I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Mark 8-9.

    Today’s passage begins with the account of the second time that Jesus fed a large crowd. Despite the fact that they had witnessed Jesus feed 5,000 men plus women and children with five loaves of bread and 2 fish, the disciples asked Jesus where they would get enough food to feed this crowd. We know they had not forgotten the first time because Jesus used it, and this time, as an example a short time later. After the crowd had eaten, the disciples gathered seven large baskets of leftovers. At the previous event they had gathered twelve large baskets of leftovers. These leftovers were not just crumbs. They were the sort of thing which you might gather from the tables after a party and think, “Oh good, I won’t need to make lunch tomorrow.” The fact that they gathered twelve baskets the first time and seven baskets the second time is significant. There were twelve sons of Jacob who formed the foundation of the nation of Israel and twelve signified divine authority. Creation took seven days, with the seventh being the day of rest and thus seven represented divine perfection. It always seems to me like these numbers have a meaning which I do not understand, but I think they were just a confirmation to the disciples of who Jesus is.

    Of the three Gospel accounts of Jesus healing the boy after coming down off of the Mount of Transfiguration, Mark’s is my favorite. In this account the father says something which I strongly empathize with, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief.” I believe in the power of God, but I struggle with questioning whether God will act. I believe that Jesus declared we would perform miraculous works similar to those which He performed, but I fear to ask God to do such works through me. My fear is that I will look like a fool if I ask for such things and they do not happen. So, I pray that father’s prayer every day. I fear that if I call on God’s power, He will not answer. That is, I lack faith. But there is more to it than that. I also fear that if I call on God’s power He will answer and I will become arrogant.