READING: Genesis 49-50, Matthew 15:29-16:12
I love reading about the disciples in the Gospels, perhaps because they’re so real. They mess up. They don’t always listen. They forget. They argue. They lack faith. They think they’re great. And, Jesus loves them anyway.
That’s not to say that He never became exasperated at them (in a godly, perfect way, of course). Today’s reading shows one of those times. The disciples had seen Jesus multiply loaves and fish not once, but twice. Two times, He had worked a miracle that fed the thousands. Too little bread and too few fish were never a problem for Jesus.
Still, the disciples got stressed because they didn’t have much bread with them in the boat. Somehow, they had forgotten yesterday’s miracles when they had little food today. It’s not surprising, then, that Jesus responded to them with confrontation. The echoing phrases of “Don’t you understand yet?,” “Don’t you remember?,” and “Why is it you don’t understand?” (Matt. 16:9, 11) show Jesus’ righteous frustration with His disciples. He wanted them to have grown, but still they lacked faith.
Disciples of Jesus are not perfect people. In fact, we’re sometimes just as messy as Jesus’ first disciples. But—and here’s the good news we must not forget—Jesus loves us anyway.
Prayer: “God, grant me faith to trust You fully today. Forgive me for my faith struggles.”
Tomorrow’s reading: Exodus 1-4, Matthew 16:13-17:13