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Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Day 42 - Chapter 8, Verses 11-21
The Pharisees came forward and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. He sighed from the depth of his spirit and said, "Why does this generation seek a sign? Amen, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation."
Then he left them, got into the boat again, and went off to the other shore. They had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. He enjoined them, "Watch out, guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod." They concluded among themselves that it was because they had no bread.
When he became aware of this he said to them, "Why do you conclude that it is because you have no bread? Do you not yet understand or comprehend? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes and not see, ears and not hear? And do you not remember, when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many wicker baskets full of fragments you picked up?" They answered him, "Twelve."
"When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many full baskets of fragments did you pick up?" They answered (him), "Seven."
He said to them, "Do you still not understand?"
Pay particular attention to Jesus’ frustration here. It sets the stage for the Gospel through chapter ten.
For each of us, there are times when we feel like we are searching for meaning, searching to understand. At other times, we have it all in front of us, but we can’t see what is happening. Which of those best describes your life right now? How can the Lord help you to see?
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2 comments:
"We walk by faith and not by sight." We may never have signs, but God is present. I like this story:
Do you know the legend of the Cherokee Indian youth's rite of Passage?
His father takes him into the forest, blindfolds him and leaves him alone. He is required to sit on a stump the whole night and not remove the blindfold until the rays of the morning sun shine through it. He cannot cry out for help to anyone. Once he survives the night, he is a MAN.
The boy is naturally terrified. He
can hear all kinds of noises. Wild beasts must surely be all around him. Maybe even some human might do him harm. The wind blew the grass and earth, and shook his stump, but he sat stoically, never removing the blindfold. It would be the only way he could become a man!
Finally, after a horrific night the sun appeared and he removed his blindfold. It was then that he discovered his father sitting on the stump next to him. He had been at watch the entire night, protecting his son from harm. We, too, are never alone. Even when we don't know it, God is watching over us, sitting on the stump beside us. When trouble comes, all we have to do is reach out to Him.
Thanks for that.
Sometimes we are walking blindfolded by design.
Sometimes we fear to take off the blindfold.
It is a great image to have in mind, as one reads through to the end of chapter 10.
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