Like the Doubting Disciples

Mark 8:4

And his disciples answered him, “How can one feed these people with bread here in this desolate place?”

Mark 8:16-21

16 And they began discussing with one another the fact that they had no bread. 17 And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? 18 Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They said to him, “Twelve.” 20 “And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” And they said to him, “Seven.” 21 And he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?”

Do you ever wonder about the feeding of the 4,000? Not long after the feeding of the 5,000, Jesus again feeds a crowd of people. This time he does so with 7 loaves, not 5. But right before it happens, the disciples ask Jesus how in the world they can find food for the people in such a desolate place. Later in the chapter, when the disciples again worry about their provision, Jesus reminds them of feeding both crowds.

Imagine, even though the disciples are with Jesus, even though they have seen him miraculously provide food, even though they know better, the disciples still worry about simple provision.

How like them are we? God created this world. He will keep his own. Yet we worry. We worry about whether we will have what we need. We worry about whether we will have the health we want. We worry about things in the government we cannot control. We worry about the future in a thousand ways. And we forget that God knows us, knows our needs, and will take care of us in a way that is best until the day that he takes us home. He will keep us, even through suffering, and carry us in Christ to glory.

And how like the doubting disciples are we? Jesus is God in the flesh. He has provided for our forgiveness. How often do we doubt it when we fear or are ashamed? Rest in Christ. Trust in his finished work. Remember and keep the gospel in the front of your mind.

Yes, we are like the doubting disciples. But how kind is it that God would record for us that the disciples did doubt? This should not make us embrace our doubts, but it should help us to remember that God has handled this issue with his followers before. We are in good company as we struggle and press on toward the Lord who loves us, keeps us, and provides for us.