God works
Everything that happens to the believer is with a purpose. God does not do things in our lives just for doing them. The bible tells us that all things work together for a good to them who love God and are called for his purpose (Ro8:28). What is God’s purpose in our lives? What does he want to fulfill in us that he does not allow him to stop working? (Jh5:17). Once we allow God to work in our lives he does not stop until he finishes. Paul tells the church in Philippi that once God begins a work in someone, he will finish it (Ph1:6). Every person whom God has worked on and is working should respond to him with a repented heart, it is the response that his work requires. I guess the question is, what will cause you to repent from your wicked ways? One would assume that with all the evil this life brings, that would cause us to change, but it does not. What about the good that happens to us, would that cause us to change?
Matthew 11:20-24
20 Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades.e] For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. 24 But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”
Several cities of which Jesus performed many and powerful miracles, that one would assumed should have had a change in their lives and did not were Chorazin, Bethesda, and Capernaum. The first two were near the sea of Galilee and were prosperous cities of which some of the disciples of Christ were chosen from. The people’s hearts were so callous that if all the signs and wonders Christ performed, say in Tyer and Sidon they would have repented if performed there. Nothing moved them (Mt13:15). The things that eye had not yet seen or heard came into these cities, and they could not grasp them. Paul said to the church of Corinth that God has prepared things of which eyes have not seen nor ears heard for them who love him (1Cor2:9). Those to whom the miracles occurred had a thing towards God. Three powerful miracles happened in the city of Bethesda, Jesus walked on water (Mk 6:45-51), the healing of a blindman who saw people of as trees when Jesus spit on his eyes (Mk 8:23-25) and the feeding of five thousand (Lk 9:16-17). The city of Bethesda was destroyed right after Jesus ascended to heaven. At Chorazin Jesus performed many miracles which are not mentioned in the gospels, they had front row seats.
Capernaum was the city Jesus lived at during his ministry time. And there he performed many miracles such as the healing of the Centurion’s son (Mt8:7-8). He healed there a noble’s man son (Jh4:49-50), Peter’s mother-in-law (Mk 1:31), a paralytic man on a stretcher (Mt9:2), a man with an unclean spirit (Mk1:23-25), raised Jarius’ daughter from the dead and healed the women with the issue of blood.
All these cities Jesus manifested his power and deity, and they continue to choose not to believe or repent.
Romans 8:28
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, whoa] have been called according to his purpose.
John 5:17
17 In his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.”
Philippians 1:6
6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.
1 Corinthians 2:9
9 However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” the things God has prepared for those who love him.
Mark 6:48 Miracle in Bethesda
48 He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them,
Mark 1:31 Miracle in Capernaum
31 So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.