Unbelievable Belief

Truth be told, I am a bit of a closet Dude Perfect fan.  I find myself drawn into their lively carefree bantering and of course watching them accomplish remarkable feats of impossibility.  This group of 5 wild and crazy guys hold claim to more than 20 Guinness World Records including; longest bow shot, highest basketball shot from a sky scraper, furthest distance for blowing a ping pong ball, among many others. 

Recently I watched Tyler Toney, (one of the original members of the quintet), unofficially break his own longest bow shot record. His official record took place on September 2, 2022, when he nailed the target from an astounding 361 yards. Recently he sent an arrow from a hill in New Mexico and struck a large balloon at a staggering 880 yards…a full half mile! (Yes…I understand the irony of my last sentence…a half mile by definition cannot be a whole…but still…you know what I mean…work with me here).  This is all the more impressive when I consider that I have personally missed targets as near as 20 yards…targets often having four legs and a white tail.

There is astonishing to witness the accomplishment of a feat that would be considered impossible by most people.  When the Dude Perfect crew throws a basketball off of the roof of a skyscraper and drops it into the basket from an insane 533 feet, you can’t help but find yourself questioning the validity of the triumph.

This is where we find many people as they encounter Jesus in the Gospel accounts.  These people have heard him teach, watched his nature defying acts, experienced astounding healings of people, some of which have been ailing or sick from their birth, and even seeing his supernatural authority over demons.

When Jesus returns to his home town, Nazareth, in Matthew 13:21-58, we find Jesus being rejected by these people who knew him best.  Rather than putting their belief in this amazing man, they instead choose to believe that it is impossible for this man to do that which is seen and reported of him.

Contrarily, Jesus asks his disciples if they have understood his teachings, to which they reply yes.  I am struck by the contrast.  Some have seen the impossible and believe, while others have seen it and hold to their unbelief. 

What will you do with Jesus? Will you believe or will you hold to unbelief?  As for me…I choose to believe.  May you too come to put your belief in the only One who can offer a true hope for our lives and for eternity.