Categories: uncategorized
Date: 21 April 2005 11:16:09
We're studying Mark at housegroup. Last week we read the two accounts of miraculous feedings that occur almost one after the other (with a bit of fishing and healing in between)...These come just before Peter realises that Jesus is the Christ, and it put an entirely new spin on them when I read them with that in mind.
It's easy to berate the disciples for being SO STUPID. They have this whole bread obsession going on - so when Jesus tells them to be on their guard because of the yeast of the pharisees they think he's telling them off for forgetting to pack sandwiches. After seeing Jesus feed the 5000 once they still get twitchy when, yet again, they find themselves with a large crowd and no food. Have they forgotten their master's expertise when it comes to mass catering?
So - apart from the idea that Jesus chose followers with very short memories, it occurred to me that we all do this all the time. Sometimes God allows me the most wonderful experiences, the weirdest (non) coincidences, the most miraculous, lifegiving pieces of news. They SHOULD sustain me for ever. But they don't. The very next week I'm doing the equivalent of worrying about the catering again, even though I should know that Jesus has been there for me in the past and isn't going to leave me on my own. Forgive me Lord, you give me so much. And I forget SO fast.