Has your pride blocked you from knowing God’s love and power?. Mark 8:1-21
Jesus fed 4000 using only seven loaves and a few small fish. Earlier in Mark’s gospel we read how Jesus fed 5000 using only five loaves and a few fish. Jesus shows his power in both of these miraculous feedings. In both he shows himself to be the "Prophet like Moses" which was foretold in Deuteronomy 18. Just as Moses gave the people bread in the dessert, so Jesus gave bread in a remote place where there was no bread to be had.
Why did Jesus do this sort of miracle a second time? One suggestion is to show that Jesus is the Bread of Heaven for the Jew and the Greek. The feeding of the 5000 was done in a place where there were many Jews (and the 12 baskets left over remind us of the 12 tribes of
Israel). The feeding of the 400 was done in a place with more Greeks (the 7 baskets left over remind of the 7 original deacons who were Greek). Having two such miracles also show us how slow the disciples were to understand and believe. This challenges us as we are so often slow to understand and believe.The first reason the miracle was performed was because it met a basic need in the people. They had been with Jesus for three days and were out of food. Jesus had compassion for them at the most basic level. We need to be aware of people’s needs. It is not just the great questions of life, like eternal salvation, that need care, but even the simple things like eating. We also learn that Jesus is aware of our limitations and he cares for them too. Jesus cares when you are hungry, or can’t sleep, or are grieving, or stressed out, or not as young as you used to be. Jesus knows your limitations and he loves you.
Immediately after feeding the 4000 with just seven loaves of bread (a miraculous multiplication of food and a sign that Jesus is the Prophet foretold), Jesus and the disciples leave to take some rest. Rather than having time to themselves, they are met by a group of Pharisees who came to ask Jesus about his ministry. These wanted to question Jesus in order to evaluate and judge him. They asked for a sign from heaven for them, given at their order and timing so they could approve of Jesus. Jesus looked at them and sighed deeply. Why were the Pharisees asking for a sign? Had Jesus not just fed 4000 people in the wilderness with only a few loaves? Some of the Pharisees may have even been present. If not, was the testimony of 4000 witnesses not enough for them?
Their problem was the attitude of giving their allegiance to God only if he fulfilled their conditions. People still keep themselves from believing in God because they insist that God prove himself to them on their terms. As long as that is your attitude, you will never believe in God or know him. Would you set yourself up as God’s judge? If you set yourself over God in your mind, then you are god in your own mind. As long as you reign in your own mind as God, you will never be able to know God.
Hebrews 11: 6 says without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Do you want to know God? Then do not play the games of the Pharisees who want God to pass their test. If you want to know God, you must believe that there is a God and he is not you. Seek him humbly and earnestly and you will find him.
Jesus warned his disciples: Be careful. Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod. The yeast that puffs up is pride. The Pharisees set themselves up as judge over the program of God. Herod thought he had the political clout to manipulate people and armies to his will. The disciples were not immune to this blinding pride. Neither are we.
There are many religious people who do not know God but are unaware of their situation. They are infected with the yeast of the Pharisees. It has puffed them up so they are no longer open to see the hand of God, the power of God, the love of God. It is harder for such a "Pharisee" to convert and know Jesus than for a hardened criminal because the criminal knows he is out of God’s favor. The Pharisee thinks he knows God, but he is lost. Religious people who do not know Jesus are hard to reach with the gospel. They’ve been in church all their lives. They’ve been leaders of churches and are convinced they know the way to God. Their pride keeps them from knowing God.
There is something more here for us. Even the humble fishermen and outcasts that made up Jesus’ disciples could be infected with pride, the yeast of the Pharisees. Remember that pride kept the Pharisees from knowing God. That yeast kept them from recognizing the presence and power of God. That could happen to the disciples. It can happen to you.
Have you lost your view of the presence and power of God? What will you do? You might start by checking for yeast.
Pastor John Howard Dawson 10-12-03