David Bahn – Reflections

Mark 8:10-13

And immediately he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha. ¹¹ The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. ¹² And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” ¹³ And he left them, got into the boat again, and went to the other side.

Have you ever hung around with a group of people only to discover that you’re really not wanted? Hints may be dropped to let you know: the conversation changes or suddenly stops the moment you arrive. Or people turn their backs on you or walk away. You may even have heard someone clear his throat – a subtle or not so subtle hint: you’re not really welcome here. When that happens we can simply walk away with no distress, we can have our feelings hurt, or we can even become angry. Sometimes we may even hang around where we’re not wanted.

We have a hint here of how Jesus felt at the rebuff and challenge of the Pharisees on this occasion. Mark tells us that Jesus sighed deeply in his spirit; dismayed at their sign-seeking. We also see clearly that Jesus didn’t hang around hoping to be acknowledged. He left, got into the boat again and went to the other side. I’m not certain what Jesus thought he would encounter in the district of Dalmanutha, but it’s clear that he was not well received nor did he feel the need to hang around in hopes of a better reception.

We may yearn for friendly conversation. We may want people to like us or our ideas. We might wish to have an impact in peoples’ lives. But if these pursuits define our lives we will not only often be disappointed, but we will ultimately discover that our lives are incredibly poorly defined.

Jesus was sad when he was rejected by the people of his day, but not because his mission was to be liked or accepted. His mission was to redeem us. His goal was to do the will of the Father and that defined not only his heart but his life. He sighed deeply because the Pharisees were more worried about signs than about truth. He left soon after he arrived, because these were no people of peace and his purpose was to seek and save the lost.

How will you determine who you hang out with today? How will you respond to those who receive you or those who don’t? How will you embrace God’s definition of you as deeply loved and vitally purposed? That last question is well worth reflecting on today, for you are deeply loved and vitally purposed.

Mark 8:1-13

In those days, when again a great crowd had gathered, and they had nothing to eat, he called his disciples to him and said to them, ² “I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. ³ And if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way. And some of them have come from far away.” ⁴ And his disciples answered him, “How can one feed these people with bread here in this desolate place?” ⁵ And he asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven.” ⁶ And he directed the crowd to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves, and having given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and they set them before the crowd. ⁷ And they had a few small fish. And having blessed them, he said that these also should be set before them. ⁸ And they ate and were satisfied. And they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. ⁹ And there were about four thousand people. And he sent them away. ¹⁰ And immediately he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha.

¹¹ The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. ¹² And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” ¹³ And he left them, got into the boat again, and went to the other side.