Mark 8:14-38
Wednesday, 18 May 2022
"Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember?" – Mark 8:18
Jesus and His disciples headed to the shore after their conversation with the Pharisees and the disciples forgot to bring bread for the journey. They started worrying about their provision for the trip and when Jesus heard of this, He gave them a teachable moment- “Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” Jesus was warning the disciples to be on the lookout for the Pharisees' teaching and its impact on them. The word “leaven” would immediately bring to their mind about its corrupting influence. Both the Pharisees and Herod failed to recognize Jesus as the Messiah sent by God because of their unbelief.
As they continued reasoning, Jesus asked them a series of questions-
Why do you reason because you have no bread?
Do you not yet perceive nor understand?
Is your heart still 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 fragments did you take up?
Each of His questions was a rebuke which each of the disciples should have weighed in his own heart. While the apostles fretted about their lack of bread, Jesus reminded them of His miraculous provision of bread in the Feeding of the 4000. They were still ‘blind’ to the power and love of Jesus, even when they had seen these miracles. Jesus was concerned about the disciple’s lack of faith, while they were preoccupied with their lack of food. Jesus was telling the disciples that having been with Him and watched Him perform so many miracles, they should have understood that He can supernaturally provide for them- they need not worry about bread! Jesus was targeting their unbelief which was the leaven of the Pharisees and Herod. He wanted to open their eyes to the reality of who He was and what He could do so they would come to a state of surrender and adoration.
Just like these disciples, we who call ourselves believers frequently fail to recognize who Jesus is, what He has accomplished, and what God's promises are, instead we live in doubt and unbelief. Though we may have seen Him work in our lives and the lives of others in our times of need, we sometimes forget that He can work in big situation or small, provided we trust Him in faith. James 1: 6 says: “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.” Do you allow anxiety or fear to keep you from trusting in God’s provision for your life? Perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18). Are we people that have vision yet blind to the light of God?
There are certain things in life that our human mind cannot comprehend, but with God’s grace, we are able to understand His plans for us as he directs us. When we humble yourself and ask God for our daily bread, we show faith in our Heavenly Father, who equipped us with the necessary abilities for vocation and positioned us in our family and workplace to meet our needs. Our Heavenly Father not only provides for our physical needs, but He also provides for our spiritual needs as well. Then where is the place for unbelief? Would you learn to trust Jesus Christ who is the same yesterday, today and forever? (cf: Hebrews 13:8)
Prayer: Abba Father, please open the eyes of our hearts and help us not be blinded to the truth and what You can do for us when we trust You. Amen.
Ref: https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/dcc/mark-8.html#verse-1-30