May 26, 2016

DO YOU NOT YET UNDERSTAND?

Mark 8:1–26

Bobbie Hutchison
Thursday's Devo

May 26, 2016

Thursday's Devo

May 26, 2016

Central Truth

Despite witnessing multiple miracles, the disciples did not yet perceive Jesus' goodness and power. They doubted His provision and sovereignty, but were reminded that there is nothing too large or too small to escape His interest. We must remember this truth and draw nearer to Jesus in times of need.

Key Verse | Mark 8:17–19

And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, "Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?" They said to him, "Twelve." (Mark 8:17-19)

Mark 8:1–26

Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand

In those days, when again a great crowd had gathered, and they had nothing to eat, he called his disciples to him and said to them, “I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way. And some of them have come from far away.” And his disciples answered him, “How can one feed these people with bread here in this desolate place?” And he asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven.” And he directed the crowd to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves, and having given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and they set them before the crowd. And they had a few small fish. And having blessed them, he said that these also should be set before them. And they ate and were satisfied. And they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. And there were about four thousand people. And he sent them away. 10 And immediately he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha. 1 8:10 Some manuscripts Magadan, or Magdala

The Pharisees Demand a Sign

11 The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. 12 And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” 13 And he left them, got into the boat again, and went to the other side.

The Leaven of the Pharisees and Herod

14 Now they had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. 15 And he cautioned them, saying, “Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” 2 8:15 Some manuscripts the Herodians 16 And they began discussing with one another the fact that they had no bread. 17 And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? 18 Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They said to him, “Twelve.” 20 “And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” And they said to him, “Seven.” 21 And he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?”

Jesus Heals a Blind Man at Bethsaida

22 And they came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him. 23 And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?” 24 And he looked up and said, “I see people, but they look like trees, walking.” 25 Then Jesus 3 8:25 Greek he laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. 26 And he sent him to his home, saying, “Do not even enter the village.”

Footnotes

[1] 8:10 Some manuscripts Magadan, or Magdala
[2] 8:15 Some manuscripts the Herodians
[3] 8:25 Greek he

Dive Deeper | Mark 8:1–26

Through our 10 years of marriage, my husband and I have had some pretty bad luck, everything from a failing business that led to bankruptcy to a rat infestation to job loss and health scares. In the midst of each of these struggles, I would be lying if I said I didn’t want to cry out,“Why me?” and question God's intentions. But the reality is these things weren’t "bad luck" at all; they were all opportunities for God’s love and power to be exemplified in our lives although sometimes this was difficult to understand, and I often forgot about His previous provisions. 

In Mark 8:17-19, Jesus says, "'Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?' They said to him, 'Twelve.'''

You see, the disciples had just witnessed a miracle. They sat in the Lord’s presence as He took SEVEN loaves of bread and a few fish and fed 4,000 (verses 5-9). And, not long before that, they watched Him take five loaves of bread and two fish and feed 5,000 men (Mark 6:30-44), yet their hearts were hardened, their memories foggy, and their expectations limited as they worried about their lack of bread. So Jesus reminds them of His provision as He has them reflect on His miracles.

We are not unlike these disciples. How often do we think that our problems are too big for God? Or too insignificant? Do we fail to understand His goodness in the midst of our "bad luck"? How quickly do we forget the overabundance of blessings (verses 17-20) that God so richly gives us?

May we draw nearer to Him in our times of doubt, remembering what our eyes have seen, what our ears have heard, and what our hearts know to be true. God is sovereign!

Discussion Questions

1. Do you ever feel that your problems are too big or too small for God?

2. Do you try to use instances of "bad luck" or strife to bring glory to God, or do you get caught up in the chaos and forget God's goodness? 

3. The disciples walked and talked with Jesus, yet they did not fully, instinctively trust Him. How do you intentionally align your heart with that of Jesus in a world that so often does not recognize the goodness of Christ?