Monday Devotional: Dense Disciples and an Exasperated Jesus (Mark 8:11-21)

Why are they talking about bread?

The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, asking him for a sign from heaven, to test him. And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation.” And he left them, and getting into the boat again, he went across to the other side.

Now the disciples had forgotten to bring any bread; and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. And he cautioned them, saying, “Watch out—beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.” They said to one another, “It is because we have no bread.” And becoming aware of it, Jesus said to them, “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes, and fail to see? Do you have ears, and fail to hear? And do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you collect?” They said to him, “Twelve.” “And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you collect?” And they said to him, “Seven.” Then he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?” (Mark 8:11-21).

We can see the work of God before our very eyes and still not believe. In fact, this happens all the time. It happened with the Pharisees and other opponents of Jesus, and it even happened with the disciples. So many things get in the way of belief: fear, pride, and the lust of the eye are common culprits, but there are many more. Belief in Jesus is not just a matter of evidence. We have to assume a posture and attitude of receptivity, one of humility and trust.