Word Live: Spiritual Awareness
Have you ever forgotten something really important? What were the consequences? Why do you think remembering is important to Christian growth? See Psalm 103:1–5.
Bible passage
Mark 8:14–21
The yeast of the Pharisees and Herod
14 The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. 15 ‘Be careful,’ Jesus warned them. ‘Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.’
16 They discussed this with one another and said, ‘It is because we have no bread.’
17 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? 18 Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?’
‘Twelve,’ they replied.
20 ‘And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?’
They answered, ‘Seven.’
21 He said to them, ‘Do you still not understand?’
Holy Bible, New International Version® Anglicized, NIV® Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Explore
When Jesus speaks about yeast (v 15), he is thinking of the insidious influence that unbelief can have. Just as yeast slowly has its effect on the dough in bread making, so the scepticism of the Pharisees will undermine the spiritual growth of the disciples if they allow it room in their hearts.
There is a note of exasperation in the response of Jesus to the confusion of the disciples. With six penetrating questions (vs 17–19), he brings them up short and forces them to examine whether or not they are learning from what they have experienced. According to Jesus, spiritual awareness requires three simple disciplines.
Seeing, not just with our physical eyes, but with the eyes of our hearts; being able to recognise what God is doing in the circumstances of our lives.
Hearing, not just with our physical ears, but with the inner ear of the spirit; being able to discern what God may be saying to us in what is happening.
Remembering, that is keeping hold of the lessons we have learned.
These simple disciplines are key to spiritual growth. To make progress as disciples of Jesus we need to develop such reflective practices.
Author
Tony Horsfall
Respond
‘Lord, I pray for the spirit of wisdom and revelation to know you better. I pray I may see what you are doing and hear what you are saying. Amen.’
Deeper Bible study
‘If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.’1
Just as in 6:45–52, the disciples experience a difficult boat journey, but this time Jesus exposes their lack of understanding more starkly. When he warns his disciples about the Pharisees (and Herod) they misunderstand (vs 15,16). Jesus then fires off a series of rhetorical questions at them (vs 17,18). Verses 19–21 probe the disciples’ condition, showing that they have failed to grasp the meaning of the two feeding miracles and the leftovers. Having spent a considerable length of time with Jesus, the disciples have still not understood the nature of his mission.
At the root of the disciples’ lack of understanding is their ‘hardness of heart’ (see vs 17).2 In Greek, a passive construction is used, ‘their hearts have been hardened’. Mark does not clarify who or what caused this condition. In 4:12, quoting Isaiah 6:9 and 10, it appears that God hardens the hearts of people who are unwilling to listen to him,3 but ‘hardened hearts’ may also refer to the human condition after the fall. Verses 17–21 echo the blindness and deafness of rebellious Israel in Jeremiah 5:21, Ezekiel 12:2 and Moses’ words to Israel in Deuteronomy 29:2–4.4 The implication is that the disciples, who have been chosen by Jesus as the new Israel,5 still behave like old Israel!
Things are looking bleak. Is there hope for the disciples? Yes, the ‘still’ in ‘Do you still not understand?’ (see vs 17,21) implies that their lack of comprehension is not permanent and they will eventually understand.6 How will Jesus heal their condition? This will unfold when we move from section 6:30 – 8:21, which was dominated by the theme of food, to 8:22 – 10:52 which focuses on travelling with Jesus on the road of discipleship.
As you travel with Jesus on the lifelong journey of discipleship, think of issues in your life that need addressing.
1James 1:5 2 See also Mark 6:52 3 Cf John 12:40 4 J Marcus, Mark 1–8, Doubleday, 2000, p511,513 5Mark 3:13–15 6 J Marcus, 2000, p508
Author
Cor Bennema
