Has it ever been your experience that you wanted to... - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2025

He immediately got into the boat with his disciples and came to the region of Dalmanutha. Then the Pharisees came out and began to dispute with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven, testing him.
Mark 8:10.11.

Has it ever been your experience that you wanted to assist someone, and your help was shamefully refused? When the Lord Jesus Christ visited the towns on the Lake of Gennesareth, He healed the sick and suffering. At the same time His sayings and preaching gave His listeners practical help for their life, in particular spiritual light for the uncertain and seekers. Such a visitor should have been welcome everywhere.

The religious people in Dalmanutha, however, who showed off their piety, gave the Lord no such welcome. Instead of a friendly greeting He met with hard resistance. How offensive! If Jesus were to give them a sign from heaven, they would recognise Him as the Messiah. As if He had not given sufficient proof through signs and wonders! The problem lay not with Jesus, but with those Pharisees: they had long since opted for disbelief. Jesus therefore would not perform any miracle there. The Lord calmly entered a ship and left His opponents behind.

Not much later the Son of God entered Jerusalem, riding on a donkey, with the people acclaiming Him with jubilation. Was that an apt reception? How changeable people can be! Then, a few days later, through the influence of false accusations from the religious leaders, the cry "Crucify Him!" resounded throughout the city.

What kind of echo would the Saviour find in our land today? What kind of reception would you give Him?

Today's reading: Esther 7:1-10 · Proverbs 20:21-30