The disciples have just witnessed another 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 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 discipleship (aka: Jesus’ life in us) happens in our everyday, ordinary lives. It happens in our sleeping, eating, working, and walking-around as we discover how radically differently God thinks.” This day in the disciples’ lives demonstrates my point. In the normal course of their affairs, Jesus tees up on this encounter with the religionists, saying, “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 new, apparently impossible circumstance.
I have to assume that the leaven Jesus refers to is the hard and unbelieving heart that demands proof before believing. I believe Jesus is saying, “Don’t go down that road. That condition, like leaven, will just cause circumstances to seem more impossible in your imaginations.” Jesus nurtures the tender and growing faith in these men’s lives and he does not want the thought processes of the religiously correct to serve as toxic reference points. He confronts this situation for their faith’s sake. Once again, he shows them how radically different from them He thinks:
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 Jesus trying to get across? Isn’t it this: that in simple childlike faith we can trust that he will meet our daily needs? If we are tempted toward unbelief, can we not remember one occasion after another where God 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 think you’re 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 (The Message)
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 (The Message)
Father, Help us to each see our curriculum here in the school of Christ in which we are each enrolled. May we progressively enjoy that deep rest in Christ as we realize that not only are You near to us, but that our lives are also beautifully interwoven into Your own. Give us this day our daily bread and lead us away from all forms of unbelief. Amen.