Focus:
kjv@Revelation:14:12 @ Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
(
FaithOfJesus thread begun by r
RandyP )
Today's Verse:
kjv@Mark:8:1-21
kjv@Mark:8:1 @ In those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples unto him, and saith unto them,
kjv@Mark:8:2 @ I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat:
kjv@Mark:8:3 @ And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far.
kjv@Mark:8:4 @ And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness?
kjv@Mark:8:5 @ And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven.
kjv@Mark:8:6 @ And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before them; and they did set them before the people.
kjv@Mark:8:7 @ And they had a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them.
kjv@Mark:8:8 @ So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets.
kjv@Mark:8:9 @ And they that had eaten were about four thousand: and he sent them away.
kjv@Mark:8:10 @ And straightway he entered into a ship with his disciples, and came into the parts of Dalmanutha.
kjv@Mark:8:11 @ And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him.
kjv@Mark:8:12 @ And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.
kjv@Mark:8:13 @ And he left them, and entering into the ship again departed to the other side.
kjv@Mark:8:14 @ Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, neither had they in the ship with them more than one loaf.
kjv@Mark:8:15 @ And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod.
kjv@Mark:8:16 @ And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread.
kjv@Mark:8:17 @ And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened?
kjv@Mark:8:18 @ Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?
kjv@Mark:8:19 @ When I brake the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? They say unto him, Twelve.
kjv@Mark:8:20 @ And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven.
kjv@Mark:8:21 @ And he said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand?
Today's notes:
Context:
- Before - Tell... Tell not
- After - men as trees walking
Key Concepts:
What is God's righteousness observed doing?:
- Having Jesus teach a three day session in the wilderness.
- Having concern for those that had been with Him, compassion for them and their situation, not sending any away hungered nor faint.
- Repeating a miracle/lesson that the disciples had left from hardened and without understanding.
- Refusing to give the sign that the Pharisees were tempting Him for to expose Him.
- Exposing the Pharisees and their generation along with the disciples and their misunderstanding. Warning of the corrupting influences that easily change the form and character of the believing body.
What does this tell us about God's righteousness?:
- The word of God is enough of a draw for people to haul off to the wilderness and remain three days without eating to hear. There is more than enough content to cover in this time. Not that any would understand all of this content, but that the content could be deposited/planted and the manner of Jesus observed.
- Compassion is not just the concern for intellectual even spiritual matters, it is also the insight into what people have been doing/what they will be doing/and what physical needs they have to accomplish that. If one is to spend the time hearing the word of God (receiving it's deposit) one can rely on being satisfied in all essential things that relate to the experience. Remember, the word is not just received fully known from the start, many will receive the word only to allow the cares of this world (hunger as one) to choke it off, some will receive with joy but because of the opposing pressure that will come from others let it wither away, some will face these challenges and allow it deep root and broad stalk to fruit. Jesus being aware of this does all on His part to make sure for these three day listeners are capable of with standing the processes/forces against it.
- Righteousness is always aware of the schemes and enticements against it. A person that was truly seeking righteousness would see everything done to this point as a sign. A person seeking to destroy it would always be looking for something beyond what had has been performed regardless of what it was just to make lite of all things done and to present others with the notion that there is something much more. There is no need for righteousness to play along with the game nor fall into the trap, it has done what is right all along and will continue to do so.
- Light exposes everything within the reach of darkness. The shadow trailing the misunderstanding the Lord's instructions looks much the same as the shadow following a zealousness bent on tempting the Lord for a sign. Part of the believers shadow is to have seen the shadow of the Pharisee and consider that he/she is above that, to think that I am not that person, that shadow does not follow me when without exception does. It is a fermentation that can puff up the entire loaf.
How is man reacting?:
- Pharisees likely as proof to their claim.
- Disciples confused over the meaning of His warning.
Notes:
The compassion of Christ isn't just in the feeding of thousands. Is it not that He is there? Is it not that He is doing all that He is doing and all that He is yet prepared to do? Is it not that that He has granted for us to be here and to hear of His word and to see of His manner and gesture and smile? Is it not that we live and breath and are hungered and are satisfied, that we gather and we nestle for a time and then leave to go back to far places? Is it not that He has come to us near to where we are, making His Father known, with intentions of bringing us back into His Father's great house? That He has gathered twelve to be standins for us that each of us can walk along the shores with Him, taste of the salty sea air from the waves and the warm sun there on His friend's boat, making our way to a great many towns and cities and places where His compassion can yet continue? Is not all this His compassion? His great sign?
How much the Pharisees know of the events proceeding their sorted queries is unknown; in some respects likely in others unlikely. That is the problem with not investing one's self into finding the truth of a matter; you poke your head in every once in a while supposing to know everything when really what little you might in fact know is nothing more than poking your head into what you really know little about as well. How different it is to see how God in HIS righteousness has things to work. A seed is planted and by long and continual process is brought to fruit, but the knowledge or understanding doesn't just come, it has to be invested in/committed to/experienced. So the disciples don't understand what it is He just said; they will because they are invested. So they aren't going to come to fruition until after His crucifixion; they will because they are doing more than just poking their head in putting everything being planted down. The Pharisees amongst other things expect immediate results detached from anything they are invested in, God expects time and process and commitment.
Key Messages:
What does this say about our present condition?
- Why do I (God) have to prove MYSELF to you? Who other can do the things I have already shown to you? Is it not you now that has to prove yourself to ME? What is it you could prove to ME that I MYSELF have not made possible for you to return to ME? You want ME to show you all the cards in MY hand? What then? What will you do then knowing this vast addition that you haven't done knowing all the vastness that preceded it? Is it unreasonable that I want you to show ME how it is that I have affected you by what you do knowing everything that I have already revealed; then from within that I should show you the much much more? Is it unreasonable that I want from you more than just the simple recognition of MY existence that any simple minded fool would offer ME not having seen nor heard that which you have? Is this not to be of MY RIGHTEOUSNESS? Beware then... beware the leaven.
Further Resources:
Comment Board:Mark:8:1-21
index:FAITHOFJESUSDEVOTION - Devotional Index
strkjv@Mark:8:1-21 rwp@Mark:8:1-21 mhcc@Mark:8:1-21
FaithOfJesus2 - Devotion Index
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