Had you realized that Jesus fed large crowds more than once? Mark records two such incidents not that far apart from each other. And yet, even though the disciples had already seen Jesus multiply bread and fish, they were stymied once again on how to feed the crowd. Before we are too hard on them, though, let’s pause and ponder how often God has helped us in times of trouble and how often we still panic when new troubles come. <<ahem>> Yes, I might know what that is like myself. OY! You’d think I’d be at a point where I could simply trust Him. I am better at it, but I have a ways to go!! Even after Jesus has fed the crowd and dismissed it, the disciples still are worried about physical food. How many miraculous signs did people need to see before they fully grasped that God Himself was dwelling among them? Jesus was not about to give the Pharisees a miraculous sign, either, when they demanded one. In verse 11, we read: ” … Testing him, they demanded that he show them a miraculous sign from heaven to prove his authority.” Jesus has done nothing but do miracles for a long time now. He is not going to perform on demand for these leaders who clearly are not willing to acknowledge what they have already seen. We don’t tell God what to do. We ask and petition when we have a need but we are never in a position to demand, are we? He is God and we are not. We are blessed beyond measure that God is good and full of mercy and love. Without that, we’d be sunk.
My recorded verse: Mark 8:12. “When he heard this, he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, ‘Why do these people keep demanding a miraculous sign? I tell you the truth, I will not give this generation any such sign.”
My response: Lord, Your deep sigh. What were You feeling? What troubled Your spirit? Was it that You had performed many miracles and yet still were greeted with unbelief? Forgive me, Lord, when I doubt. You have blessed me and helped me time and time again. Help me to trust You and not grieve You with unbelief.
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“His disciples replied, ‘How are we supposed to find enough food to feed them out here in the wilderness?’”
I also was dumbfounded that the disciples questioned how to feed these people. And then I was amazed at Jesus’ patience. Thank You Jesus for Your patience with me. I can be so slow sometimes. Thank You for being willing to continue to teach and guide me until I finally “get it”.
He is SO patient with us! How many times have I started to worry and only later realized I am supposed to turn my worries into prayers?? Oy. And then when I do turn them to prayer, all is well. You’d think I would do it automatically, right? Nope. How thankful I am for His patience. And He surely modeled it with the disciples as well.