Mark 8:31-33 He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. 32 He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”
 
WE read Jesus speaking again of his death and resurrection in Mark 9:31 He was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” 32 But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it. The first time Jesus spoke of rising from the dead, it seems they did not hear him. The second time they were afraid to ask.
   As a result a large gap loomed between Jesus and his disciples. Their fear to ask Jesus about the “rising again” caused them to experience much greater fear at his death and burial. They even seemed to be afraid to believe the news, “He is risen!” because it was far too great for them to understand. The chosen 11 were not ready for Resurrection Day because they did not know, even though Jesus had told them. Are you ready for the  final Resurrection Day? The Lord has told you.
   Of course, that was Satan’s purpose. We can be confused and even reject Jesus’ teachings because we do not see his lessons through God’s eyes. To be Jesus’ disciples, we must accept his suffering and his resurrection as essential elements of our own relationship with him.  He has promised that we will even in some way suffer for our faith. “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Mark 8:34) We hear this and hope that doesn’t apply to us. But we can trust that in some way it will. Perhaps you are taking up that cross right now.
   The Truth is the Truth. That’s why Jesus answered Peter’s rebuke with his own rebuke to Peter. To address Peter as “Satan.” is placing this future apostle on a level with the Accuser, Deceiver, Liar and Destroyer. There is a chasm between our faith and our Lord when we reject his Word. We might also consider that Jesus spoke directly to Satan. The Prince of Darkness was always waiting for an opportune time (Luke 4:13) to assault Jesus’ mission. His aim is to cause us to ignore, doubt and even be fearful of the Lord’s Word.
   To be Jesus’ disciple requires we listen closely to Jesus, so we can correctly hear the Bible’s teachings. To have in mind the things of God requires we put Satan’s weapons such as fear and doubt behind us. We must keep our eyes where they belong. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2) Jesus been killed. He has risen. He has done this for you. He says he is coming. Look ahead. Be confident and faithful. 

Mark 8:27-30 Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?” 28 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” 29 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Christ.” 30 Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.
 
JESUS asked the universal and eternal question. Each person must answer correctly to inherit eternal life.
   Would you agree with Peter that Jesus is the Christ? This sounds correct. But Peter would have defined “Christ” or “Messiah” from the Jews’ point of view. They viewed the Christ to be an earthly ruler who would literally sit on David’s throne. He would release Israel from foreign rule to establish the nation as a world power as it was in David’s reign. 
   We would then disagree with Peter, wouldn’t we? We would say that Jesus is the Christ who reigns over death. He sits on heaven’s throne prepared to judge the world. He will, indeed, rule over the New Jerusalem as God’s Son not David’s descendant.
   The point here is we must know what we are talking about when we speak of God. Peter and the disciples were beginning to see Jesus in the way Jesus had given sight to the blind man. They were unable to see the entire picture until the risen Christ stood before them. But perhaps they should have seen him sooner.
   After all God had prepared the Jews for the Son’s appearance. Jesus was in the Law. The prophets spoke specifically of his coming. The Jews knew the time, place and purpose of his life. Even Elijah and Elisha had performed the kinds of miracles Jesus would do. The Jews had the right information to identify God among them, but they misunderstood or ignored it.
   The absolute answer to Jesus’ question comes to us with the Bible’s absolute truth. When someone asks you, “Who is Jesus?” there’s no excuse not to know. The entire Bible points to Jesus. If there is a specific question about Jesus, you can find the answer in the truth.
   When we answer, “He is Lord, Savior, Resurrection, Life, the Word made flesh and much more, we must understand how these names define his authority over our lives. We can’t say he is “Savior” if we do not trust he has forgiven our sins. We can’t call him, “Lord” if we reject his commands. “King” is irrelevant if we dismiss his rule over the church and our lives.
   How then do you answer Jesus’ question? Is it based on Scripture? Do you speak of him in the way you honor and worship him? Are you willing to live into your answer? 

A Seeing Lesson
 
Mark 8:22-25 They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. 23 He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?” 24 He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.” 25 Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. 
 
SEEING Jesus clearly is a process, isn’t it? Let’s understand Jesus’ healing a blind man as a parable to teach the essence of our faith journey with Jesus.    
   First, it is a powerful truth to understand that Jesus was willing to receive the blind man. We can see the blind man as everyman, each person born in Adam’s sin. His dark eyes represent our dark vision toward God. We can’t see our Lord because we live in darkness. But then God does something quite remarkable. He comes to us. As he chose the man to heal, he chooses us out of the crowd. Our awakening from our blindness begins with God’s hand upon us to say, “Come with me.”
   He took the man to a quiet place outside the village. As Jesus’ disciples were unable to answer his questions, this man needed to see more clearly to correctly answer, “Do you see anything?” Then the healing is complete with Jesus’ second touch. The man saw everything clearly. Do you think the disciples might have seen themselves as the blind man, gradually gaining a clear vision of Jesus?
   With mercy and grace Jesus quiets our hearts and renews our minds. When we listen to his commands we begin to see the possibilities of a new life in Jesus’ care. We do not see him completely, so he continues to work on our spiritual vision. The apostle Paul explains this in Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. The Father has formed us to his purpose. The Spirit will give us the vision to fulfill our destiny in Christ.   
   When reading and hearing God’s Word, do you know God is clearing your blindness, so that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. (Ephesians 1:18-19a)
   Jesus wanted his disciples to see the eternal hope of salvation. He wanted them to know he had chosen them to be faithful to his power and to see his authority and dominion over all things.
   He wants you to see that now. Be present with Jesus and continue the journey toward perfect vision in the age to come.  

Mark 8:14-21 The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. 15 “Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.” 16 They discussed this with one another and said, “It is because we have no bread.” 17 Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? 18 Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?” “Twelve,” they replied. 20 “And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?” They answered, “Seven.” 21 He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”
 
HAVE you ever been in a meeting when some information confused you and the group leader wondered, “Do you still not see or understand?”  Did you object to the question as judgmental or too harsh? Was the leader frustrated because he had told you how to do something. He then watched you do it. But you still did not understand what you were doing.
   Our tendency in such a situation may be to blame someone or something else. “You didn’t say it clearly. I had too much to do. I was tired. I was too busy to learn it.”
   Do you think that was the disciples’ response to Jesus’ rebuke? It was lunch time, and they are short of bread on their boat ride across Galilee. They realize they have one loaf for the dozen or so men onboard. What do you think? Should they be worried? Or should they be faithful?
   Two times now they have watched and participated in Jesus feeding thousands of people from a few loaves of bread. Jesus can certainly feed a dozen or so. Bu there they are with empty stomachs and apparently empty minds. Why is it they still do not see or understand?  
     Jesus had asked the question earlier: Mark 4:13 Then Jesus said to them, “Don't you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable?” Then he came to the core of their problem. Jesus warned: “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.”  He referred to the sin of these ruling authorities in Galilee. They do not believe in Jesus. They have denied him. They have criticized Jesus, they have felt threatened by Jesus, and they have shown no faith in him. Their attacks on Jesus can permeate people’s hearts and minds in the same way yeast moves through bread dough. Yeast, too, is a symbol of sin at the Passover. Jesus had been teaching them he is the Bread who came down from heaven. He warns the disciples to block the Pharisees’ and Herod’s sins, so their minds are pure, prepared to have complete faith in him.
   In these several lessons, Mark has put the disciples in an unfavorable light. We can read of their faith struggles and wonder why they had such difficulty as the Living Word taught them. But this challenge is one reason we can believe Mark. Evidence points to Peter as Mark’s source. Peter’s revelation of the disciples’ faith challenges should be an encouragement to all of us who struggle with the Bible’s teachings. We must know an increasing faith grows our understanding. Putting aside the yeast of the world opens our minds to receive Jesus’ truth, even if it takes three, four, five or more times to hear and understand.
   Following Jesus is a continual walk. Stay active and be attentive. 

Mark 8:10-13 He got into the boat with his disciples and went to the region of Dalmanutha. 11 The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven. 12 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.” 13 Then he left them, got back into the boat and crossed to the other side.
 
IN a recent lesson we considered Jesus’ deep sigh as he spoke healing into a deaf man’s ears. The Lord’s sigh seemed to express his weariness over sin’s great cost to mankind. The Holy Son of God had empathy with his people’s suffering.
   Notice Mark again records Jesus sighed deeply. This time he did so in a response to spiritual brokenness. He had traveled from feeding thousands of people. And the first encounter he has is not with a worshiping, believing crowd. Instead, he meets the hard-hearted Pharisees. They asked him for a sign from heaven. His response is to sigh deeply and ask, “Why does this generation ask for a miraculous sign? I tell you the truth, no sign will be given to it.” In effect, the Pharisees have put Jesus to the test. And he will not submit to their exam. Their purpose is to control him. If he has to prove himself each day to an unbelieving people, he is not their Lord but becomes their servant. Jesus is not a butler waiting on your every whim. He is Lord who works for your good in the Father’s will.
   Satan wanted to do the same with Jesus. He told Jesus: Matthew 4:3 “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus’ response is a powerful Word to assert God’s sovereign authority: Matthew 4:4 “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” And then he tells the devil: Matthew 4:7 “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
   God does not need to prove himself to his creation. Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. Jesus came to open our eyes, ears, mind and heart to help us know this remarkable creation we call home comes from God.
   Have you tested the Lord? “If you’re real, Jesus, you’ll (fill in the blank). Just do this one thing, and I’ll believe in you.” If you have, hopefully you’ve matured past this point to realize a “faith” based on one response from God is no faith. God cannot possibly function as the Sovereign Lord if he must prove himself to you.
   God teaches you to believe his will for you is for your good. He wants you to know deep in your heart the eternal sign he has given to the world.
    You see the sign when you first look to the cross. See then the empty tomb. Look around and notice Jesus’ true church changing lives. These are the signs you need to know. Receive them and be saved. 

Mark 8:5-9 “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked. “Seven,” they replied. 6 He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When he had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people, and they did so. 7 They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them. 8 The people ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 9 About four thousand men were present.
 
YOU usually focus on Jesus’ actions here, don’t you? Of course you do as you should. This is God’s pattern for offering a meal: Give thanks. Break bread. Distribute it. Each time we receive a meal we must remember God’s grace has delivered it to us.
   And we participate in bringing the meal to one another, don’t we? We don’t go to a table to wait for the food to come down from heaven. The Lord wants us to work for our provision. This is his first instruction to Adam: Genesis 2:15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden. 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.” Good work in God’s commands allows us to participate in God’s generosity.  
   That was the disciples’ privilege that day. When he asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus wanted them to say, “Seven.” to essentially confess, “We have very little.” Seven loaves for 4,000 men? They are 3,993 short!
   But then Jesus puts them to work. Practically speaking, who else would do it? God works with an orderly process. But something else is happening here. As the disciples give food to each person, they are piece-by-piece experiencing the Lord’s multiplying power. Each time they gave a piece of bread to someone, they would see that their bread basket remained full. The disciples became the physical expression of God’s abundance. Jesus wanted them to know they were not mere bystanders to his glory. He had called them to be essential workers in the kingdom of God.
   Their work continued. When all were fed they pick up the leftovers! They had more after the meal than they had before the meal. Their hands literally grasped God’s abundance.  Do you think the disciples could now more faithfully focus on Jesus’ multiplying power? If they encountered thousands of hungry people again, would they say to Jesus, “Let’s feed them!”
   You can apply the disciples’ work to Jesus’ promise to disciple the church. He gives us his gospel to distribute. When we join in the work to share our “gospel basket”, it remains full to overflowing as more people receive its life-giving benefits. As gospel workers we have the opportunity to experience God’s goodness as we see the Spirit satisfy people’s hunger for God’s redeeming love. The more we work with him, the more faithfully we know Jesus will fulfill his promise: Luke 6:21 Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied.

Mark 8:4 His disciples answered, “But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?”
 
HAVE you in any way ever experienced the wonder of Jesus’ love for you? Perhaps it was a simple touch from a pastor, a parent, or a friend at a moment when you needed to absolutely know that at least one person loved you. What was it like? Did it fill you with gratitude for the one who touched you? For Jesus?
   What happened the next time you needed that kind of loving touch? Did you wonder, “Does anyone love me?” Did you possibly forget about the first time? Did you ask, “But that was yesterday.” doubting that Jesus would show up again?
   That seems to be the disciples’ issue here. They had previously seen and helped Jesus feed thousands of people from a few loaves and fish. Now there’s another hungry crowd, and the disciples wonder, “Where’s the food?”
   Did you forget, Mr. Disciples, how lovingly your Lord fed “the 5,000”? Or did you think “But that was yesterday.” and surely Jesus won’t use all his “feeding power” again. Did you think his compassion for the hungry crowds was depleted?
   Yet, he fed them, didn’t he? Even without the disciples’ faith to ask, “Will you feed these as you fed the others?” Jesus fed them. He fed them because he cared for them. He fed them to demonstrate to the disciples once again his power to expand a small meal into a great feast. The 5,000 and 4,000 feedings emphasized the LORD’s provision for the Jews’ physical needs. Jesus needed to repeat his lesson to emphasize to his disciples that with God all things are possible (Mattthew 19:26). One day he would commission Peter and the apostles into the impossible. He would command them to feed his people with the gospel. John 21:14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead. 15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs…16c Take care of my sheep…18b feed my sheep…19c Then he said to him, “Follow me!” 
   Peter, the wavering disciple forgiven and restored, now had a purpose. And likewise Jesus would feed each disciple with the Holy Spirit. They would “eat” of the Lord’s power to feed Jesus’ eternal bread: John 6:51 “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”
          Life’s challenges and temptations can cause us to wonder if Jesus will continue to fill us with his love and mercy. He wants you to know you can go to him for his good food. Remember his goodness to save you. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13) 

Mark 8:1-3 During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, 2 “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. 3 If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance.”
 
YOU’VE been around practical, compassionate people haven’t you? You know, she’s the mother who loves to make sure you have plenty to eat. He’s the dad who takes all the kids to the game and is willing to stop for a pizza afterward. She’s the one who stops by with a casserole when you’re sick. He’s the one willing to fix your leaky faucet. Their help is practical because it’s for your everyday needs. Their help is compassionate because they convey a clear desire to help you.
   The Lord Jesus is a practical, compassionate Redeemer. Repeating a scene from Mark 6:35-44 that recorded Jesus feeding 5,000 men, Mark relates Jesus’ second “feeding miracle” where about four thousand men were present. (Mark 8:9a). Can you imagine going to a three-day conference and not eating until the end of the third day? Perhaps they had brought food with them. But the preaching and teaching quickly consumed time. The food is gone. What will your Lord do? He will feed them, of course. Why not? He can because it’s the practical thing to do, and he has the power to do so.
   Jesus tells you the LORD God cares for your basic needs. Matthew 6:26 “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” Jesus taught us to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread.” (Matthew 6:11) because he wants us to have the faith to believe his compassion is real: Matthew 6:31 “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’”
   When the four thousand men – and likely thousands more women and children – went home, do you think they had a more practical compassion for their neighbors? It’s always good when we use Jesus’ teachings in our everyday lives, isn’t it? That’s why Jesus also taught us to Matthew 5:44 “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”  He taught us to give to the needy (Matthew 6:3) and to compassionately use our material possessions: Matthew 6:19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
   The LORD God has compassion upon his creation. He has made us In his image. He has taught and is teaching us how to be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:48)
   God has come to earth to share himself with you. His practical teachings are anchored in his great compassion for you. Receive his compassion and love. Share him with others. 

Mark 7:36-37 Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it. 37 People were overwhelmed with amazement. “He has done everything well,” they said. “He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
 
“WHAT is wrong with you? Why don’t you do what I ask of you?”
   You probably have heard that from someone who has asked you, told you, even commanded you to do something. When you didn’t do it, the person was completely frustrated with you. After all, the only appropriate response to an appropriate command is to do it. Right? But that’s not the crowds’ response when “Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone.” What did “they” do? “The more he (commanded them to not tell); the more they kept talking about it.” Jesus often commanded this when he healed. Each time he did so people could not keep quiet. Can you blame them? They were overwhelmed with amazement. How could anyone keep the good news to themselves?
   They may have been more obedient if they had understood who commanded them. Yes, this very good, life-changing news was too much to hold within their hearts. But would they not have had some fear of Jesus? If he could heal, he could destroy. Disobeying such a powerful man could have jeopardized their lives. The Jews’ history records many times when God judges and destroys his disobedient people.
   Disobedience is anchored in self-justification. The Jews would have said, “I had to tell somebody! People need to know!” We excuse our disobedience with reasons to elevate our purpose and desires above the Lord’s will. To pray, “Your will be done.” and then reject God’s commands is hypocrisy.
   This crowd’s and others’ response to Jesus’ command may cause us to  wonder why Jesus continued his work to save such a disobedient people? But this is God’s constant story, isn’t it? Reading the Bible can be a discouraging view of the human heart continually rejecting God and justifying itself. But also in each chapter is God’s unrelenting hope. His redemptive promise surges through mankind’s debris to flow to eternal good. We know where history is going. We thank God he continues to command us on our journey toward heaven. He has set the plan and the pathway. He knows how the depraved human heart will respond to his commands. He also knows how the saved human heart will rejoice to dwell in his commands. Revelation 21:3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.
   From the very beginning, God commanded Adam and Eve to not eat the forbidden fruit. They disobeyed. God commanded the Hebrews on Mt. Sinai to follow 10 essential laws. They disobeyed. The prophets commanded God’s people to repent. The people disobeyed. Jesus command his people to believe his Good News. The Jews disobeyed. Now the Spirit of God comes to command you the truth of God’s Word. What do you do?
  
Know and Believe: There is only one just response to God’s commands.
 

​Mark 7:31-34 Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis. 32 There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged him to place his hand on the man. 33 After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spit and touched the man’s tongue. 34 He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means, “Be opened!”). 5 At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly. 
 
OUR Lord had gone from Galilee to Tyre to rest. And he found only more people desperate for his touch. Now he returns to the region of the Sea of Galilee. Many more come to meet him. In a scene similar to friends carrying the crippled man to Jesus (Mark 2) a deaf man’s friends take him to Jesus.  
   Apparently he had been deaf from birth. He could hardly talk. When Jesus opened the man’s ears, the man began to speak plainly. God had come in the flesh to fulfill Isaiah 35:5 Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. 6 Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. How good the LORD is to honor his promises.
   Did you notice Jesus spoke with a deep sigh? Sometimes the smallest details will illustrate Jesus’ love for us. We can understand Jesus expressed a weariness in his soul for our sake. As a parent or an adult who has a relationship with a child, you may sigh over the hard things your child encounters.  
   Jesus’ constant work to heal would certainly have wearied his compassionate heart. Jesus knew the pain of his people’s brokenness. He sighed for sin that brought needless grief to his world. Body crippling handicaps and diseases are sin’s marks on his created goodness. Each time he touched someone he would have surely been reminded of the moment he breathed life into Adam: Genesis 2:7 The LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. Perfection marked mankind’s relationship with God. Who could have known a painful, deadly future awaited God’s creation?
   Of course, God knew. That’s why he planned to personally redeem the pain. Jesus took the man away from the crowds, so he could touch him and heal him in a one-on-one encounter. Jesus didn’t need crowds to work.
   The spittle may seem unpleasant to us, but this is another sign of Jesus’ personal touch. It was a common belief spittle held healing properties. Jesus didn’t need to do this, but he may have done so to help the man trust Jesus’ healing words.
   Do you go to Jesus seeking healing? Or do you think, “Why would he heal me? Will he heal me?” We need faith to expect healing. The deaf man that day needed his Lord’s encouraging, healing touch.
   Be glad the Lord has sighed. He is weary of sin’s destruction. Rejoice his nail-pierced hands now touch your soul to heal you of sin’s condemnation.
 
You Can Know: Jesus’ deep sigh is a sign of his deep love.