December 13, 2010 – Mark 8

This is a very up and down chapter for the Apostles.  They see Christ feed 4,000, then they think He is scolding them for not having enough food, then Peter identifies Him as the Messiah, then is chastised for trying to talk Him out of going to get killed.  One thing we can take from this is the humanity of the Apostles.  I think sometimes we forget that they were normal everyday (uneducated in most instances) people.  They were called, chosen, followed Christ, but still made mistakes, and sometimes very obvious ones.  I don’t think it was necessarily that their hearts were hardened, I think it was more that they needed all their failings in order to really grow.  We see the same thing in the Old Testament when we think of why God took Israel on the up and down roller coaster they went on.  Everything God did for and against them was for their growth, so that they would be ready for Christ.  Everything Christ teaches and does for the Apostles, whether instructing or chastising, is for when He is no longer there.  We have to remember this, because we have ups and downs and that is just life.  We must take hope in the example of the Apostles that they didn’t leave after looking like fools or making mistakes.  Through their faults they were able to grow.  That is the lesson for us.