None so blind... #2
| The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. "Be careful," Jesus warned them. "Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod." They discussed this with one another and said, "It is because we have no bread." Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: "Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don't you remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?" "Twelve," they replied. "And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?" They answered, "Seven." He said to them, "Do you still not understand?" (Mark8:14-21) |
Jesus was thinking about the Pharisees and their cynical doubt which spread like wildfire... or like yeast... (Yeast is the fastest multiplying organism that we know of.)
But the disciples make it about themselves.
They think He's scolding them about forgetting bread.
They're missing the point entirely!
Jesus is talking about spiritual yeast.
And part of that is because they haven't yet processed what they have seen.
They've experienced Jesus feeding the 5000 and 4000.
They've seen the baskets full of leftovers.
If Jesus can simply multiply bread, then why should He be upset about the fact that they only have one loaf of bread?
Sadly, we are often guilty of a spiritual blindness.
We've read John 3:16 hundreds of times.
We've heard the gospel many many times.
We know about the thief on the cross and Simon Peter who both were forgiven.
We've heard so many sermons about God's grace.
We've heard so many testimonies about how He can change a life.
But then when we're asked about eternity we answer something like: "Well I hope I've done enough for St Peter to open the gate."
We keep making it about ourselves.
We talk about grace and live by law.
We can find ourselves going through the motions.
We hear the truths.
But we haven't processed them...
Maybe it's time we take a long hard look at:
- all that we know about Jesus
- all that Jesus has done for us
- and all we have experienced of His love and power.
Are there areas in our lives where we still live as though grace isn't enough?
May we take our eyes off ourselves and look more at Him.
