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?”
I see God revealing earthly power sources (the yeast being religious or governmental power) that are only too attractive, maybe even addictive. They offer protection, supply belonging, and identity. “Hitch your wagon to the party in power!” they cry. But there is a cost. You have to speak the party line and espouse the party platform, even if you don’t agree. And, it’s temporal.
“Have you not seen My power?” asks Jesus. “Have you forgotten?” “I am your protection. I am your identity. I am your glory. I am your supply. Beware of any platform, any security system that would carry you away from Me.” says Jesus. And I sense He’s asking me to evaluate my own level of trust. So today I will confront every worry and problem and concern with an intentional prayer of thanksgiving to God who has everything under control.
Oh God, forgive me for pushing outside the boundaries of your care. Amen.
Pete Woodward, Pastor
Faith Lutheran – Pleasant Hill
I hear Jesus saying to be concerned about spiritual things, not about worldly things. He admonishes the disciples for worrying about having enough bread, just after showing His power twice to feed huge crowds, instead of being concerned they stay spiritually healthy. Today, when worldly concerns creep in, I will remember Jesus’ words — that’s not what’s important; instead, see that you remain in Me.
“pushing outside the boundaries of your care”….that really spoke to me! Just last week I hyperextended my knee and injured myself and now when I pause with Pastor Pete’s words, I think it feels the same way when I push outside the boundary of God’s care…I injure myself there too.
Pushing past our own limitations and boundaries can be a growth process but only if we do it while still being held in God’s loving hands and care.
Dear Lord may your loving hands continue to heal my knee today and may my actions serve you well. I am going to stop many times today to be sure I can feel your loving hands guiding me and caring for me before acting.
Great observations Pastor Pete! I hate the way our political sytem works (though I guess it could be much worse)–I hate the way people often tow the party line no matter how wrong it may be. And I hate the way we all (me too) let the world and the prince of the world sneak in and usurp the real power and identity of our lives. I constantly have to recenter myself and remind myself who I really am and who has the real power.
My ‘do’ is to take the time daily to refocus myself to where the real power is. A good Lent practice, but doing it for Lent is not enough. And when I feel like the world has sucked the power out of me, I will run to Jesus and get refilled with his power. I’m pretty sure he has more.
“Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.” I hear Jesus telling me to examine where I have allowed the “yeast of the Pharisees ” to enter my life, my home. It is easy to say that the Lord is my God and He provides and protects – of course I know this…but for sure I do not live like this in all areas of my life.
Today I will make some time to listen to what God is saying – asking Him to show me where I need to depend upon and trust Him more.
I see Jesus gently rebuking the disciples for being so absorbed in their petty concerns that they are unable to hear the important truth that Jesus has to share.
Today, I will quiet my mind several times and chase away the day’s clutter so that I can hear what Jesus really wants to say to me.
He will never leave me nor forsake me keeps ringing in my ears.
“… today I will confront every worry and problem and concern with an intentional prayer of thanksgiving …” I think this is a good application. Like the apostles, I’m sure I have some misplaced worry and a lot of misunderstanding. As I count my blessings in thanksgiving my intentional prayer is sure to bring more clarity to places of potential worry.
Do I not have ears to hear, eyes to see? Do I not remember?
Too often, the answer is no. I don’t remember. I just see my current need, all huge and scary and I don’t remember.
I remember Susan Bonilla saying about this passage that she wondered why we tend to not focus on how much was left over and realize what a generous God we serve. And that struck me. My focus isn’t there. It’s usually on the ‘we only have 5 loaves’ part of life.
Challenge, challenge, challenge.
Again my prayer is, as it has been all Lent, may I have eyes to see, ears to hear and may I remember all He has done.