How Many? : Mark 8:19-21 : What Jesus Did! : HEARTLIGHT®

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How Many? - Mark 8:19-21

"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?" (ERV) Full Text

Key Thought

Jesus is trying to help his closest followers remember with the eyes of faith. This means more than merely recalling what has occurred; they must recall what the events had meant based upon their faith in Jesus and their past experiences with the power of God. Lest we are tempted to look down on them for their forgetfulness, let's remember all the times and ways that God has blessed, rescued and provided for us. Let's also remember how often that we find ourselves worrying about our future and wondering if God is going to help us!

Today's Prayer

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Heavenly Father, I'm so very sorry for the many times that I've failed to remember your tremendous care, provision, rescue, comfort, and protection. Use your Holy Spirit to help me remember through the eyes of faith and to take comfort in your constant presence and care in my life. In Jesus' name. Amen'

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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)

Comments on "How Many?":

Keep your lives free from the love of money. And be satisfied with the things you have. God has said, "I will never leave you; I will never run away from you." So we can feel sure and say, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. People can do nothing to me."
Hebrews 13:5-6 (ERV)

We know that in everything God works for the good of those people that love him. These are the people God called (chose), because that was his plan. God knew those people before he made the world. And God decided that those people would be like his Son (Jesus). Then Jesus would be the firstborn of many brothers and sisters.
Romans 8:28-29 (ERV)

Don't worry and say, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear?' All the people that don't know God try to get these things. Don't worry, because your Father in heaven knows that you need these things. The thing you should want most is God's kingdom and doing the good things God wants you to do. Then all these other things you need will be given to you.
Matthew 6:31-33 (ERV)

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