The curtain tears–that which separated the most holy place from the people, as Jesus dies. That means that Jesus, by his life and death gave us direct access to God. We have the opportunity to connect with who God is, because Jesus paid the ultimate price.

Why did the rocks split? Because Jesus changed the very foundation of our faith. When the tombs opened and the saints were raised, they appeared to many. The rocks did cry out. Even the dead testified about Jesus in the city. And even the darkest hearts–those of the Roman soldiers–testified to the truth, that Jesus was the Son of God.

It’s dark. The disciples are back where they started, fishing for a living. Then Jesus shows up again. He draws them back to the shore, reveals himself in a miracle.

And he breaks bread with them. Would they have understood that after dying and rising again, Jesus was giving them miraculous communion? They must have, because after this we find the disciples going out to spread the word to the people. And they did it at the highest cost, risking everything.

The pharisees in this story discount Jesus as a sinner for healing on the Sabbath and the one who testifies on his behalf about healing as a sinner because of his healed blindness. Labeling others pejoratively makes it easy to undercut any credibility or authority they might have.

Jesus observes that the Pharisees are blind. They don’t see the truth. It can’t set them free.

Jesus fulfills the law. But he also avoids offense by following the law.

In this story, he doesn’t shame his disciple for misrepresenting him. Instead he allows for a teachable moment. It’s a miracle, but it’s the heart of a teacher who loves his disciple. How marvelous.

In the versions of this story we see the depth. In Matthew, Jesus explains to the disciples that it’s their measure of faith that makes the mountains and demons obey. In Mark, he says only by prayer.

So here’s my thought: maybe it’s only by getting close with Jesus in prayer that we gain this kind of faith. Maybe prayer is the only path to the kind of power that Jesus desires us to have, that brings us out of a twisted and faithless generation.

It’s a holiday weekend. The bakeries are shut. It’s the middle of nowhere and a huge group of people have gathered–some five thousand.

First Jesus feeds them. He gives them the bread of life. He teaches about the kingdom of God. Then, Jesus heals them. Then he fills their need for food, by multiplying 5 barley loaves and a couple fish into food enough for a huge crowd.

What kind of food do you need from Jesus today?

All things are under Jesus’ control. Literally under His feet. With a word, a thought, the wave of His hand, the storm is calmed. All of creation bends to him, suits his desire. Not since the parting of the Red Sea is it mentioned that the waters obey God.

With faith, we too are given the power of Jesus to calm real storms. But do we have the faith to walk on water? Take heart.

The mother of the demon oppressed girl will do anything to get her daughter healed. She approaches Jesus at a time when he’s preferring to be left alone. She doesn’t take his rebuff. She gets on her knees and likens herself to the lowliest creature, a dog.

This persistence in calling on Jesus for healing is counted as faith. How often do we fail to ask again, saying “I’ve already prayed about that.” Ask and keep on asking. Seek and keep on seeking. Sometimes faith is not taking no for an answer. But the approach, the approach is all humility

Jesus spoke to the man’s ears and opened them. And then he asked all those around not to say anything. But they wouldn’t stop talking about Jesus. It’s almost as though, when Jesus opened the ears and mouth of the deaf man with the speech problem, he was opening ALL of their ears and mouth. They saw prophecy fulfilled. And Jesus does all things well.