Scripture
14But the disciples had forgotten to bring any food. They had only one loaf of bread with them in the boat. 15As they were crossing the lake, Jesus warned them, “Watch out! Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod.” 16At this they began to argue with each other because they hadn’t brought any bread. 17Jesus knew what they were saying, so he said, “Why are you arguing about having no bread? Don’t you know or understand even yet? Are your hearts too hard to take it in? Mark 8:14-16
Observation
Jesus is thinking spiritually. The disciples are thinking sandwiches. I can relate. Jesus is giving them a warning about the future and the disciples won’t stop worrying about the present. The key to understanding this passage is the context. Jesus has just finished the miraculous feeding of the 4000 and hot on the heals of this the Pharisees demanded a miraculous sign. This is the reason for the story problem Jesus walks the disciples through. It was time for some Kingdom math. For some people enough is never enough. Jesus was literally offering more than enough and it wasn’t enough. Leftover food (12 basket the first time, and 7 baskets the second time) on top of the multiplication of a few loaves and fish to feed thousands… and this still wasn’t enough. Jesus could have called down fire from heaven it still wouldn’t have been convincing because they had already decided in their hearts that Jesus was not the Messiah. Nothing He would say or do, including dying on the Cross and rising from the dead, would convince them otherwise. This is the leaven Jesus is warning of. A little bit of unbelief sown in to a community from a person of influence like the Pharisees or King Herod could turn many hearts away from Jesus, even his own disciples. Even to this day many Jews still do not believe Jesus was the Messiah. No wonder Jesus was warning them. While the disciples stomachs are grumbling and their lips are mumbling he’s calling for a humbling of the heart. “Don’t you remember what I just did? How could you be doubting me already?” His past faithfulness is the best predictor of His future provision.
Application
How often am I in the boat with Jesus and I’m in the exact same headspace as the disciples? Here’s the one who saved me, healed me, provided for me too many times to count and yet somehow I’m not really sure He’s going to come through for my lunch? The Pharisees and Herod may not have been physically with them in the boat, but they were living rent free in the heads of the disciples. Short term spiritual memory had set in once again and Jesus patiently walked through the story problem. If you have five loaves and two fish how much food do you have left over when feeding 5000? 12 baskets! Well, that doesn’t make sense. Exactly! If you have seven loaves and “a few small fish” how much food you have left over when feeing 4000? 7 baskets! Well, that doesn’t add up. Exactly! In the Kingdom of God subtraction equals addition, minus equals multiplication, giving it all away is the only way gain back way more in return. The warning of the yeast of the Pharisees and Herod is the warning to not buy in to the math of the kingdoms of this world. Both religious and political thought tells us that we must give those in power control of most of what we have and cling to the little we have left. Kingdom thought is about giving God control of all we have and clinging to Him alone. The Pharisees controlled through fear for the afterlife and King Herod controlled through fear in this life. Jesus tells us we have nothing to fear when it’s in His hands whether it’s something as small and immediate as what we are going to have for lunch or it’s something as massive and eternal as our soul’s salvation. The leaven of doubt and lack leads us to work for that which is worthless in the long run. Thus, Jesus ends this talk with some more kingdom math that doesn’t add up in this life, but sure does in the life to come:
34Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. 35If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. 36And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? 37Is anything worth more than your soul? (Mark 8:34-37)
Prayer
Forgive me for my short term spiritual memory. When I stop to look at Your track record over the past 48 years of my life I see all the reasons to trust You and no reasons to doubt You. Yet, somehow the leaven of the Pharisees and Herod seeps into my head space and I start thinking out of my lack rather than Your abundance. You are the God of miraculous multiplication and delicious leftovers when neither should have been possible in the first place. I know You will provide for the Lynch family after Pat’s accident. I’ve seen You do it before and I know You will do it again. In this season of recession, high gas and food prices I refuse to let the leaven of doubt and fear control me. You said it’s more blessed to give than to receive. That doesn’t add up to my mind, but I’m going to take You at Your word and give all I’ve got so I can watch what You’ll do with it.
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