April 12, Reading 3 – Mark 8:11-26

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

The yeast of the Pharisees is seen in verses 11 and 12. What is so wrong about these attitudes and teachings that Jesus warns against them? How can I tell honest questioning from cynical pretence?

SJA Notes

* Dear God, Your word is our life. Please feed us with the bread of life today.

“And he sighed deeply in his spirit …”

We read that Jesus sighed deeply in His spirit.

In yesterday’s reading from Mark we saw another instance – Jesus sighed when looking up to heaven, before healing the deaf and mute man.

Sigh.

Often we’re not sure whether to sigh or not.

A sigh generally means there is great weight on the spirit, something bigger than what we can get our heads around.

But Jesus sighed! And He is the creator and sustainer of the universe, amongst other things All-Knowing. There is nothing His understanding lacks for any matter.

When we sigh, we can know that Jesus did too.

However – For us, Peter’s exhortation to us must ring true,

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”

* Dear God,

Thank You for the encouraged to us in this passage, that You in the Person of the Son, Jesus, sighed.

He experienced the depths of emotion that run rampant through our own brief lives here on earth.

Thank You that You care for us, that Your love is steadfast and strong.

Please help us to remember that we need to cast our cares on You. You have given this mechanism for our good!

Thank You dear Heavenly Father.

Amen.

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