Jesus marvels at their unbelief. In the story of the centurion’s servant, Jesus marvels at his faith. Do you want to amaze Jesus with your faith or unbelief?!

Jesus didn’t lose His power because the people in His hometown weren’t believing. He didn’t do many miracles because people didn’t come to Him for help. He didn’t go around finding people to help. He helped those who came to Him. Only a few people came to Him for healing, so only a few were healed.

Come to Jesus! Seek His salvation. He’s offering.

Jesus sends out His apostles to preach repentance and to deliver people from evil spirits. They also healed people. They were to take nothing for the journey, but a walking stick. They were not to take any provisions.

Back in the day, there was a missions agency that required new recruits to go out preaching for a month with no provisions. They gave them a dollar, I think, to start off and they weren’t allowed to ask for anything. They came back in a month understanding how God provides and supports His workers.

Now missionaries have to raise money before they go anywhere and raise money not just for provision but for security, like insurance. We’ve lost something along the way!

John the Baptist held his faith to the end. He lost his life for preaching righteousness. Herod feared God, but feared man more. John the Baptist’s life wasn’t at the whim of this ruler, though. God is in control. John laid down his life. No saint has his life taken from him.

In the rest of the chapter, we continue to see Jesus’ control over all things and compassion in all things. We can trust the one who is Love and who has all the power and who holds all things in His hands.