Do You Still Not See? – Mark 7:24–8:30

It begins like marriage advice:
Not with love,
but with listening.
Not just nodding—
but hearing,
asking,
seeking to understand:
“Did you say…?”
Because what matters to them
should matter to you.
And if we want depth with God—
it’s the same.

Jesus speaks.
But we’re worried about bread.
He multiplies loaves— twice.
We count crumbs,
miss meaning.
He sighs,
“Do you still not see?
Are your hearts hardened?”

The Pharisees ask for signs.
They’ve seen enough.
Still, they don’t understand.
They scrub hands
but ignore hearts.
Their religion is skin-deep.
Their questions?
Tests in disguise.

But a woman from Tyre—
a foreigner,
an outsider—
begs for crumbs
and sees grace.
“Even the dogs eat under the table.”
She gets Him.
She understands.
And her daughter is healed.

A deaf man is brought—
Jesus opens his ears,
then his mouth.
Because listening
comes before speaking.
“Ephphatha.”
Be opened.
And he is.

Then the blind man—
he sees, but not clearly.
People look like trees.
It takes a second touch
to see them plain.
Like us—
understanding comes slowly.
Sight in stages.

And all along,
Jesus walks with them.
With us.
Still asking:
“What are you talking about?”
“Don’t you remember?”

Peter finally names Him:
“You are the Messiah.”
At last, they see.
But they don’t yet see
how He’ll save—
by suffering, not conquering,
by dying, not ruling.

So if we want to know Him—
really know—
we must stop
and listen.
Not assume.
Not rush.

Ask Him to explain.
The Holy Spirit is still
opening ears,
softening hearts,
restoring sight.

Do you want a deeper relationship with God?
Then sit across the table,
set down your assumptions,
and listen—
like your life depends on it.

Because it does.

Original message by Richard James, The Bridge Church Macquarie Park NSW