Mark Reading Plan – W8D3
Week 8 | Day 3 | Mark 8:14-21
Check out all the previous readings here.
Pray
As you come to the reading today, write down all the things that are troubling you, giving them to God. Then ask God to open your eyes and your ears to his Word
Bible Reading (read these verses three times slowly)
The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat.“Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.”
They discussed this with one another and said, “It is because we have no bread.”
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? Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”
“Twelve,” they replied.
“And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”
They answered, “Seven.”
He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”
Reflection & Questions
It’s a wonder that Mark includes this story in his gospel since it makes the disciples seem so ridiculous! Jesus has just fed 5,000 and 4,000 with just a few loaves and they think Jesus is concerned that they only have one loaf! It’s one of the ways that we come to trust the genuineness of the gospel stories. No one would make this up!
But Jesus seized this opportunity to get frank with them. Seeing the demanding nature of the Pharisees yesterday, He’s concerned about His disciples. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees,” he tells them. Yeast is a small, but powerful ingredient that makes bread rise.
What’s the Pharisees ‘yeast’? Their traditionalism and skepticism. These attitudes might seem harmless, even wise, at first glance. But if not checked these attitudes will grow into cynicism, pessimism, and even the absence of God himself (like when Jesus left the Pharisees in yesterday’s reading). We must watch our attitudes! We must root out traditionalism, skepticism, cynicism, or pessimism before it grows and takes over our lives. Instead, in Jesus we should have a spirit of trust and optimism.
- Do you have any yeast of the Pharisees in your attitude?
- How can we have a spirit of trust and optimism in Jesus and still be real?
Pray
In your prayer today, confess any negative attitudes you have and ask God for strength to trust Him.
Worship Song
In response to today’s reading, you could use this song to worship Jesus:
Bible Reading
The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat.“Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.”
They discussed this with one another and said, “It is because we have no bread.”
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? Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”
“Twelve,” they replied.
“And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”
They answered, “Seven.”
He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”
Reflection and Questions
It’s kind of crazy that Mark wrote this in his book, because it really makes the disciples seem pretty crazy! Jesus has just fed 5,000 and 4,000 people with just a few loaves, and now they think Jesus is concerned that they only have one loaf! Why would Jesus be worried about not having enough bread when He has proved that He can perform miracles??
But Jesus used this opportunity to get real with the disciples. Honestly, Jesus is worried about how much faith His disciples have! “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees,” he tells them. Yeast is a small, but powerful ingredient that makes bread rise.
What does that mean? What’s the Pharisees ‘yeast’? It was the lack of faith that the pharisees had, and Jesus wanted to make sure that the disciples didn’t act like them. Instead, with Jesus we should have a spirit of trust and love, because He loves us!
- What are some things that help you trust Jesus?
Prayer
In your prayer today, thank Jesus for loving us, and giving us someone to trust in.
Bible Reading
The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat.“Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.”
They discussed this with one another and said, “It is because we have no bread.”
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? Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”
“Twelve,” they replied.
“And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”
They answered, “Seven.”
He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”
Devo Focus
He said to them, “Do you still not understand?” Vs 21
Devo
As great as it was for Jesus to have the company of the 12 disciples with him, there must have been a number of times when he just shook his head at what they said and did. It’s a wonder that Mark includes this story in his gospel since it makes the disciples seem so ridiculous! Jesus has just fed 5,000 and 4,000 with just a few loaves and they think Jesus is concerned that they only have one loaf! It’s one of the ways that we come to trust the genuineness of the gospel stories. No one would make this up! But Jesus seized this opportunity to get frank with them. Seeing the demanding nature of the Pharisees yesterday, He’s concerned about His disciples. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees,” he tells them. Yeast is a small, but powerful ingredient that makes bread rise. What’s the Pharisees ‘yeast’? Their traditionalism and skepticism. These attitudes might seem harmless, even wise, at first glance. But if not checked these attitudes will grow into cynicism, pessimism, and even the absence of God himself (like when Jesus left the Pharisees in yesterday’s reading). We must watch our attitudes! We must root out traditionalism, skepticism, cynicism, or pessimism before it grows and takes over our lives. Instead, in Jesus we should have a spirit of trust and optimism.
- Do you have any yeast of the Pharisees in your attitude?
- How can we have a spirit of trust and optimism in Jesus and still be real?
Prayer
In your prayer today, confess any negative attitudes you have and ask God for strength to trust Him.
