Is Jesus Limited in Your Life?

"Now He could do no mighty work there..."

Mark 6:5 (NKJV)

This statement has long baffled me. How is it that Jesus, God in the flesh, seemed limited while visiting His home town? Is it possible that when I need Him I might find Him limited in my own life? Is it possible you'll find Him limited in your life? I think I need to know before facing the trials of daily life. Is Jesus limited? I believe the answer is found by looking back one chapter to Mark’s description of the healing of a woman who had suffered with poor health for a number of years.

Beginning in verse 21, Mark 5 describes a journey during which Jesus heals two different people. Jesus and His disciples had just left the Gadarenes following His deliverance of the man who was delivered from Legion. As Jesus stepped onto the shore a crowd began to gather around Him. Among those seeking Jesus' attention was a leader from the local synagogue.

Jarius desperately fell at Jesus' feet, explaining that his daughter was sick and at the point of death. He begged Jesus, asking Him to come and lay hands on his daughter. He believed that if Jesus would do so, his daughter would live. So Jesus went with Jairus to his home followed by a large crowd of people.

In the midst of this crowd was a woman who had been sick for twelve years. I can't begin to imagine what this woman felt. Twelve years of suffering. Twelve years of doctor's visits and their version of medical bills. Twelve years of getting worse instead of better. And remember, there was no insurance available to cover her costs. This was a desperate woman reaching out in the hope that this Jesus might bring physical, and perhaps even emotional, healing.

With so many people around Him, the woman should have been able to touch Jesus' clothes without anyone noticing. However when she touched Him, Jesus immediately turned around. What was different about her touch versus all the other hands and bumps Jesus endured in the crowd? The Bible tells us that when the woman touched Jesus power went out of Him. Where did this power go? The power went into the woman and I believe it was the power to be made whole. By faith she immediately benefited from this power and was healed, released from her twelve year ordeal.

I believe this same power was available when Jesus visited Nazareth in chapter 6. He offered the same healing and the same abundant life that He made available everywhere He visited. But to receive these gifts people had to believe. By faith, those around Him had to allow Jesus to transfer His power to them. Unfortunately His neighbors refused to believe. As a result they could not receive, even though Jesus still had the power to do mighty things. So after marveling at their unbelief, Jesus gathered His gifts and moved on.

"I am the vine, you are the branches..."

John 15:5

Abundant life and all that comes with it is still available today. To receive we must believe in Jesus. By faith we must become branches grafted into Jesus Who is the vine. He offers the power but we must believe in order to draw from our Source. You can live a life where you rise above every situation. To do so you need only let Jesus' power flow according to His will. How do you receive His power? You do so by faith.

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Philippians 4:13