Unbelief

And He marveled because of their unbelief (their lack of faith in Him). And He went about among the surrounding villages and continued teaching. And He called to Him the Twelve [apostles] and began to send them out [as His ambassadors] two by two and gave them authority and power over the unclean spirits. Mark 6:6-7 (AMP)

It is said, "familiarity breeds contempt." So it was with those who knew Jesus as the Carpenter's son. Because they thought they knew Him, they were unable to believe on Him and receive the benefits of that faith so that "He was not able to do even one work of power there, except that He laid His hands on a few sickly people [and] cured them" (Mark 6:5 AMP).

How tragic it is for someone to think that they know Him but are unable to receive the fulness of who He is.

It was to such as these that the Twelve were sent. Their commissioning included the power to confront demonic powers wherever they went. This authority and power over demons is one of the most important things that a Christian must have operating in their life. Without it, their effectiveness as a witness of Christ is greatly hindered.

And these attesting signs will accompany those who believe: in My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages; Mark 16:17 (AMP)

Our nation is filled with people who think they know Christ or think that they know all about Christ, when in truth, they know nothing at all. Some, who desire to know Him, are locked in a powerlessness through the traditional teaching of those who, though proclaimed to be great biblical scholars, are nothing more than "blind guides, filtering out a gnat and gulping down a camel" (Matthew 23:24 AMP)

Determine not to let your traditions keep you from drawing close enough to Jesus to know Him in spirit and in truth.