Eyes That Don’t See

GETTING STARTED

Do you ever feel like you are walking in a fog—you can see a little of what is around you but you don’t know where you are going? That’s what it is like when we fail to learn from the lessons of the past. It’s like looking at a map and immediately forgetting the way ahead. 

  • What are some of the ways God has provided for you in the past? 

 READ THE WORD: MARK 8:14-26 (ESV)

 14 Now they had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. 15 And he cautioned them, saying, “Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.”

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?”

22 And they came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him. 23 And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?” 24 And he looked up and said, “I see people, but they look like trees, walking.” 25 Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. 26 And he sent him to his home, saying, “Do not even enter the village.”

English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

DIGGING DEEPER

  1. Herod had rejected John the Baptist’s message and put him to death, and the Pharisees were rejecting Jesus’ message and plotting his death. In verse 15, what was Jesus warning the disciples to be on guard against?
  2. How do you struggle with certain attitudes or thoughts against Jesus that could lead to rejecting his authority in your life?
  3. Why do you think the miracle of sight given to the blind man happened gradually (vss. 23-25)? How is that a parallel to the way the disciples had eyes that did not see and ears that did not hear (vs. 18)?
  4. In what ways are you like the disciples, having experienced Jesus’ abundant provision yet still doubting?
  5. Write down some ways that God has blessed you and provided you with abundant leftovers.

RESPOND TO GOD

Jesus was grieved that his disciples were still so spiritually shortsighted. They had witnessed him feed over 9,000 people during two separate feedings, each time providing abundant leftovers. But then Jesus found them arguing over who forgot to pack bread! Why argue over one loaf of bread when you have Jesus in the boat with you? He even gave a miracle of sight to show the progress of faith he desired for them. God would have us see clearly, remembering his provision and love.

  • Ask God for the ability to see more clearly the love and provision of Jesus in your life.
  • Thank God for the many miracles you see each week, and ask for the ability to “remember” when you are down to one loaf!