Sometimes the obvious isn't. Things that should be readily apparent and clear are anything but. For example, the "check engine" light on your car - it really means that. Some people casually glance at the little light on their instrument panel and keep on driving until their engine is reduced to scrap metal. Many a mechanic would shake his head and say to his undiscerning client, "Didn't you see? Didn't you get it?"
There were numerous I-don't-get-it-moments with Jesus' disciples, but perhaps the most poignant is found in Mark eight. They had just witnessed the second miraculous feeding of a large crowd. The crowd has been dispatched to their homes, the cleanup detail is collecting litter from the hillside, and the disciples are enjoying a peaceful meal of dinner leftovers. And then they set sail across the lake; except that they've forgotten to bring any of the big dinner leftovers. Peter complains to John; Andrew says it is James' fault; Judas takes up a collection to buy some food when they come ashore (OK; maybe it didn't happen quite that way).
"Jesus, aware of this, said to them, "Why do you discuss the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet see or understand? Do you have a hardened heart? 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 broken pieces you picked up?" They said to Him, "Twelve." When I broke the seven for the four thousand, how many large baskets full of broken pieces did you pick up?" And they said to Him, "Seven." And He was saying to them, "Do you not yet understand?" (Mark 8:17-21)
So many probing questions. Had they not seen that twelve baskets represented His supply for each of them, and for the twelve tribes of Israel? Had they not seen the mark of God in the miracle of seven surplus baskets? Did they not recognize that the Bread of Life was with them in the boat?
Later in Mark eight a blind mind is the recipient of the only recorded "two-step" miracle in Jesus' ministry. He is asked, "Do you see anything ?" (Mark 8:23).
The last part of Mark eight contains the account of Jesus asking His disciples, "who do you say that I am?" (Mark 8:29)
Don't you see? It's all about sight - insight - into the person and power of Jesus.
After his partial healing, the blind man "looked intently and was restored, and began to see everything clearly." (Mark 8:25).
A songwriter summarized it well with these words: "Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace."
Miracles and clarity unfold as we look fully into the face of our Savior today.
Steve
There were numerous I-don't-get-it-moments with Jesus' disciples, but perhaps the most poignant is found in Mark eight. They had just witnessed the second miraculous feeding of a large crowd. The crowd has been dispatched to their homes, the cleanup detail is collecting litter from the hillside, and the disciples are enjoying a peaceful meal of dinner leftovers. And then they set sail across the lake; except that they've forgotten to bring any of the big dinner leftovers. Peter complains to John; Andrew says it is James' fault; Judas takes up a collection to buy some food when they come ashore (OK; maybe it didn't happen quite that way).
"Jesus, aware of this, said to them, "Why do you discuss the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet see or understand? Do you have a hardened heart? 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 broken pieces you picked up?" They said to Him, "Twelve." When I broke the seven for the four thousand, how many large baskets full of broken pieces did you pick up?" And they said to Him, "Seven." And He was saying to them, "Do you not yet understand?" (Mark 8:17-21)
So many probing questions. Had they not seen that twelve baskets represented His supply for each of them, and for the twelve tribes of Israel? Had they not seen the mark of God in the miracle of seven surplus baskets? Did they not recognize that the Bread of Life was with them in the boat?
Later in Mark eight a blind mind is the recipient of the only recorded "two-step" miracle in Jesus' ministry. He is asked, "Do you see anything ?" (Mark 8:23).
The last part of Mark eight contains the account of Jesus asking His disciples, "who do you say that I am?" (Mark 8:29)
Don't you see? It's all about sight - insight - into the person and power of Jesus.
After his partial healing, the blind man "looked intently and was restored, and began to see everything clearly." (Mark 8:25).
A songwriter summarized it well with these words: "Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace."
Miracles and clarity unfold as we look fully into the face of our Savior today.
Steve
posted by steve @ 7:28 AM
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