My reading last night in Mark made me pause to think for a long time last night. In Chapter 8, verses 14-21 is found one of the most interesting parts of Mark I ever remember reading.
In this passage, the disciples of Jesus followed Him onto a boat that they sailed towards Bethsaida. The disciples had only brought along one loaf of bread and were worried about having enough to eat on the journey. Mark actually seems to hint that there was quite a disagreement about what they should do, a fight even.
Jesus knew about this problem and came to them saying, "Why do you discuss the fact that we have no bread?" (verse 17). The disciples had previously seen him feed 4,000 people out of 7 loaves of bread and (8:1-8) and earlier feed 5,000 from 5 loaves (6:33-44). This is one of harshest criticisms Jesus has given His disciples to this point the Gospel. Their faith is still so limited. They had seen Jesus perfrom these two amazing miracles and yet were afraid that He would let them go hungry on the boat. Jesus finishes with a question, "Do you not yet understand?" (verse 21).
There is nothing written about the response of the disciples, but that's not what caught me. What made me pause and discuss this passage with my wife for a few minutes was the fact that I probably have the same problem the disciples did. Somewhere in my life is a loaf of bread that I am not trusting Jesus to turn into a feast.
We all have parts of our lives that we just don't, for some reason, trust Jesus with. It may be difficult to do so, but if we let those parts go to Him, we will receive a return greater than we can fully comprehend or manage. Jesus wants to bless us in just the same way He blessed the crowds.
I pray for the grace to let go and let Jesus' return be sufficient.
In Him,
D. G. Martin
Reading Today: Mark 9
Showing posts with label Jesus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jesus. Show all posts
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Not Just the Body -
I do not have time today for a very lengthy issue, but I am reading through Mark this week, and something interesting struck me that I thought I should share.
Jesus spent most of the first five chapters of Mark doing little else than healing. A few of his better known parables are there, in chapter 4, but the rest of the first five chapters have him doing almost nothing else. The people he heals are completely and profoundly healed and changed not just in body, but most outwardly in spirit.
When Jesus heals someone, He has to restrain their joy in order to not call too much attention to Himself and His ministry too early. Though this often failed to be as effective as He commands, Mark gives a good account of not just the healing power but the life-changing power of Christ.
If you have physical frailties, offer them to the Lord, and He will respond.
If you have frailties of the spirit and of the mind (most of us call it being tired), offer these up as well, for the Gospels surely show us that Christ came to us to heal that part of us as well.
In Him,
D. G. Martin
Reading Today: Mark 6
Jesus spent most of the first five chapters of Mark doing little else than healing. A few of his better known parables are there, in chapter 4, but the rest of the first five chapters have him doing almost nothing else. The people he heals are completely and profoundly healed and changed not just in body, but most outwardly in spirit.
When Jesus heals someone, He has to restrain their joy in order to not call too much attention to Himself and His ministry too early. Though this often failed to be as effective as He commands, Mark gives a good account of not just the healing power but the life-changing power of Christ.
If you have physical frailties, offer them to the Lord, and He will respond.
If you have frailties of the spirit and of the mind (most of us call it being tired), offer these up as well, for the Gospels surely show us that Christ came to us to heal that part of us as well.
In Him,
D. G. Martin
Reading Today: Mark 6
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