Unbelieveable --- Mark 6.6a

“And he was amazed at their unbelief”

I don’t know whether it should go in the Guinness Book of World Records or not, I haven’t done the preliminary research.However, in different parts of the country where we have either lived or visited, you occasionally see signs that read “Hidden Driveway”. Well I’m here to tell you, I have found every single one of those driveways! Unfortunately, I haven’t kept count. However, I’m sure if I had, it would be some kind of record!

That’s a silly notion I know. Yet, when I read this verse in Mark, I thought, that’s silly. Why would Jesus be “amazed” at anything, belief (Luke 7.9) or unbelief, anywhere or anytime? This is the son of God, he knows what is in the heart of all men (John 2.24) yet, for some reason he seems amazed that people in his own town, even among his own family members don’t believe him or in him.

Do I simply write it off and move on? Or, is there within the God-Man a measure of limitation. Now that may shock you, but it doesn’t shock me. If he were not bound by some limitation, what value is there in saying he was tempted in all areas just like me, yet without sin, if he doesn’t have the same “humanness” that I am strapped with?

I say liturgically that he is “fully God and fully man, the God-Man” but is that just lip service and convenience or is there truth to his human side? I find a measure of comfort in knowing the full humanity of Jesus is indeed “full”. Do I understand it, no? Is it important that I understand it, no? I don’t understand many things. I just want to know that my savior knows – really knows, not just because of divine love, but because of loves love.

I struggle every day with stuff that is real. The enemy knocks on my door regularly. I fight to know what my next step should be as a man, a husband, a father. I beat myself up wondering what the hell am I doing with my life and how embarrassing this whole thing seems at times. I wander, I wonder, I hope, I dream, I laugh, I love, I cry, I write, I sweat…. That’s my life, can my savior identify with that? Thankfully, I believe he can, because he “was amazed”.

Father, someone, somewhere may read this and feel like there has been some kind of heresy done on these pages and I suppose that’s okay. You and I know that’s not the case. I’m just a seeker hoping to find. Artists want me to see him, songwriters want me to hear him, and writers want me to feel him. I just want to know him and be known by him, that’s all, nothing more. May it be, in HIS name.