When Jesus Was Amazed

Mark 6:1-6
Luke 7:1-10
It is a lot of fun to amaze children. Normally when someone is amazed,
surprised, or in awe it is because of something new they have just
discovered.
There are two places recorded in the New Testament that Jesus
marveled. The dictionary defines marvel to be filled with wonder and
astonishment.
What would cause the Lord, Who knows all things, to be filled with
wonder and astonishment?
Marks Gospel tells us he marveled at the lack of faith.
In Lukes Gospel, he marveled at a mans great faith.
The unbelief of the people of Nazareth, Jesus home town, was so great
that Jesus was overcome with wonder and astonishment.
The faith of the centurion described by Luke was so great that Jesus
was overcome with wonder and astonishment.
These are the only things every recorded to astonish the Lord.
Look with me at Marks account.
Jesus was in his home village of Nazareth. The response of the people
when He taught in the Synagogue shows where their unbelief started.
They remembered Jesus as a poor little urchin growing up in poverty. In
their prejudiced hearts, they rejected his authority and his teaching.
Notice the results of their unbelief in verse 5.
His work was stopped. He could not do mighty works in his hometown
because of their lack of faith.
Unbelief is a serious matter. Their unbelief was rooted in rebellion
against the authority of Jesus Christ.
John 3:18 KJV 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he
that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed
in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that
cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of
them that diligently seek him.
There is no way to be right with God and not have faith.

I.

Unbelief
How unbelief is displayed
A. It hardens the heart
Hebrews 3:8 KJV 8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation,
in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
B. It rejects Christ
John 16:8-9 KJV 8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world
of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because
they believe not on me;
C. It rejects the Scriptures
Hosea 8:12 KJV 12 I have written to him the great things of my
law, but they were counted as a strange thing.
D. It rejects the Gospel
Isaiah 53:1 KJV 1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is
the arm of the LORD revealed?
E. It rejects the evidence of miracles
John 12:37 KJV 37 But though he had done so many miracles
before them, yet they believed not on him:
F. It questions the power of God
Psalms 78:19-21 KJV 19 Yea, they spake against God; they said,
Can God furnish a table in the wilderness? 20 Behold, he smote
the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams
overflowed; can he give bread also? can he provide flesh for his
people? 21 Therefore the LORD heard this, and was wroth: so a
fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against
Israel;
G. It departs from God
Hebrews 3:12 KJV 12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of
you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

Notice here an unbelieving heart is an evil heart.

Unbelief is a very serious sin. It amounts to calling God a liar.
2

II.

Results of unbelief
A. Unbelief grieves God
Hebrews 11:6 KJV 6 But without faith it is impossible to please
him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and
that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
B. Unbelief is blinding
Mark 5:39-41 KJV 39 And when he was come in, he saith unto
them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not
dead, but sleepeth. 40 And they laughed him to scorn. But
when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the
mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and
entereth in where the damsel was lying. 41 And he took the
damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is,
being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.
C. Unbelief makes people nearsighted
2 Peter 1:9 KJV 9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and
cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged
from his old sins.
D. Unbelief hinders the work of God.
Numbers 13:31-33 KJV 31 But the men that went up with him
said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are
stronger than we. 32 And they brought up an evil report of the
land which they had searched unto the children of Israel,
saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is
a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the
people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. 33 And
there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the
giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so
we were in their sight.

III.

What becomes of unbelievers?

A. They harden their hearts
2 Kings 17:14 KJV 14 Notwithstanding they would not hear,
but hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that
did not believe in the LORD their God.
B. They are condemned by God
John 3:18 KJV 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned:
but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he
hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of
God.
C. They are living under the wrath of God.
John 3:36 KJV 36 He that believeth on the Son hath
everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not
see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
D. They die in their sins

John 8:24 KJV 24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in
your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your
sins.
E. They will not enter Gods rest.
Hebrews 3:19 KJV 19 So we see that they could not enter in
because of unbelief.
Hebrews 4:11 KJV 11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that
rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
F. They shall be cast into the lake of fire.
Revelation 21:8 KJV 8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the
abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and
sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in
the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the
second death.
Faith
Manifestations of Faith
1. Eyes of faith
Hebrews 11:5 KJV 5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should
not see death; and was not found, because God had translated
him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he
pleased God.
Hebrews 11:10 KJV 10 For he looked for a city which hath
foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
2. Ears of faith
Romans 10:17 KJV 17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing
by the word of God.
Galatians 3:5 KJV 5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit,
and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the
law, or by the hearing of faith?
3. Tongue of faith
Mark 11:22 KJV 22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have
faith in God.
Mark 11:23 KJV 23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall
say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into
the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that
those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have
whatsoever he saith.
4. Hearts of faith
Romans 10:10 KJV 10 For with the heart man believeth unto
righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto
salvation.
5. Hands of faith
4

Hebrews 11:13 KJV 13 These all died in faith, not having received
the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of
them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers
and pilgrims on the earth.
6. Knees of faith
Genesis 50:23 KJV 23 And Joseph saw Ephraim's children of the third
generation: the children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were
brought up upon Joseph's knees.
7. Feet of Faith
Genesis 5:24 KJV 24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not;
for God took him.
Objects of our faith
1. Faith in God
Mark 11:22 KJV 22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in
God.
2. Faith in Jesus
John 6:29 KJV 29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work
of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
John 14:1 KJV 1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God,
believe also in me.
3. Faith in the Scripture
Acts 24:14 KJV 14 But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which
they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things
which are written in the law and in the prophets:
4. Faith in Gods promises
Romans 4:21 KJV 21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had
promised, he was able also to perform.
5. Faith in the Gospel
Mark 1:15 KJV 15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of
God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
How to increase faith
1. Fix your eyes on the promises of God
Romans 4:20 KJV 20 He staggered not at the promise of God through
unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
2. Pray for more faith
Mark 9:24 KJV 24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and
said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
3. Exercise the faith you already have.
Luke 8:18 KJV 18 Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath,
to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken
even that which he seemeth to have.
4. Look to Jesus
Hebrews 12:1-2 KJV 1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about
with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and
5

the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the
race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher
of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross,
despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of
God.
5. Trust the Lord.
Nahum 1:7 KJV 7 The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble;
and he knoweth them that trust in him.
6. Read the Bible
Romans 10:17 KJV 17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by
the word of God.
7. Exercise your will to believe.
1 Corinthians 16:13 KJV 13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you
like men, be strong.
Results of Faith
1. Faith brings Salvation
2. Faith overcomes temptation
3. Faith makes us more than conquerors through Jesus Christ
4. Faith gives us power to accomplish Gods will