Category: Uncategorized

Mark 8:13
Do not imagine that Jesus is running away. The passage here makes it sound as if he spent very little time only to leave again. But, what we need to remember is that the trip over the Sea of Galilee was not terribly long. Imagine a long ferry ride, not an extended ocean voyage. Though called a sea, Galilee is not large compared to what we would think of as sea. So, going back and forth is not as big of a deal as it seems to be on the face of it.
It says here that Jesus left them. This may be to say that he left even though they wanted to continue talking to him. This is likely. The minister of God can easily find himself bogged blown reasoning with the unreasonable. Jesus understood this danger and avoided it on more than one occasion.

Heavenly Father, we know you always have a plan for what happens next. Things may not occur the way we want, and opposition is often found barring the way. But, you understand and know our situation, and your will works no matter what occurs. Thank you for guiding us. The leading of the Spirit through your Word is one of the great blessings of life in Christ. Also, I thank you for the gospel of Christ. It is always fresh, and is ready to be proclaimed to each and every person you bring into our lives. We can move forward in faith and not be bogged down by the devil’s counterfeits. It is such a privilege to have this treasure and to be able to share it. Thank you for involving us in the mission to share your good news of love and forgiveness with the world. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, Amen.

Mark 8:12
I think it is very difficult for us to understand Jesus’ feelings. And why is that? Well, it’s tricky for us to put the whole thing in context because we forget that Jesus is eternal. He was in wilderness after the Exodus. He was the Lord of David and Solomon. He was the One to whom Daniel prayed. There was lifetimes of history through which Jesus had already been with the Jewish people. Indeed, the whole purpose of the ministry of John the Baptist was to prepare the hearts of the people for the Messiah so that he would not immediately judge the nation upon his arrival.
Jesus was upset. Sadness, disappointment, just wrath, all of these were in his heart. Instead of using the Scriptures to identify Jesus as the Messiah, they wanted a show to convince them. Rather than believing the miracles he had performed, they wanted something big, like freedom from the Romans.
He asks them why they wanted a sign because he understood what they should have realized. At that point in Jewish history the response to the Almighty that was being asked for was repentance and humility. Instead, these Jewish leaders felt they were the apex of the Jewish religion. They expected the Messiah to free them from thier enemies and usher them into a glorious age because of their holiness and obedience to the law.
Jesus, on the other hand, was more interested in pointing out their hypocrisy, and their status as the children of those who had slain the prophets in cold blood. He was not at all impressed with their temple, thier traditions, or their knowledge.
Thus, he tells them they would receive no sign. Actually we find in the other gospels that he tells them he would give them the sign of Jonah, the Resurrection. But Mark simply reports that no sign would be given because they were not going to get the sign they were looking for.

Heavenly Father, we so often forget that you have feelings. We get upset when our feelings are hurt, but then act as if you have none at all. Thank you for your patience! You give us just the things we need. We can depend upon you to deliver. We must remember your plan when we pray. We should sincerely desire your will, knowing that you know best. When we launch out into our own plan, we risk missing the great things that you have planned for us. Your way is always best. We want to bring joy to you, not sadness. We want to cheer your heart and please you every step of the way. You are worthy of our every breath in praise to you! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, Amen.

Mark 8:11
Throughout Jewish history they had been very interested in sign miracles. And many had been provided. If Moses and Joshua were not enough, Elijah and Elisha should have been. So, since they had a tendency to quickly forget these significant signs, Jesus finds their requests for a sign quite distasteful and empty.
It says here that they tempted him with this. Was it a temptation to Jesus? Well it didn’t work. But, the devil did likely work through these men to try to tempt Jesus once again. Though the devil left Jesus alone for a time after the temptation victory in the wilderness, he returned to try his luck. Though a very successful gambler, the devil lost a fortune trying to destroy Christ.

Heavenly Father, thank you for allowing us to know you as a person, not just as a miracle worker. Though your miracles are real, wonderful, and a great blessing, they are only a part of what you do for us. We can know you and trust you through thick and thin. When the miracles aren’t your chosen way, and the path ahead is dark and difficult, you are no less in control than at any other time. You will keep us safe even when the old devil is gambling over our hearts once again. He wants the glory, but you get it all! Your glory and honor are yours alone. I will sing your praises as long as I have breath. You are worthy! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, Amen.

Mark 8:10
Dalmanutha was likely on the west side of the Sea of Galilee. Matthew tells us they went to a region near Magdala. So, Dalmanutha was in that area. Why does Mark only refer to it in this way? Different people refer to regions in different ways. Depending upon the geography we are familiar with, we may have totally different names for the same place.
Many may try to use this to question the accuracy of the gospel writers. But what we have to remember is that the Bible has been a guidebook for archeology. Without references to some of these towns, they would likely never have been discovered.

Heavenly Father, thank you for the richness of your Word! You have taken more than a passing interest in us. You are involved in our lives and your goodness fills ours hearts. You are the reason that life has purpose and meaning. You are the reason that there is a right and a wrong. You are worthy of our worship! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, Amen.

Mark 8:9
So how many people were there? Well, there were about four thousand. That’s stated plainly. So why ask? Matthew says it differently. Matthew chapter fifteen tells us it was four thousand men, not counting women and children. Does that mean Mark is wrong? No. It just reflects how things were counted.
Now, many have said that it’s all due to a tendency in ancient times to value only the males. Patriarchal thinking and bias is what it is blamed on. However, sometimes we just don’t think things through very well. How did the disciples know how many people there were?
We usually say something like Divine inspiration. God has inspired the human authors of Scripture. But, often, he allowed these writers to rely on their own memory. So, the gospel writers were going on what they remembered. How would they know the approximate number of men?
In our gospel accounts we are told the people were organized in groups. So, the disciples would have derived thier numbers from this organization. These people would have been easy to assemble by family groups. The men would be the easiest to count since there would probably only be one or two per group. In this way, the disciples would be likely to know the general number of men, not the women and children. Matthew thinks to mention the others, but Mark just reports the number of which they were relatively certain.

Heavenly Father, please always remind us that your wisdom is so much better than ours. Your Word is a great gift to humanity. Thank you for guiding the human writers. You have protected your Word, and it is perfect. Thank you for this wonderful present! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, Amen.

Mark 8:8
The wording here can seem misleading due to the change of word meanings over time. The word ‘meat’ is just meant to mean food. It doesn’t mean that there was only fish left. In fact, what is really being said in the original was that there were seven basketfuls of ‘leftovers’. Ah, yes, those re-eatable morsels are in the Bible!
Though much in the way of allegorical gymnastics has been done to explain why there were seven baskets left, there is a very simple explanation. There were seven loaves. Thus, though by no means a requirement, it makes good sense that there would happen to be seven equal portions of leftovers. This does not mean there was no fish left over, but the bread was the bulk of the meal.
This also illustrates that nothing was wasted. We easily miss this point. Jesus can multiply food, and yet the disciples are going around collecting the leftovers! You’ve got to appreciate the ramifications of that. Though we can look to the Lord to provide the supernatural, that in no way minimizes our responsibility to him in the natural realm. It’s his bodies, his food, his day, his meal, his plan, his timing, and his leftovers!

Heavenly Father, sometime we forget that everything belongs to you. We look to you for the big stuff in our lives, but keep the details to ourselves. Thank you for providing naturally and supernaturally. Indeed, the distinction we make between the two is an artificial construct we use to help us understand our world. Really, everything is other-natural in that it all comes from you. May your name be forever praised for you are the Almighty Providence, as they used to say many years ago. You alone can make a fish, or the wheat for our bread. Only you can give to us the Living Bread of eternal life, the Lord Jesus. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, Amen.

I’m having hernia surgery tomorrow. I’ll be taking a break from posting for a few days.

Mark 8:7
Why multiply the fish too? Well for one thing, this really shows it is a miracle. Someone might try to suggest ways that bread could be produced by trickery. But to create new fish on the spot, that’s nothing short of miraculous.
Aside from that, Jesus was not limited, so why not provide both bread and fish? We might then ask why the Lord needed food to start with? Why didn’t he just pull it out of thin air. Well, there is an extremely important answer to that question. This shows that the bread and fish belong to the Lord God. Jesus is the Master of creation.
Thus, to just pull it out of thin air would be inconsistent with Who he is. This is like him speaking to the wind and the waves. He could easily have stopped the storm any number of ways but speaking to it brought the most glory to him, and made his position as Master over nature quite clear.
So, the same is found here. Jesus does what he does to make it clear that this is his world, his food, his people, and his plan.

Psalm 132:1-137:9

James 5:12 But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.

Heavenly Father, so often we think we know better than you do. We think we have all the answers. But, you have done all things well. You just keep on being the Almighty Creator, regardless of what we think. Thank you for your wonderful work! You are so holy, just, and pure! May your name be praised! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray, Amen.

Pray for a man having trouble with his back.

Journal 15285

Mark 8:6
The sad thing is that we are often far less thankful for a great feast than we are for a small portion. When we have little, we tend to be very thankful for what we do have. When we have an abundance, we tend to take it for granted.

Psalm 120:1-131:3

James 5:11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

Heavenly Father, thank you for all of the little blessings you give freely to us each and every day. We can’t count it all, let alone for express our gratitude. But, we will try, and not forget to praise you for your abundant kindness. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, Amen.

Pray for a man trying to get back on his feet.

Journal 15284

Mark 8:5
Have you ever wondered what was going through the disciples minds when Jesus asked questions like this? What is he going to do? Why is he asking? What is he thinking? Are these not the same questions we ask ourselves all the time about Almighty God. And yet, we have never known him to fail us.

Psalm 119:86-176

James 5:10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.

Heavenly Father, may we never forget that you are always faithful. No matter how we live our lives, your promises are true. You do wondrous things for every single one of us. You are truly amazing, and you are worthy of all the praise! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Pray for a man recovering from a motorcycle accident.

Journal 15283