Welcome to the “But first, Bible” daily devotional podcast with Dave Miers.
Our readings for today are Numbers 16-17 and Mark 6:33-56.
One of the responses that we continue to see in the Gospel of Mark is that the disciples and the crowds are astounded at the things that Jesus is doing and saying.
In Mark chapter 6 – Jesus does some really remarkable miracles. We’ve already seen a number of Jesus’ miracles, but in today’s reading, we see two more.
The first one is the feeding of over 5000 people with just five loaves of bread and two fish. Now he doesn’t cut it all up into tiny crumbs and then shares it out with tweezers. He miraculously multiplies the bread and the fish so that there are literal basket-loads of leftovers at the end! Astounding!
Let me read the next miracle to you from Mark 6:45–52,
[45] Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. [46] And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray. [47] And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. [48] And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them, [49] but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out, [50] for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” [51] And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, [52] for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened. (ESV)
Jesus. Walks. On. Water. No sandbars, no surfboards, no wires. And the disciples were utterly astounded. They still didn’t understand everything about Jesus, and their hearts haven’t yet properly softened to see who Jesus really is.
The disciples and the crowds in Mark’s gospel will see more and more moments to be astounded and amazed at what Jesus is saying and doing.
A number of years ago I went to watch THE ILLUSIONISTS at the Sydney Opera House. I walked away amazed and astounded at the illusions performed by 7 world famous magicians. But it didn’t really change my life.
Jesus, though, he is more than a magician. We can’t just be amazed or astounded. Jesus’ miracles show us who he is. They point us to the fact that he is God come among us. He has the power and authority of God himself. If he is God he demands from us much more than being astounded at his miracles.
In the next few chapters of Mark’s gospel, we will get an even clearer picture of who Jesus is and why we should entrust our whole life to him.
Until tomorrow, keep trusting Jesus.