Mark 8:1-26

The disciples have just witnessed another stupendous miracle. The feeding of the 4,000 was born out of Christ’s compassion and was driven by practical necessity. The Pharisees grieved Jesus to the core of His being by asking for an encore performance of some miraculous sign. He sighed deeply and said, “Why does this generation seek for a sign? Truly I say to you, no sign will be given to them.”

 Friday, I shared this thought, “I believe the greater part of discipleship happens in our everyday, ordinary lives—our sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around lives as we discover how radically differently God thinks than we do.”  This day in the disciples’ lives would exemplify my point. In the normal course of their affairs Jesus tees up on this most recent encounter with the religionists and says, “Watch out! Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” Neither has it gone unnoticed to Jesus that the disciples are once again low on groceries and that they are troubled by this most recent apparently impossible circumstance. 

I have to assume that the leaven Jesus is referring to is that hard and unbelieving heart that demands proof before believing.  Jesus is saying, “Don’t go down that road. That condition, like leaven, will just cause circumstances to grow seemingly more impossible in your imaginations.” Jesus was nurturing the tender and growing faith in these men’s lives and he did not want the religiously correct and their thought processes to serve as a toxic reference point. He had to confront this situation for their faith’s sake. He will once again have to show them how radically different He and The Father thinks than they do….

Why do you discuss the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet see or understand? Do you have a hardened heart? Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember……

What is that Jesus is trying to get across to us? Isn’t it this, that in simple childlike faith we can trust that our daily needs will be met by Him?  If we are tempted toward unbelief can we not remember one occasion after another where God has supplied our needs (and then some)? I believe what Jesus is saying is simply, “Do not discuss in your own minds (or especially with others) the fact that you have no bread (or whatever you perceive you are lacking). Instead remember and discuss the fact that you have Me.”

Everything that goes into a life of pleasing God has been miraculously given to us by getting to know, personally and intimately, the One who invited us to God. 2 Peter 1:3-4 MSG

God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you’re ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done. As one psalmist puts it, He throws caution to the winds giving to the needy in reckless abandon. His right-living, right-giving ways never run out, never wear out. 2 Corinthians 9:8-9 MSG

Father, Help us to each see our curriculum here in the school of Christ where we are each enrolled. May we progressively enjoy that deep rest in Christ where we realize that not only are You near to us but that our lives are beautifully interwoven into Your own. Give us this day our daily bread and lead us away from all forms of unbelief. Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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