being saved by Him. Parents you know how this must have felt, right?
Instead, Jesus’ placed His wholehearted faith in God, who set forth His purpose before He was even born. Because of that decision of faith, Jesus did not go into hiding, lose hope in His life’s mission, nor did He argue His case or shame them judgementally. His strength to carry on came from God. I am sure His spirit was grieved, but He chose not to give in to it and tarry there. We are to tarry with God for wisdom, understanding, making sense of relationships, and life’s circumstances. This steadfastness amid difficulties will get you through anything life throws at you.
Jesus’ tenacity came from the One bigger than any of us, the Spirit of God, which is all any of us can do especially when there is so much we do not understand about life, humans, choices of others many, many times. His actions matched His teaching words. I am sure Jesus wept over the whole of it, but His God Spirit inside was bigger than His family, friends, and hometown acquaintances. Is yours?
Jesus went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed.Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. He was amazed at their lack of faith. Mark 6:1-6