Reading the Bible Everyday; Mark 8

You’re listening to the Lifting Her Voice podcast, Episode 36.  Today we’ll read the 8th chapter of Mark together:  Back to the Decapolis to feed 4000; the disciples worry needlessly about bread; and what it takes to follow Jesus.

Welcome to the Lifting Her Voice podcast.  I’m your host, Joy Miller, and I invite you to grab your Bible and join me as we simply read God’s word together.  Some things require discipline and sometimes that’s just not easy to muster by yourself, no matter how badly you want to do it or how much you know you should.  It’s just easier to do it with a friend.  So refill your coffee or tea, get comfortable in your favorite chair and follow along as I read aloud.  I’m so glad you’re here!

I so hope that you have subscribed to Emily P. Freeman’s podcast The Next Right Thing.  In Episode Number 127, she directs her comments to graduates and their friends and family.  But here’s my confession:  I’m not graduating from anything!  And I’m pretty sure this particular recording is just for me.  There are so many lessons in this life that I just haven’t gotten right, and her words were inspiring to me.  I also found wisdom in them.  Have you ever been listening to something and noticed that you’ve become completely still, like a deer?  That was me today…I highly recommend that you eke out 10 minutes to listen to her Episode Number 127.  And if, as she suggests, you would like to read her book by the same name, there is a link below in the show notes.  Or, if you have always wanted to try Audible, there’s a link for that too, and you can choose her book as one of your two free ones.

Mark Chapter 8:  1 In those days there was again a large crowd, and they had nothing to eat. He summoned the disciples and said to them, 2 “I have compassion on the crowd, because they’ve already stayed with Me three days and have nothing to eat. 3 If I send them home famished, they will collapse on the way, and some of them have come a long distance.” 4 His disciples answered Him, “Where can anyone get enough bread here in this desolate place to fill these people?” 5 “How many loaves do you have?” He asked them. “Seven,” they said. 6 Then He commanded the crowd to sit down on the ground. Taking the seven loaves, He gave thanks, broke the [loaves], and kept on giving [them] to His disciples to set before [the people]. So they served the [loaves] to the crowd. 7 They also had a few small fish, and when He had blessed them, He said these were to be served as well. 8 They ate and were filled. Then they collected seven large baskets of leftover pieces. 9 About 4,000 [men] were there. He dismissed them 10 and immediately got into the boat with His disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha. 11 The Pharisees came out and began to argue with Him, demanding of Him a sign from heaven to test Him. 12 But sighing deeply in His spirit, He said, “Why does this generation demand a sign? I assure you: No sign will be given to this generation!” 13 Then He left them, got on board [the boat] again, and went to the other side. 14 They had forgotten to take bread and had only one loaf with them in the boat. 15 Then He commanded them: “Watch out! Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.” 16 They were discussing among themselves that they did not have any bread. 17 Aware of this, He said to them, “Why are you discussing that you do not have any bread? Do you not yet understand or comprehend? Is your heart hardened? 18 Do you have eyes, and not see, and do you have ears, and not hear? And do you not remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the 5,000, how many baskets full of pieces of bread did you collect?” “Twelve,” they told Him. 20 “When I broke the seven loaves for the 4,000, how many large baskets full of pieces of bread did you collect?” “Seven,” they said. 21 And He said to them, “Don’t you understand yet?” 22 Then they came to Bethsaida. They brought a blind man to Him and begged Him to touch him. 23 He took the blind man by the hand and brought him out of the village. Spitting on his eyes and laying His hands on him, He asked him, “Do you see anything?” 24 He looked up and said, “I see people-they look to me like trees walking.” 25 Again Jesus placed His hands on the man’s eyes, and he saw distinctly. He was cured and could see everything clearly. 26 Then He sent him home, saying, “Don’t even go into the village.” 27 Jesus went out with His disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the road He asked His disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” 28 They answered Him, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, one of the prophets.” 29 “But you,” He asked them again, “who do you say that I am?” Peter answered Him, “You are the Messiah!” 30 And He strictly warned them to tell no one about Him. 31 Then He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, be killed, and rise after three days. 32 He was openly talking about this. So Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. 33 But turning around and looking at His disciples, He rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind Me, Satan, because you’re not thinking about God’s concerns, but man’s!” 34 Summoning the crowd along with His disciples, He said to them, “If anyone wants to be My follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me. 35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me and the gospel will save it. 36 For what does it benefit a man to gain the whole world yet lose his life? 37 What can a man give in exchange for his life? 38 For whoever is ashamed of Me and of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”

I saw my self in the boat…did you?  I’ve never seen that before!  But I was cut to the quick when Jesus scolded the disciples for their shortsightedness.  I had to ask myself too, how many miracles does Jesus have to perform for me?  How many times does he have to sustain me and provide for me before I truly believe?  No worrying, no fretting, no trying to figure out I’m going to do to change something…just rest.  What?  No bread?  No worry!  I’m in the boat with a guy who does amazing things with just a few loaves and fish.  Let’s pray.  Oh Father, this is an amazing account of so many miracles that Jesus did, and yet, if we walk away with just one thing, let it be that we can trust you with everything:  Our lives, our shortcomings, our fears…everything.  Please help us to do that.  In Jesus’ name, amen.   Thank you for joining me here today.  I pray God will grow in you what has been planted and watered here.  In this time of unprecedented struggle worldwide, we can look to God for guidance and comfort.  Be sensitive to those in your circle of influence who need a word of encouragement and invite them to join us.  If you like this show, it would be great if you give it a five-star review.  Don’t forget to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.  See you right here tomorrow.  Be well!