QT 12/6/2023 Mark 8:11-21, "Do you not yet understand?"

Mark 8:11–21 (ESV) —

11 The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. 12 And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” 13 And he left them, got into the boat again, and went to the other side.

14 Now they had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. 15 And he cautioned them, saying, “Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” 16 And they began discussing with one another the fact that they had no bread. 17 And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? 18 Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They said to him, “Twelve.” 20 “And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” And they said to him, “Seven.” 21 And he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?”

 

NOTE: Fruchtenbaum argues that Jesus did not begin using the phrase "this generation" until after the rejection of his messiah-ship by the leaders (Matt 12:22ff [Matthew is not organized chronologically]; Mark 3:22ff; Luke 11:15ff). Many other things changed in regard to his ministry after the rejection. I personally believe the church age plan was initiated by the rejection (God knew it would happen), and Daniel's seventieth week was put on hold. The church (a blending of Jew and Gentile) became God's plan to take his message to the world -- all because "this generation" refused him. Jesus, as God, knew this would happen, but he was also human, and so I think his "sigh deep(ly) in his spirit" was his frustration that his people would not believe. Seeing "his" disciples worried about no bread, just after the "sign" request from the Pharisees was doubly disappointing. He had just performed the second miracle of multiplying food out of nothing, and here his disciples were worried about food. His question is meaningful for us to consider: "Do you not yet understand?"

 

PONDER:

What are our worries? Have we never seen God do a miraculous work in our life? Have we never seen the outcome of seemingly unrelated events work out for good? Do we even know the savior or are we only religious?

 

PRAYER: Father, as I ponder the many circumstances of life, do I understand? Do I see how you are working and the things that you are doing, and believe that you are bringing good out of them.