Learning barriers

“Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.””

‭‭Mark‬ ‭6:3-4‬ ‭ESV‬‬

They took offense because the wisdom He possessed, He received super naturally. They looked on Him as a carpenter, as was prophesied in Isaiah, and couldn’t fathom that He had an understanding that surpassed his earthly education.

This is why He said a prophet had no honor amongst those who know him. Because those that know him knew he didn’t attain that knowledge and understanding by earthly means.

But this presupposition they had did more than hinder them from the wisdom He had to share, it prevented them from partaking in the miracles as well.

“And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. And he marveled because of their unbelief. And he went about among the villages teaching.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭6:5-6‬ ‭ESV‬‬

As Christians, we cannot allow our own presuppositions, which oftentimes are rooted in our flesh (self-righteousness, ego and pride), from preventing us from seeing or hearing what God is trying to show us. Numerous passages speak of the wisdom that GOD GIVES.

Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived (1 Kings 4:30) yet he didn’t obtain this wisdom by earthly means, but by the Spirit of God (1 Kings 4:29).

James says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” (James‬ ‭1:5‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

John wrote in his first epistle that if the anointing of the Spirit abides in you, you have no need that anyone should teach you (1 John 2:27). This is not an indictment against teachers since we know in fact, that God does empower teachers with their abilities through the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 12:28-31). It simply means that God is not bound by that mechanism of passing on knowledge and understanding. He alone, in His sovereignty, retains the right and power to utilize whatever means, including super natural, to pass on wisdom.

David was a shepherd, the smallest of his brothers, yet God empowered him with knowledge of warfare. “Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle;” (Psalm‬ ‭144:1‬)

The point is that it is actually impossible for us to learn anything if we can’t get past our own presuppositions, rooted in the flesh, and be able to hear, examine and discern whether a thing is in alignment with God’s will and God’s word. This is the ultimate revealer of truth and whether a thing is of God. How does it balance with scripture? If scripture is “God breathed” and God “is the same yesterday, today and forever” then God can’t contradict Himself in His word. Therefore God will not tell you anything in violation to His word.

But we would also be in violation of His word if we failed to acknowledge that God gives wisdom, not through earthly means alone, but through His Spirit. And not just in matters of theology, but in actual real world matters.