My Daily Journal:
Baggage: As I read and meditated on this passage my view of the disciples has shifted. At first, I thought they misunderstood Jesus’ words and warning about the pharisees because they were focused on their own physical needs. But, I think their reaction has more to do with the focus and baggage that they carried than with any desire to eat a loaf of bread.
Jesus has been harsh to these highest ranking leaders of the faith. These are men who are used to providing counsel to kings. They are used to being revered and honored and respected by the people. They are used to doing the testing, not being tested. They also are not opposed to using violence to execute their power. In last weeks lesson we reference John 7:1 explaining why Jesus went to Tyre and Sidon: people were trying to kill Him. This movement wasn’t from the common people, but rousted up by the leaders whom He offended again and again. It came from the ones who saw Him as a threat to their traditions.
So, when Jesus warns the disciples: “Be careful, Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” It is not unreasonable to assume the disciples thought it might be poisoned.
But instead of focus on Jesus or on the wickedness of such a tactic by religious leaders, their first focus was on themselves. Oh, crud. I forgot to bring the bread with me. I messed up and let Jesus and my friends down and now we are on in danger because of my forgetfulness.
I can easily go down that path. I worry and fret and regret the little things that I forget or fail to do or don’t execute the way I should. I can focus so much on those that I get tied up in a knot and miss the bigger picture. But, as Jesus told the disciples, its not about the bread.
How many days do I spend with Jesus as my savior, my brother and my friend and still focus on myself and my faults and fumbles? How often am I standing in the quicksand of these tiny rocks instead of stepping up onto THE Rock?
My Answers:
2.
a.
GNT: Mark 8:11: Some Pharisees came to Jesus and started to argue with him. They wanted to trap him, so they asked him to perform a miracle to show that God approved of him. They had seen prior miracles in Matt 2 and 12.
b.
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 2 Tim 3:16
Test God in His blessings (Malachi 3:10) not for who He is.
c.
3 days in the tomb (the belly of the whale), sent into a wicket land, called for people to turn from wickedness to God
3.
a.
Their teachings
b.
Their focus was on their physical needs, e.g., food.
c.
Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember?Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember? – their faith could not be stronger than their hearts allowed
d.
We are too simple. We feed our stomachs but ignore our soul.
The Notes are Good 