Mark 8: Open Our Eyes

6 January 2015: 4,000 Filled, 7 Baskets Leftover

Opening prayer: Thank You Lord for continuing Project Logos. It’s an honour to read Your Word. Where would we be if not for Your grace? We bless the time, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Scripture: Mark 8:1–10

Context: Last time, we saw Jesus ministering in Decapolis: a Gentile (non–Jew) location. In other words, the locals there worshipped idols like Baal and Asherah poles. This is important as we compare this miracle to the one in Mark 6.

Analysis: After ministering to the Gentile city, the people followed Jesus…for three days. Then Jesus had compassion on them and sat them down on a desolate place. He took a limited amount of food and distributed it to 4,000 men, excluding women and children, bringing a total to 4,000 × 4 = 16,000 and counting.

Doesn’t this sound all too familiar?

So why did Mark write this one down? To show us Jesus’ treatment to the Gentiles. Remember: Jesus was a Jew and would have grown up, as with other Jews, hearing prejudices against the Gentiles. And yet, Jesus had compassion on them as He did with the Jews, showing that God’s favour is not biased toward the Jew or the Gentile but is freely available to both groups.

The numbers here reflect this difference. In the first account, we see there were 5,000 men and 12 baskets leftover. 5 is the number of grace while 12 is the number of government, symbolising the Jews (12 sons of Jacob, 12 tribes, 12 disciples). In other words, the first feeding showed God’s grace to the Jews. The second time around, there were 4,000 men and 7 baskets leftover. 4 is the number of creation while 7 is the number of divine completion. In other words, God was completing the Gospel by extending it to the rest of creation outside of His chosen people.

In the first feeding, Jesus rested them on green pastures, a reference to Psalm 23:2, with Jesus as the Good Shepherd (John 10:11), and the people as sheep without a shepherd (Mark 6:34). In the second feeding, Jesus sat them down on hard ground in the Original Greek and still fed them. In other words, whether in abundance or lack, God’s grace will still flow for a people willing to receive.

This also explains why Jesus did things slightly differently between the two feedings. Before feeding the 5,000, Jesus preached (Mark 6:34), but for the 4,000, there was no record that He preached. The Jews were predominant among the 5,000 and had learnt their law by heart, hence Jesus could teach from it, but the Gentiles were predominant among the 4,000 and never had the chance to know about God’s law, and Jesus just supplied them anyway.

In both cases, He had compassion on the people, gave thanks for the incoming supply and all the people were satisfied. He who had more didn’t have too much while he who had less didn’t have too little, showing the specific all-sufficiency of Jesus’ supply for each one of us! You are not a face in the crowd; you are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14)! And His supply is specific to your needs too!

food for thought

1. God’s grace is available to all, regardless of culture, practice and even sin.

2. God’s supply is specific to each of our needs.

Closing prayer: Thank You Lord for Your supply that avails to all, regardless of class or culture, and that even though we are not Jews, we can freely receive Your supply through our Lord and High Priest, Jesus Christ. We enjoy Your supply in our lives and speak forth favour, healing and prosperity too. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

8 January 2015: Spiritual Blindness

Opening prayer: Lord, we enjoy more of Your Word and what you have to tell us through it. Give us this daily bread. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Scripture: Mark 8:11–21

Context: Jesus had always been performing miracles to both Jews and Gentiles and teaching primarily to the Jews. This brought forth many responses: people who see him as just a miracle worker and people who see him as a dangerous revolt.

Analysis: Once again, the Jews demanded that Jesus give them yet another sign that would prove His divinity. Interestingly enough, Jesus “sighed deeply” (Mark 8:12), denying them of a miracle at present. In Matthew 16:4, Jesus says “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah”. Mark did not include this extra detail because he was writing to the Gentile Christians, who would have no idea what the sign of Jonah was.

Nonetheless, let’s check out what is this sign that Jesus talks about

1. Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. [Jonah 1:17b]

2. …(the fish) vomited Jonah out upon the dry land. [Jonah 2:10]

In other words, effectively (not technically), Jonah was brought back into existence after 3 days and 3 nights…you and I would call it a resurrection, but the Jews who heard this would have seen resurrections impossible. They even bribed Roman soldiers to lie about Jesus’ resurrection and accuse the disciples of stealing his body (Matthew 28:12)! This is the origins of the lie that Jesus did not really rise from the dead. Nonetheless, it ultimately reflects the Jews’ blindness toward Jesus’ divinity.

Later in the boat, Jesus warned His disciples of the hypocrisy of the Pharisees/Jews, typifying their false doctrine, Matthew 16:12, as yeast. Yeast have been a picture of sin, and as such God commanded that His people eat unleavened bread, signifying the the body of the sinless Jesus as the Passover Bread. Nonetheless, His disciples literally thought that the Pharisees placed years in the single loaf that they had. Imagine Jesus’ reaction, likely to face-palm in dismay. However, unlike the earlier group, these guys would soon see Jesus’ divinity. Only for now are they temporarily blinded by their material hunger.

Jesus tenderly explained to them about the spiritual significance of hypocritical teaching rather than the present lack of food. These disciples are His sheep and He is their shepherd and He will tenderly feed them. To all, Jesus corrected. To those who knew more, He corrected more harshly, as they were supposed to exhibit Godlike character, and to those who knew less, He more amicably corrected them, as they are in clearly more desperate need for grace.

It’s okay to be weak. When we are weak, then He is strong. When we are strong, He will still discipline us because He loves us, but perhaps a more stronger form of correction. Nonetheless, He is our shepherd, and just as His disciples grew and soon saw Him, so too we will grow in our walk with Him.

Closing prayer: Thank You Lord, our Shepherd. You lead us beside still waters, restoring our soul. Feed us, and repent us to make time to spend with You for You alone will satisfy. Nothing else but You alone. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

10 January 2015: Healing Comes by Encountering Jesus

Opening prayer: Thank You Lord for the honour to study Your Word. It’s a joy to get our daily bread. You are our life source and the Person that will sustain us and keep us till the end. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Scripture: Mark 8:22–26

Context: The Pharisees expressed repeatedly deliberate lack of understanding of Jesus as Lord, and have been likened to those whose seeds sown were snatched away by the evil one (Matthew 13:19). The disciples expressed unintentional lack of understanding and were fed more (Matthew 16:12). It’s time to see a prequel of restoration of sight.

Analysis: This account appears only in the Gospel of Mark, so we will refer largely to it for the presence or absence of detail, as well as see the tenderness of Jesus.

Jesus and His disciples went to Bethsaida, a Jewish town, and was brought a blind man by his friends (Mark 8:22). But Jesus took him aside to be alone with him away from the crowd (Mark 8:23), just like the deaf man (Mark 7:31–37). Jesus touched the blind man’s eyes, expressing intimacy in healing, and unlike the deaf man in Mark 7, this blind man’s vision was not instantly healed; it occurred in stages. First, he saw man like walking trees, a proof that trees and plants in the Bible typify man, and only after Jesus laid His hands a second time did the man’s vision restore completely. His vision was from none to blur, then to clear. Finally, unlike the deaf man, when Jesus told this blind man to refrain from even telling his fellow villagers about his healing, Mark never recorded that this man went back to the village.

There are two components to this account: current (physical) and prophetic (spiritual). We will use the current component we saw just now to explain the spiritual, ref John 2:12. Firstly, the blind man was brought to Jesus. Whether he wanted to or not, his friends were involved bringing him to Jesus for healing. We are involved in bringing our friends to encounter Jesus.

Secondly, upon encountering Jesus, whether he knew it or not, he was brought to be alone with Jesus. Yes, while we have a responsibility to shepherd our friend who just met Jesus, Jesus wants to minister to him alone. This ministry is to be an incredibly personal one, typified by Jesus physically touching the blind man’s eyes.

Thirdly, the blind man was healed in two stages. Some healing instances are not instantaneous, just like the one recorded in Mark 8. While we see many instances of instant healing, we see just as many progressive healing in our lives, be it physical, emotional or spiritual, and healing will continue to manifest throughout our walk with God. We are dependent on Him. Nonetheless, we get a better vision of Him and the things around us when we encounter. When we meet Jesus, He opens our eyes to see more clearly and rationally than without Him.

Once again, why did Jesus refrain the guy from spreading the good news? Because the town of Bethsaida only saw Jesus as miracle-maker and would not accept Him as Lord. Conversely, when we someone healed, we can have absolutely certain that sooner or later, he would be saved, as healing is a sign of Jesus’ power and authority over darkness. And the recipient of healing would be saved.

Closing prayer: Jesus, we declare salvation over our nation, over the world. You have said that You are patient and are not willing that anyone should perish. Today, I speak freedom over all who are bound by the devil; be loosed IN JESUS’ NAME! I proclaim healing over all who are sick, that by HIS STRIPES, we are healed. I speak life to the dead, that in Jesus we have life more abundantly. May our family, friends, classmates, acquaintances and the world see Jesus. Use us to bring them to You, and use us to disciple them. May they see Jesus and be transformed from glory to glory, from strength to strength. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

11 January 2015: The Christ Revealed

Opening prayer: Lord, we come eagerly to feed from Your Word. Feed us, nourish us and grow us. May we be blessed immensely by Your Word. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Scripture: Mark 8:27–33

Context: For the past two passages, we saw spiritual blindness, intentional and unintentional, and followed by that, a physical healing from blindness that pictured spiritual revelation. This passage highlights the disciples’ second spiritual revelation, the first being that Jesus was the Son of God (Matthew 17:33).

Analysis: Having followed Jesus for the past year and a half or so, Jesus turns to them and asks them two questions, similar in form but starkly different in target:

1. Who do men say that I am?

2. Who do you say that I am?

The answer to the first question would be a statement of fact; different people saw Jesus differently, and the disciples were right in pointing out those different responses. Some saw Jesus as prophet, like John the Baptist, or even prophet-cum-miracle-worker, like Elijah. I would expect many to see Jesus as a moral teacher, like Buddha or other religious leaders. However, no one, at least none of the Jews, have yet seen Jesus as the Savior. Until now.

And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.” [Mark 8:29]

Matthew’s account speaks of a blessing Jesus gave Peter, the keys of heaven, that whatever he binds on earth will be bound in heaven and whatever he looses on earth will be loosed in heaven. This speaks of Jesus’ kingship. However, Mark, focusing on Jesus as the Servant, focused on doing the Father’s will, just stated that Jesus warned His disciples to shut up.

John MacArthur describes this event as the highlight of the book of Mark. All events before this climaxed to this proclamation of Jesus as the Christ, and all events after this reveal a tragic job description of Jesus’ role as the Christ. As the Messiah, Jesus would launch a rebellion on the Romans and restore the pride and dignity of Israel once and for all. He shall establish utopia on earth as the hailed king of all time. This was incredibly glorious!

Or so the disciples thought.

In the very next passage, just after the disciples received the revelation that Jesus was the Christ, they learnt that His job description didn’t fulfil any of the above criteria, at least not in the short run. Jesus taught that He would suffer many things and be rejected by the chief priests and scribes and even be killed, only to rise again after three days (Mark 8:31). This proved to be of shockingly devastating news to the disciples. They wanted a ruler yet are getting a seemingly persecuted subject. They wanted a conqueror yet are getting a seemingly defeated loser. No surprise Peter rebuked Jesus for such bad news (Mark 8:32).

Yet, the innocent desires of Peter the disciples were in direct contrast with will of God (Matthew 16:23). The Bible reveals that Jesus saw Satan in Peter making that rebuke, the rejection of the death of Jesus and, more significantly for 2015, following that, the risen King.

Why did Jesus rebuke Peter and even saw Satan in him? We know that Satan is the father of lies (John 8:44), and as such, Jesus may have been exposing the deception that is the doctrine of the day, that the Messiah was, at that time, establishing His reign on earth. Bur perhaps Jesus foretold not only persecution and death but the resurrection that follows it. This resurrection serves as a testimony of the justification of those who believe in Him for salvation (Romans 4:25), a testimony that He has overcome death and a testimony that He has thwarted the plans of the evil one, the plans to forbid any fellowship between God and man. Death was but a checkpoint for Jesus to be lifted higher than all. Thus, Jesus rebuked the devil’s plan to stop the glorification of the risen King Jesus.

In Matthew, Jesus described Peter as not being ‘mindful of the things of God, but the things of men’ (Matthew 16:23). Today, let us set our eyes on things above. The Islamic State believes in setting up a kingdom via violence and revenge on western oppressors; the same was the mindsets of the disciples in Jesus’ day! But Jesus referred to those tactics as the things of man, whereas the things of God operated in a spiritual dimension. The kingdom of God is righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17), and that is the kingdom that Jesus was to set up during His first coming. This indeed come to pass through is manifestation in the Church, which grew in prosperity and even faster amidst persecution.

Set our minds on the things above. When we receive a glorious revelation of Jesus, do not dumb it down by just our needs, but the needs of the peoples too. Love God, love people, and see things the way God sees, in the Spirit.

Closing prayer: Lord, open our eyes to see as You see. We want to flow with Your plan and not take things into our own hands. We mess up, but in You we will succeed. Reveal Your heart to us and let us see with the spirit, bringing heaven to earth and establishing the kingdom of God, advancing not just the Gospel of Salvation but also the Gospel of the Kingdom. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

12 January 2015: Deny Yourself, Take Up Your Cross, Follow Him

Opening prayer: Thank You Lord for the glory that is to read Your word. Fill our hearts with joy unspeakable as we see Jesus. Amen!

Scripture: Mark 8:34–38

Context: The disciples just had a revelation that Jesus was the sent One of God, the Saviour and the Redeemer, only to realise that it wasn’t the redemption of Israel yet but spiritual healing of justification by faith and physical healing of sicknesses; none of which were in their plan for the Coming King.

Analysis: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it.” [Mark 8:34–35]

Having been a Christian all my life, I have heard this umpteen times preached in church, emphasising the point that it is quintessential to be completely devoted to God. While that is not wrong and indeed the Bible does commend us to place God as number 1, this verse, as with the parallels in Matthew and Luke, have been, dare I say, used to convey a legalistic, fear-inciting message that proves just what the law fails to achieve.

Contextually, Jesus floored the people around Him. He utterly shattered their remaining perspective of Messiahship. When He talked about the cross, it was synonymous to death and nothing but death, primarily, perhaps accompanying it is suffering. It was a call of complete self-denial, cross-bearing, losing the world to save one’s soul. And Christians at times preach this message that demands perfection — to an obviously imperfect people. In reality, no one can live each day deciding to deny himself without becoming self-conscious, whether self-glorifying or self-pity. How many of us actually bear a cross and follow Jesus without stumbling? Truth be known, no one can live up to that standard.

And that was what Jesus was trying to convey. Notice that He never told the woman at the well (John 4) to take up her cross. Neither did He tell Zacchaeus (Luke 19) that. They simply saw Him and were glad.

This message went out to all those who felt religiously lawful and could obey the law. If we really would obey the law, Jesus wouldn’t need to go to the cross.

Perhaps us being in a developed country need this message. A message of complete shattering. “The Christian life is not difficult; it’s impossible” –Joseph Prince A message that would completely strip us of self-confidence and compel to rely on Christ alone.

Nonetheless, Jesus added on: “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” [Mark 8:36–38] Notice what would happen to those who would not deny themselves, take up their crosses and follow Him? Denial before the Father in heaven. Jesus told everyone including His still self-righteous disciples the disastrous consequence that would behold them if they did not obey; yet another fear tactic used by some preachers who frighten their members into loyalty to God.

Case in point: Peter did in fact become ashamed of Jesus. He denied knowing Jesus thrice, and by the words of Jesus, Peter would have been denied salvation, or at least acceptance with the Father, which would have been no better. Heaven isn’t heaven without our Father in heaven. Did Jesus just go back on His word?

Here’s how: when the people saw Jesus as just an example or a moral guide, then they had better follow Jesus all the way, or else be deemed as hypocrites. And the truth be known is that no one could live up that standard. As far as what Jesus was saying here, it would be impossible for anyone to follow, because Jesus denied Himself, stripping Himself of royalty and entering our world, took up His cross and followed God’s will to be salvation for mankind.

Jesus talked about denying oneself again in Luke 14, but never mentioned it once in Luke 15. Why?

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. [Luke 15:1]

In Luke 14, you had self righteous people who thought they could obey God’s laws and be a good person to enter heaven, leading Jesus to decree them the strictest of requirements if they want to merit acceptance before God. But in Luke 15, the tax collectors and sinners, those who knew they were helpless and needed a Saviour, leading Jesus to open up to the three parables of grace: the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin and the Lost Son.

When we see Jesus as Saviour and are overwhelmed by this truth, that holy Jesus came for us sinful misers, then only will we unconsciously, even, deny self and follow Christ. Zacchaeus upon receiving the grace of Jesus, gave half of his goods I give to the poor, and if he had ever defrauded anyone of anything, he would restore it fourfold (Luke 19:8). Jesus didn’t come to be an example or a moral guide but a Saviour! Jesus wants to be known as Saviour, Redeemer. And the revelation of Jesus as Saviour will produce the fruit of the Spirit. See Jesus as Your Saviour, the One you can place your life into, for He alone will save!

Closing prayer: Today, we receive Your grace. We don’t want to look to You as just a moral guide but most importantly Saviour. Only You can lead the perfect life. We don’t focus on that aspect, for we see it as a fruit, but Lord we feed on You, the root of all holiness. We fix our eyes on You. Jesus, we have no one else to turn to. We need You. Save us, Oh Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen.