Mark 8:11-38
Jesus' followers were in the boat off to a camping trip, but they had forgotten to bring the food. Jesus did not seem happy. Whatever were they going to do? Human nature took over, and they handled this dilemma the best, most experienced way they knew how: they began to argue, blame, & worry. They could feel pangs of hunger even before they really were.
In the very recent past these were the same disciples who had seen miracles of healing, provision, even death overcome. They themselves had been given authority from Jesus to go out and preach and anoint and heal and rescue people from demonic evil (Mark 6:7-13). When they returned from their version of Inspiration Point Bible Camp / a friend's miracle recovery from ICU / seeing hearts melt and mend in a dead marriage / witnessing firsthand the re-provisioning of God in the faith practice of stewardship / looking at divinity-on-display in the detail of a newborn's face... well, they came back understandably 'pumped'! (6:30)
But, that was yesterday.
Now, we are with Jesus. More importantly, Jesus is with us. Not too long ago, He has taken meagerness, and raised it in his hands, and broken the so limited bread of the visible. He has offered in advance thanks to his Father for what He would do. We have seen Jesus time and again provide bread and life for thousands and thousands who had none.
But that was yesterday. Today, here I am stuck with my one loaf, lots of hungry folk depending upon me, for a stretch I can't see the end.
Whatever will I do?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
It always amazes me how the disciples can spend so much time with Jesus, yet not trust him. They are without food on a boat, and instead of asking Jesus for help, they argue with each other.
Later, Jesus is reveling what will happen to him, and Peter, again, argues instead of asking Jesus what he means.
I like the last part of the passage where Jesus says that we need to take up our crosses and follow him. Our lives on Earth mean nothing to an eternity in heaven. We should be willing to give Jesus our whole lives, but unfortunately we don't always want to.
YES! This amazes me too. They were right there, seeing the miracles and yet, they ask "How are we supposed to do this?" Maybe after I have read all four Gospels right in a row, I will have "seen" enough of Jesus' example that I will instead respond "What are You going to do this time?" and then wait expectantly for Him to act.
Chris S.
Post a Comment