What Jesus Did : Mark 8:14-18 - Open Your Eyes!
by Phil Ware
Open Your Eyes! - Mark 8:14-18
The followers had only one loaf of bread with them in the boat. They forgot to bring more bread. Jesus warned them, "Be careful! Guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod." The followers discussed the meaning of this. They said, "He said this because we have no bread." Jesus knew that the followers were talking about this. So Jesus asked them, "Why are you talking about having no bread? You still don't see or understand? Are you not able to understand? Do you have eyes that can't see? Do you have ears that can't hear? Remember what I did before, when we did not have enough bread?" (ERV) Full TextKey Thought
Worry is a sign we've forgotten the great blessings and providence of God in our past. That is why the praise we offer to God for what he has done for us is so important. Praise is a time when we rehearse and remember the great things God has done and remember the great God he has been in the past and has promised to be in our future. It helps us acknowledge that God is and was and will be the great provider and Shepherd for his sheep.
Today's Prayer
O LORD God, you are my Great Shepherd. I recognize that every good thing I have comes from you. Forgive me for the times in the past when I have doubted your active providence in my life and worried about your sustaining grace for the future. I know that you can bless, support and sustain. Thank you. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Today's Verses in Context
The Pharisees came to Jesus and asked him questions. They wanted to test Jesus. So they asked Jesus to do a miracle to show that he was from God. Jesus made a sad sound like he was troubled. He said, "Why do you people ask to see a miracle as proof? I tell you the truth. No proof like that will be given to you." Then Jesus left the Pharisees. Jesus went in the boat to the other side of the lake. The followers had only one loaf of bread with them in the boat. They forgot to bring more bread. Jesus warned them, "Be careful! Guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod. " The followers discussed the meaning of this. They said, "He said this because we have no bread." Jesus knew that the followers were talking about this. So Jesus asked them, "Why are you talking about having no bread? You still don't see or understand? Are you not able to understand? Do you have eyes that can't see? Do you have ears that can't hear? Remember what I did before, when we did not have enough bread? I divided five loaves of bread for 5,000 people. Remember how many baskets you filled with pieces of food that were not eaten?" The followers answered, "We filled twelve baskets." "And remember that I divided seven loaves of bread for 4,000 people. Remember how many baskets you filled with pieces of food that were not eaten?" The followers answered, "We filled seven baskets." Then Jesus said to them, "{You remember these things I did,} but you still don't understand?"-- Mark 8:11-21 (ERV)
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