The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven. He sighed deeply and said, "Why does this generation ask for a miraculous sign? I tell you the truth, no sign will be given to it." Then he left them, got back into the boat and crossed to the other side. The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. "Be careful," Jesus warned them. "Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod." They discussed this with one another and said, "It is because we have no bread." Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: "Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don't you remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?"
"Twelve," they replied. "And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?"
They answered, "Seven." He said to them, "Do you still not understand?" They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man's eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, "Do you see anything?" He looked up and said, "I see people; they look like trees walking around." Once more Jesus put his hands on the man's eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. Jesus sent him home, saying, "Don't go into the village." -Mark 8:11-26*
Let Us Understand...
The disciples had been "abiding" with Jesus for some time now. How many signs and miracles had they seen Him do? How faithfully had He taught them kingdom truth and revealed Himself as the Son of God? Right now, while His desire was to share the heart of God, even His closest disciples still don't get it. "We only have one loaf of bread," they complained. Jesus reminded them of the thousands He had recently fed and the baskets of leftovers they had picked up. Then He says to them (and to us), "Do you not yet see or understand? Do you have a hardened heart?"
As believers, we walk in relationship with The Bread of Life. We have the power and freedom, in Him, to turn away from distractions and grievances, to worship the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. What a privilege to understand Who He is, to know Him, to hear His voice, and to read His Word. To be a worshiper of Jesus Christ; that is our passion. Our heartbeat: to give Him glory. Our adventure: To see others enter into that same worship. Let us understand and worship spontaneously, all through the day, all through this season, and all the days of our lives. Let us worship the One who saved us for His glory an His pleasure.
Deb Jones serves on the Missions Team, the Lay Leadership Team, in Women's Ministry, and is the chair of the Membership Care Team.
How has Jesus made a difference in your life? "Jesus has made a difference in my life by loving me so much and knowing I trust him." -Lauren Mawhee, 4th grade
*Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.