Mark – The Facts.
As parents (or teachers), how many times have you given clearly spoken directions of what you think is simple. Your kids, (because of their age and perspective), listen to the words and then do what was not even close to what you said. Frustrating at times, isn’t it? Sometimes it’s funny. Other times you wonder how they will ever get through life. But they do, because we remember our own misunderstandings and mistakes of being young. We correct their course, find other ways to express ourselves and keep teaching them so they will grow.
I heard great wisdom the other day, “Sometimes you win and sometimes you learn.” The old saying was, “Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose.” I like the new way of thinking. We don’t lose, we learn. Jesus knew that as He patiently went over the “bread” story again so that his followers would “get it”. Jesus is the Bread of Life. Jesus is Truth. God is the Father. Jesus is the Son. The “yeast” was man made rules and regulations of the Pharisees that took God’s people further away from Truth and a relationship with Him. Jesus said, “Do you still not get it?”
Jesus knows our frustration of trying to express the Truth to others. He will give us the words when necessary. But first we must “get it”. And then we must continually learn to live it. We will make mistakes along the way, but He forgives. Sometimes we win, (get it), sometimes we learn. We are disciples of Jesus, just like those in the boat. We are all in the same “boat”.
Mark 8, The Message
Contaminating Yeast
13-15 He then left them, got back in the boat, and headed for the other side. But the disciples forgot to pack a lunch. Except for a single loaf of bread, there wasn’t a crumb in the boat. Jesus warned, “Be very careful. Keep a sharp eye out for the contaminating yeast of Pharisees and the followers of Herod.”
16-19 Meanwhile, the disciples were finding fault with each other because they had forgotten to bring bread. Jesus overheard and said, “Why are you fussing because you forgot bread? Don’t you see the point of all this? Don’t you get it at all? Remember the five loaves I broke for the five thousand? How many baskets of leftovers did you pick up?”
They said, “Twelve.”
20 “And the seven loaves for the four thousand—how many bags full of leftovers did you get?”
“Seven.”
21 He said, “Do you still not get it?”
Dear Heavenly Father, Help us to carve away all that is not Your Truth. The world is confusing. People who look like your Truth are not. Evil has a way of weaving through us like the yeast you talked about of the Pharisees. Oh Lord, don’t allow us to be like the Pharisees. Help us to listen to hear Your Word and follow You with all that is in us. Help us to truly “get it.”
In Jesus Name, Amen
Daily Manna (Coffee with Jesus) 