Get A Bigger Frying Pan!

John Clardy

Mark 6:1-5

1          And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him.

2          And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?

3          Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.

4          But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.

5          And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.

Two men were fishing in separate boats. One watched curiously as the other man would catch a small fish and keep it, then catch a large fish and throw it away.  This happened several times. Finally, the man watching couldn't contain his curiosity, so he asked, "Why are you throwing away the big ones?" The other man answered, "Because I only have an 8" frying pan!"

Nazareth was Jesus’ hometown.  When Jesus showed up in His hometown, He came with a desire to bless Nazareth.  He wanted to do something wonderful for people He had known all of His life.

When He entered the synagogue and began to teach, the the people of Nazareth were amazed at His teaching, but they had a problem.  They could not look beyond the fact that Jesus was from Nazareth! He could raise the dead, cast out devils and heal the sick everywhere else, but He was rejected in His own hometown! He was limited in Nazareth because of their unbelief. Nazareth was offended at Jesus!   “Who does He think He is?  He is just Joseph and Mary’s son.  I remember when He was just a kid. 

Sadly, those who knew the most about Jesus expected and received the least from Jesus!  Their frying pan wasn't big enough for the kinds of things Jesus wanted do. Nazareth only saw the natural and they missed the supernatural.

Many of us know a lot about Jesus but I wonder if we have gotten to the place were he is “Just Jesus” to us.  We can become so familiar with God that we put Him in a box, limiting Him to work the way we have always seen Him work before.

This world can’t stop God!  Hell can’t stop God!  Neither diseases nor devils can stop God!  Lack of money or prestige or possessions can’t stop God!  But unbelief stops God!

How often have we accepted less than God intended for us because we chose to play it safe and sensible instead of acting in reckless faith?  How often has avoiding things that seem unusual or radical robbed us of miracles and power?  How many times have we passed up or thrown away opportunities for God-sized interventions because our frying pan is too small.

Ephesians 3:20               Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

Active, believing, reckless faith is the key to the supernatural becoming a reality in our lives!  It is according to the power that works in us! Throw away your little frying pan and get a bigger frying pan! Let God fill it with something bigger than you ever dreamed!