Mark 8 - Defective

 

Mark 8– Defective

 

The disciples didn’t know what to do with the hungry crowd, yet they had seen Jesus feed the five thousand. They apparently “soon forgot His works; they did not wait for His counsel” (Psalm 106:13). Each work that He does should encourage you to trust Hm to help you solve the next problem. Keep a long memory of His mercies and a short one of your failures. Don’t have defective faith. While the disciples failed to respond with appropriate belief, the Gentiles received the full benefits of Jesus’ power.

 

The disciples did not perceive what He meant by the leaven. The blindness of the Pharisees does not surprise us, but why were His followers so blind? Like Israel of old, the disciples saw His acts but did not understand His ways (Psalms 103:7). Ask God to give you spiritual insight. Don’t have defective understanding. The disciples had yet to understand that the kingdom of God would not be driven by the “my tribe first” mentality of the Pharisees or the show of brute force like Herod but by meekness and humility.

 

This is the only healing miracle recorded that took place in stages. Bethsaida was under judgment (Matt. 11:21-24), so Jesus took the man out of there and told him not to go back. Be careful where you send people whose eyes have been opened to Jesus and His mercy.  Don’ have defective sight. Just as the blind man’s sight came in stages, so too the disciples’ spiritual sight would come in stages, especially their understanding of Jesus as the Son of God, the Messiah.

 

One minute Peter is inspired from heaven (Matt. 16:17); and the next minute, his tongue is ignited from hell; (James 3:6). Peter saw only shame in the Cross, but Jesus saw glory. Peter saw defeat, but Jesus saw great victory. Never be ashamed to be His disciple and bear your cross, for Jesus bore it first. Don’t have defective devotion. In essence, Peter called Jesus out to talk Him out of going to the cross. Peter’s reasoning was not simply mistaken, it was downright demonic.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better. If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary. J. Vernon McGee Through the Bible. Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible.