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In Mark Chapter 8 verse 1 - we have the feeding the 4,000. Might this sound familiar?

These people have been around Jesus for three days. Jesus has compassion for these people.

This time we have seven loaves and seven baskets.

How can we feed them?

How could the disciples ask this question? They had seen what had happened previously. They had seen a miracle and they don’t believe that it can be repeated.

We can be like that and this indicates the hardness of our hearts. We can be very difficult and unbelieving at times – I know my own heart.

We can come out of one trouble and we wonder how Jesus will be able to get us through the next trouble.

He did this again because the people were needy, and Jesus did it because He saw that the disciples needy further teaching and training. They were setting their minds on their resources rather than God’s resources. Do we not forget so soon?

Are you going to trust me rather than worrying?

God has to deal with us time and time again.

How many loaves have you – we have seven. How did they say that? Last time it was five – we have seven this time.

God resources are released through human gift. God may want you to give something just now – money – time – talent – ability – something that you can give.

God’s resources are distributed through human hands. Jesus uses the disciples again. Jesus always uses His disciples – know that.

God’s resources are more than enough.

Jesus goes back into Jewish territory to be met with, “Give us proof – do another miracle”.

Verse 12 – Jesus sighed. Were the Pharisees so blind?

Jesus had just fed hungry people and these men wanted another sign, and at this moment no sign would have been good enough.

Jesus left them and got into the boat. Did the disciples have a guilty conscience? They had forgotten to bring bread, but Jesus is not referring to ordinary bread.

They were living at the level of the senses. They were only looking at material things.

Look at the question Jesus uses to challenge His disciples.

Verses 19,20 – How many loaves were there? How many baskets were left over? Do you still not see or understand? This miracle takes place in Gentile territory.

God’s supply is complete – the twelve tribes of Israel – and the seven Gentile tribes or the seven Canaanite tribes outside the people of Israel.

God’s resources are sufficient – and all that we need – no matter where we are.

Jesus says – watch out for the influences that influence your lives even when you do not know it might be happening.

We can worry about the bread – the material – and miss the truth.

Verse 22 – A blind man is brought to Jesus. He took him for a walk outside the village – to get away from the people.

He could see partially. It did not happen immediately. It happened in stages.

This may be how we came to Jesus Christ. It was partial to begins with but then we there came the day when we could see clearly.

In every healing there is a parable about how Jesus works in our lives.

Once I was blind but now I see.

Jesus did not finish with him until he could see clearly.

God invites us until we can see clearly. Some things we do not see right away. Things can be a little fuzzy, but then God helps us to see.

See clearly as you come to the table, where there is bread and wine. There is no use in eating and drinking if this ever becomes only external – popping bread and wine into our mouth – but to see beyond the physical – and see the blood that flowed from His hands and His feet.

We are offered the bread on top of the table and not just the crumbs under the table. This is more than an outward act. We discern the body.

We see a body given for us on the cross. We see again the sacrifice of Jesus Christ the Son of God. We are reminded of what is true and real.

Jesus is interested in timing. It was not the time for everything to be revealed – yet. And yet, in the next section there is amazing revelation.

"Bible verse and quote" from Jan Couns

Bible and Quote - February 10-14