Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Gaining Understanding-DD 12/14/2010

"And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, "Why do you discuss the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet see or understand? Do you have a hardened heart?" Mark 8:17

Jesus had just performed the miracle of feeding 4000 people, including his disciples who ate from the overabundance. He left the area with his disciples and arrived at Dalmanutha where he was challenged by his adversaries who demanded a sign from heaven to prove his claims. Having refused, Jesus decided to go back across the Sea of Galilee toward Bethsaida. Using an analogy, he warned his disciples to "beware the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod." During this important teaching, the disciples were a bit distracted. You see it seems that Jesus' use of yeast in the story reminded them that they had brought no bread with them on their journey.

How often beloved, do we miss the high spiritual messages that the Lord puts right in front of us because we are too concerned about very basic physical needs? It is clear from his use of parables that his messages were often targeted to those who were sincere of heart and discerning in spirit. At least one of these requires that we lift our gaze beyond our stomachs (or other base needs) and attend to the things of God.

Jesus chastises them by questioning their faith in view of the fact that they were so recently fed to the point of satisfaction after witnessing him feeding so many with so little. We, like they, need not worry about that which he supplies in abundance. He knows our needs before we do and he supplies every one. He reminds," ...when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces you picked up?" They said to Him, "Twelve." "When I broke the seven for the four thousand, how many large baskets full of broken pieces did you pick up?" And they said to Him, "Seven." And He was saying to them, " Do you not yet understand?" Mark 8:19-21. To be sure, this is a question worth careful consideration.

In Revival,

Lee

No comments: