07/09/2026
SUNDAY|LIVESTREAM SERVICE
MINISTERING PASTOR Z.PHIRI
Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis. There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged Jesus to place his hand on him. Mark 7:31-36
As Jesus went from one place to another, the people followed Him because they had seen Him multiply bread. They had witnessed the miracle, but they failed to discern the revelation behind the miracle. They saw the bread, but they missed the Bread of Life. They saw what Jesus could give them, but they did not understand who Jesus was. When He moved to another place, they followed Him—not because they desired the Word that gives eternal life, but because they wanted more bread and fish. This reveals a danger in our walk with Christ: we can become so focused on what Jesus can give us that we fail to know the One who gives it.
There is a deeper dimension to following Jesus. We must not follow Christ merely because of blessings, miracles, healing, provision, or what He can do for us. We must follow Him because the Holy Spirit has revealed to us who He is. The blessing may satisfy the body for a moment, but the Word nourishes the spirit and leads to eternal life. Many can follow Jesus when the bread is being multiplied, but true disciples continue following Him when the bread is no longer in their hands. True disciples do not measure their relationship with Christ by what they receive from Him; they remain with Him because they have discovered that He Himself is the treasure.
This is why the cost of discipleship matters. When the teaching became difficult, many disciples turned back because they were following Jesus without understanding the depth of His Word and the cost of surrender. Jesus never called us to a life of convenience; He called us to take up our cross and follow Him. The cross speaks of death to self, obedience, sacrifice, endurance, and complete surrender. We must not abandon Christ when the journey becomes difficult. The same Christ who is worthy when He multiplies the bread is worthy when He leads us through the wilderness. Our faith must not be built on what is easy, but on the revelation of who He is.
The bread will perish, but the Word endures forever. What is physical is temporary, but what comes from God carries eternal value. Even the miracles of Jesus were never meant to become the destination. They were signs pointing people to the Son and revealing the glory of the Father. When Jesus healed the sick, opened blind eyes, restored the deaf, and enabled the mute to speak, He was not performing for entertainment or seeking human attention. His works revealed the power, mercy, and glory of God. The miracle was a sign, but Christ was the revelation behind the sign.
When they brought to Jesus a man who was deaf and could hardly speak, Jesus restored him. What the crowd saw as a miracle was also a revelation of the compassion and authority of Christ. Therefore, let us not become so occupied with the blessing that we forget the Blesser, or so fascinated by the miracle that we miss the revelation of Christ. Do not follow Jesus merely for bread, fish, healing, provision, or breakthrough. Follow Him because you have come to know Him. The blessing may be temporary, the bread may perish, and the miracle may pass, but the Word of God remains forever, and Christ is the eternal treasure.
Let us follow Jesus with understanding, revelation, obedience, and faith. For there is a difference between following Christ for His hand and following Him for His heart; between seeking what He can give and seeking who He is. May we come to the place where we can say, like Peter, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (John 6:68)
