(Quotations are from NASB 1995)

Jesus became distressed when his disciples did not understand that he knows, comprehends, and will fulfill our needs.

How often does he get upset when he sees us repeat the same mistakes?

Mark 8:1-2: In those days, when there was again a large crowd, and they had nothing to eat, Jesus called His disciples and said to them, 2 “I feel compassion for the people because they have remained with Me now three days and have nothing to eat.

Jesus knew they had a need…Nowhere does it say the people were complaining…

Mark 8:4: and His disciples answered Him, “Where will anyone be able to find enough bread here in this desolate place to satisfy these people?”

The disciples asked Jesus, “Where are we going to find food?” Maybe we need to ask Jesus where we can find or get what we need.

Mark 8:6: And He directed the people to sit down on the ground; and taking the seven loaves, He gave thanks and broke them, and started giving them to His disciples to serve to them, and they served them to the people.

Jesus just fed 4000 people with seven loaves of bread. Later, the disciples find themselves on a boat with only one loaf of bread. In the Gospel of Mark, beginning at 8:16, they began to discuss with one another the fact that they had no bread.

This is where Jesus becomes annoyed with his disciples…

Mark 8:17-21: And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you discuss the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet see or understand? Do you have a hardened heart? 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 you picked up?” They *said to Him, “Twelve.” 20 “When I broke the seven for the four thousand, how many large baskets full of broken pieces did you pick up?” And they *said to Him, “Seven.” 21 And He was saying to them, “Do you not yet understand?”

If we are going to be Disciples for Christ, we must remember what He has done for us and understand that He is there for us…He understands our needs and is capable of meeting them. If Jesus can feed 4,000 people with seven loaves of bread, what more can He do for us? After all, when he ascended back to heaven, he left his disciples, both then and now, with the same Holy Spirit.

John Swonger – CBC Ex. Board