by Audrey Frank @AudreyCFrank
And he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?” (Mark 8:17-21)
The Master storyteller knew the secret of story-showing.
The disciples were Jesus’ critique group and beta readers. One day they would be His launch team. From dusty roads to stormy seas, they lived His stories with Him. They witnessed Jesus turn a few loaves of bread into enough to feed thousands, not once, but twice. Now, they are hungry and tired. In the hullabaloo of the last few days of feeding others, the disciples have forgotten to bring bread for themselves. They have just one loaf, and they begin to whine.
Unbeknownst to them, they are turning the page to another chapter, an important one. They have much to learn. Whining is a form of telling. When we’ve run out of energy, inspiration, and strength, we get sloppy.
By now, the disciples should know better. Jesus has shown them that with Him, they lack no good thing. But they are exhausted and don’t remember what they’ve seen.
They have forgotten they are walking with the One who is the Bread of Life. They have forgotten that He always takes their little and makes it more than enough.
He consistently showed them this truth, yet they still did not understand.
Jesus is listening to their telling. Their whining.
Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? …Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? Mark 8:17-18
The disciples would become writers themselves. They were learning from Jesus how to show instead of tell. But today they still don’t understand. They will soon, at great cost.
