February 28: Open My Blind Eyes!

Mark 6:30-56

Amplified Bible (AMP)

30 The apostles [sent out as missionaries] came back and gathered together to Jesus, and told Him all that they had done and taught.

31 And He said to them, [As for you] come away by yourselves to a deserted place, and rest a while—for many were [continually] coming and going, and they had not even leisure enough to eat.

32 And they went away in a boat to a solitary place by themselves.

33 Now many [people] saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the surrounding towns, and they got there ahead [of those in the boat].

34 As Jesus landed, He saw a great crowd waiting, and He was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things.

35 And when the day was already far gone, His disciples came to Him and said, This is a desolate and isolated place, and the hour is now late.

36 Send the crowds away to go into the country and villages round about and buy themselves something to eat.

37 But He replied to them, Give them something to eat yourselves. And they said to Him, Shall we go and buy 200 denarii [about forty dollars] worth of bread and give it to them to eat?

38 And He said to them, How many loaves do you have? Go and see. And when they [had looked and] knew, they said, Five [loaves] and two fish.

39 Then He commanded the people all to recline on the green grass by companies.

40 So they threw themselves down in ranks of hundreds and fifties [with the regularity of an arrangement of beds of herbs, looking like so many garden plots].

41 And taking the five loaves and two fish, He looked up to heaven and, praising God, gave thanks and broke the loaves and kept on giving them to the disciples to set before the people; and He [also] divided the two fish among [them] all.

42 And they all ate and were satisfied.

43 And they took up twelve [small hand] baskets full of broken pieces [from the loaves] and of the fish.

44 And those who ate the loaves were 5,000 men.

45 And at once He insisted that the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side to Bethsaida, while He was sending the throng away.

46 And after He had taken leave of them, He went off into the hills to pray.

47 Now when evening had come, the boat was out in the middle of the lake, and He was by Himself on the land.

48 And having seen that they were troubled and tormented in [their] rowing, for the wind was against them, about the fourth watch of the night [between 3:00-6:00 a.m.] He came to them, walking [directly] on the sea. And He acted as if He meant to pass by them,

49 But when they saw Him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and raised a [deep, throaty] shriek of terror.

50 For they all saw Him and were agitated (troubled and filled with fear and dread). But immediately He talked with them and said, Take heart! I Am! Stop being alarmed and afraid.

51 And He went up into the boat with them, and the wind ceased (sank to rest as if exhausted by its own beating). And they were astonished exceedingly [beyond measure],

52 For they failed to consider or understand [the teaching and meaning of the miracle of] the loaves; [in fact] their hearts had grown callous [had become dull and had lost the power of understanding].

53 And when they had crossed over, they reached the land of Gennesaret and came to [anchor at] the shore.

54 As soon as they got out of the boat, [the people] recognized Him,

55 And they ran about the whole countryside, and began to carry around sick people on their sleeping pads or mats to any place where they heard that He was.

56 And wherever He came into villages or cities or the country, they would lay the sick in the marketplaces and beg Him that they might touch even the fringe of His outer garment, and as many as touched Him were restored to health.

Verse 52 pops out at me today as I read. That very day, the disciples had seen Jesus feed five thousand with just five loaves of bread and two fish. And yet, they had forgotten everything! They saw Jesus and were filled with fear and dread??? This Miracle Man???
Isn't this just like us today? We know we are supernaturally connected with this Jesus! This Jesus who can do cause the blind to see and the lame to walk. This Jesus who can raise the dead and calm the sea. And yet when we are in our pit of despair, we are fearful and anxious! We forget so quickly! 
"Dear Jesus, help me! I need You! Open my blind eyes! Open my ears that I may hear Your still small voice! Open my mind that I may believe those Hands that blessed and broke the two loaves and fishes can bless and break me. So that I may minister to many. Just like the loaves and fishes met the needs of the five thousand. Help me to have spiritual eyes and ears. To see what You see. To have Your compassion. I worship and praise Your name, Jesus. And Thank You! For the mighty work You are doing in me. AMEN."