The Pharisees Demand a Sign & The Leaven of the Pharisees Mark 8:11-21

GOSPEL MEDITATION #197

The Pharisees Demand a Sign & The Leaven of the Pharisees Mark 8:11-21

  1. Find a quiet place without distractions.
  2. Be comfortably alert, still, and at peace.
  3. Say the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer.
  4. Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself.
  5. Slowly and carefully read the passage of Scripture.
  6. “Show us a miracle and we will be satisfied.” Then one more would be requested, and then another. Heal someone, cast out a demon – then we will believe. But they did not.
  7. Seems like a miracle would be enough but it never is. Faith is always a gift, blind eyes must be opened, deaf ears must be made to hear.
  8. Jesus had feed 5000 then 4000 and yet the apostles were worried about the apparent lack of bread. Did they want to see another miracle?
  9. The guys somehow had forgotten the two most incredible miracles ever, one which showed up the fundamental law of nature – new energy or matter cannot be created. We live in a closed system.
  10. Right in front of them, as it had been for the religious leaders, they beheld the miraculous. It was not enough.
  11. As yet there was no inner working of the Holy Spirit, who alone confirms forgiveness and salvation. It is a miracle unseen, which is far superior to even a resurrection from the dead.
  12. There would be the resurrection of Lazarus, which was like casting pearls before swine; then Jesus’ own resurrection was denied.
  13. The Pharisees are like all those who trust in doing good works. Theirs is despair and a longing for proof undeniable.
  14. Good deeds are observed while real faith cannot be.

 

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