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October 18, 2017

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Reading along with us in Mark? Here’s today’s reading:

Mark 8 (ESV)

In those days, when again a great crowd had gathered, and they had nothing to eat, he called his disciples to him and said to them, “I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat.And if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way. And some of them have come from far away.” And his disciples answered him, “How can one feed these people with bread here in this desolate place?” And he asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven.” And he directed the crowd to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves, and having given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and they set them before the crowd. And they had a few small fish. And having blessed them, he said that these also should be set before them. And they ate and were satisfied. And they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. And there were about four thousand people. And he sent them away. 10 And immediately he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha...Continue Reading

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This Post Has 4 Comments
  1. “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? 37For what can a man give in return for his soul? 38For 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.”

  2. 21And he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?”
    (I like that He said “yet”)

    36For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? 37For what can a man give in return for his soul? 38For 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.”

  3. It is interesting that Jesus compares the influence of the Pharisees and Herod to yeast. It only takes a small amount of yeast to permeate a whole batch of bread and so it is with legalism, materialism and earthly power. Once they are allowed to take residence in our soul, they effect every aspect of our lives from the way we perceive life’s purpose, to how we perceive other people and how we perceive God. And the influence they have can be so subtle. We need God’s Spirit to root it out of our lives as we pray for Him to fill us and engage with His word.

    And what an incredibly bold statement Jesus makes about the complete commitment that He calls us too. Who else could tell us to pick up our cross and deny ourselves besides the one who will do the very thing? What an important thing to meditate on and pray about to find the sacrifices God is calling us to make in our lives. And realize this is all consistent with the abundant life God offers and that Jesus came to bring and the joy that He makes possible. Remember His yoke is easy and His burden is light, but it will still involve denying our fleshly desires and embracing His desires. What an important message for us who are constantly tempted to make life about ourselves and our needs.

    But it all boils down to the question Jesus asks Peter(and us), “But what about you, who do you say that I am?”

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