Mark 8

It's great how Jesus asks rhetorical questions to cut straight to issues that really matter. He asks a few of them in Mark 8, and they're quite poignant for the current reality of my life. His questions are good are-you-living-the-gospel reality checks.

Here's one:
He sighed deeply and said, "Why does this generation ask for a miraculous sign? I tell you the truth, no sign will be given to it." (Mark 8:12)

(notice Jesus sighed deeply before he said that, as if to communicate...you guys still really don't get it!!) I think a great number of Christians are always looking for a "neon sign" that points us to God's will. In life, we want signs or dreams or messages to tell us which big decisions to make that will properly line up with walking and serving God.

If we think about this for a second, this line of thinking is not really in the heart of God. He gives us an example and His word in Christ to know what His heart deeply cares about. God gives us freedom in our life to decide how to go about fulfilling that gospel magnetism with professed allegiance to Christ.

In this passage in Mark, Jesus just fed about 4,000 MEN the text says (more when adding women and children present)...so maybe about 10,000 people with 7 (SEVEN) loaves of bread. Jesus did this just after his disciples confessed their lack of faith "But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?"

Their problem is the same one I encounter when it comes to gospel living. I proudly depend on myself, my faculties, my abilities when it comes to trying to live out the gospel.

The same thing happens with Peter later in Mark 8 (8:31-33).

Hence, it's fitting that Mark 8 closes with:
Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."

notice Jesus said this to the crowd AND the disciples. He wants this to be public knowledge.

He's telling us to get rid of ourselves and our pride. Forget the ways of the world. It's empty tired and broken. Pursuing its rewards is empty and full of despair.

Jesus is challenging us to live a life marked by free gospel living that is based on an everlasting devotion to His name, depending on His power and not ours.