In my quiet time this morning, I was reading in the book of Mark, chapter 8. We’ve been studying the book of Mark in our small group from church. The chapter starts with Jesus feeding 4,000 people with only 7 loaves of bread and a few small fish. After the crowd ate and were full, there were 7 baskets of broken pieces leftover. 7, y’all! A few weeks ago, our small group read in chapter 6 that Jesus fed 5,000 men (plus all the women and children) with 5 loaves and 2 fish…and there were 12 baskets leftover. Wow!
So now fast forward to chapter 8, verse 14. Jesus and the disciples are in a boat, crossing the sea, and the disciples realize they forgot to bring bread. They only had one loaf with them. Jesus tries to use this as a short teaching moment, but the disciples were hung up on the fact that they didn’t bring enough bread.
Jesus immediately questioned them, asking them why are they discussing this. He then goes on to say,
“Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember?” Mark 8:18
He then recounts the miracle of feeding the 5,000 and the miracle of feeding the 4,000, both of which the disciples were present for and witnessed with their very own eyes. Jesus is essentially saying, “Why are you worrying about not having any bread? You have seen what I can do. If I can feed 5,000 with 5 loaves and 2 fish and 4,000 with 7 loaves and a few fish, will I not provide for you also?”
This challenges and convicts me. Too often when I’m looking at my present circumstances, I’m tempted to forget what God has done for me in the past. I forget His faithfulness, His promise to provide all that I need. I forget His goodness and how He is with me through everything that I face. Reading this passage of the disciples yet again forgetting who Jesus is and His awesome power, I can’t judge them. I can’t put myself on a pedestal above them. Sure, I haven’t seen a miraculous feeding like they saw, but I have seen time and time again God’s goodness, presence, and faithfulness in my life. That should spur me on to greater faith and trust as I walk my present circumstances.
“Lord, forgive me when I forget. Help me to remember. I don’t want to forget your faithfulness that you have shown me again and again.”
Pressing on in faith, Jennifer