- And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.” Mark 8:29 – Jesus was in a unique time within His ministry. On one side He had thousands willing to stay days, even without food, just to keep hearing Him speak and see Him do His work. On the other side He had religious leaders tempting Him and condemning Him, all so they could put an end to this rogue traveling teacher that was putting their lifestyle at risk. Yet in that unique time and space, Jesus found Himself near His close twelve disciples and asked them the above question. While everyone else has their opinions…”who do you say that I am?” While Peter got the answer right, we see even he struggled to remember and accept this about Jesus in all the future situations he found himself in. Likely we to would give the right answer to the above question. Jesus is the Savior of the world, King of Kings, Lord or Lords, God incarnate…He is the Christ. Yet while those words may come from our mouth, do we remember them when we need them most? When our family member is in the hospital, do we remember that He is the Lord over all things? When the job ends and the money is gone, do we remember He is the ultimate provider? When the world is filled with uncertainty and fear, do we remember He is God, the Savior of the world? It’s one thing in the seasons of peace to voice that Jesus is the Christ, it’s another to rely on Him as such when the seasons of chaos are present. Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow, the same in the hard times and the blessed times. If He is God at church on Sunday then He is God on Friday morning when the world is crashing too. Praise the Lord we serve and follow a Savior that is the Christ and will always remain that in our story. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 3099
- When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They said to him, “Twelve.” “And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” And they said to him, “Seven.” And he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?” Mark 8:19-21 – Strive to remember what God has done for you in the past. Strive to learn more about the identity of God from what He does for you. Those things were what the disciples were forgetting about. Not only are they worrying about having food after seeing the miracle of the feeding of 5000 and 4000, but they also didn’t open their eyes to the fact Jesus was able to provide for their needs. Have you fallen into the same category as the disciples? Has God provided for you financially in the past yet now you’re still worrying about money? Hasn’t God healed your broken heart before and isn’t He still able to hold you together? With the current struggles in your story, remember what God has done for you in the past. Begin to see God for who He’s shown you He is; as the God who is able to meet your need. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 463
- And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?” And he looked up and said, “I see people, but they look like trees, walking.” Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. Mark 8:23-25 – Why did the healing come gradually here instead of immediate like the other healings? Great question and many have ideas on it but it’s not for certain. Some believe it’s because of the faith of the blind man and as his faith increased so did the completion of his healing. Others believe it was for the disciples so they could have their faith in Jesus increased. Whatever the reason the result is the same, Jesus gave the man what he needed. Yes, being spat in the eye and it not coming immediately was most likely not how the blind man thought it was going to go, but nevertheless he was able to see once it was all done. Your blessing and healings may come like this. It may come in stages and come in ways you don’t understand. If though the end result is your complete healing and blessing then God has proven once again to us He is faithful, even if the journey to that healing came differently than we expected. So don’t judge God’s faithfulness to you by the strange turns He takes you on in the journey to your healing but by the end result of what He brings. There we will always see how great is His faithfulness. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1617
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