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Matthew 13:53-58
In Matthew 13 is recorded seven parables taught by Jesus. He then returned to His hometown and preached in the synagogue. We learn in Matthew 13:54c-56 that the people were amazed at the wisdom and mighty works of Jesus. But they began to question how He could have such power and wisdom. This is where Satan enters the scene and shows his power over those who do not believe in Jesus. Satan was thrown out of heaven because in an instant – he questioned God – he chose to believe in himself – he lost his focus on God when the thought entered his mind that he could be successful without God’s help. He uses these same tactics on those who were listening to Jesus teaching them – they were astonished at His teachings. If they were so taken by the wisdom and mighty works of Jesus, then why did they refuse to believe in Him? It comes from the heart and soul of Satan himself – of his own self-centered arrogant black heart that gave birth to sin, and now uses these same tactics on humanity as he strives to prove to God that he is more powerful than God by trying to keep humanity from the love, grace, and mercy that God offers to us in His gift to humanity of His One and only Son Jesus, whom He sent to save the world from sin – to save the world from the grasp of Satan.
Matthew 13:58 (NKJV) states, “Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.” We tie the Old Testament to the New Testament in this teaching as we use the Bible to support this teaching in itself: In 2 Chronicles 20:20 we learn, “…Believe in the LORD your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper.” John 1:12 declares, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:, and in the most known Bible verse of all – John 3:16 proclaims, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” These are only a few of the Bible verses that lead us to believe in Jesus. Jesus did not do many mighty works in this place because the people did not believe in Him. Jesus showed them mighty works and taught them…in person – the glory of God was shining on these people, and yet the power of Satan in their lives prevented them from believing in the Savior of the world.
This is an example of the power of Satan in this earthly world that strikes at every opportunity to keep us from believing in the saving and redeeming power of Jesus – the Savior of the world.
The power and mighty works of Jesus is astonishing! We read about the miracles that He performed during His earthly physical ministry, and we witness His miracles through the working of His Holy Spirit in our lives and the lives of those around us still today. We have no reason to be offended by the wonderful things in this world that God has provided for us so that we can see His wonderful, glorious works around us every day. King David declares in Psalm 145:4-6 (NIV), “Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts. They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty – and I will meditate on your wonderful works. They tell of the power of your awesome works – and I will proclaim your great deeds.” It is not too good to be true, and you are not too sinful for the wonderful, glorious works of God through salvation in His One and only Son Jesus to work in your life and save you from the grasp of Satan. He did all of this for you, and for me, and for everyone, everywhere in the world. God loves us! He cares for us! And He wants you to realize and understand that He loves you, and He gave His One and only Son to death to pay for your sins. And He rose His One and only Son from the grave of death to life eternal so that in Him we may live too. He just wants you to acknowledge this truth to Him and to ask Him to forgive you. The Psalmist declares in Psalm 143:8 (KJV), “Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.” He wants you to realize and understand that He loves you and He wants to share His great love for you with you, but you have to come to a realization and understanding of it before the relationship can begin. He is waiting for you to call on Him in humble, sincere, obedience to Him in His great love for you so that He can share it with you and cleanse your heart from the sins that have been ailing you. God has a plan for each of us that He has prepared for us as we put our faith in Him. The Apostle Paul teaches us in Ephesians 2:10 (HCSB), “For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.” Trust Jesus today and be forgiven…for eternity…in Christ Jesus, the Savior of the world.
Dear LORD,
You show us Your great, mighty, and awesome power each day of our lives. You give us miracles in which we cannot explain other than to give You the credit and glory for leading us to You and the salvation that You have provided for us in Your One and only Son Jesus. Please help us to believe in the miracles and great works that You do in our lives so that they may be abundantly present in all the world. Please help us to overcome the trickery, deceit, and doubt that Satan throws at us each day so that we may believe in the way, the truth, and the life that is only found in Your great love for us as we put our faith and belief in Christ Jesus, the Savior of the world! In Jesus name I pray, amen.