Journal Day 14

October 15 2006 - Day 14

Mark 8:14-21

Passage: Today’s passage is yet another display of the immaturity and questionable faith of the disciples. Jesus and the disciples are traveling in a boat. While in the boat, Jesus seeks to teach and warn the disciples about the danger of the Pharisees. Jesus likens the unbelief and the hypocritical practices of the Pharisees to leaven. Leaven is put inside bread and it causes it to rise and expand. It drastically changes the bread. It transforms the bread. Jesus wants the disciples to be careful not to fall into the same trap the Pharisees are in. However, the disciples do not get it. It seems that all the talk about leaven makes them think about their stomachs. They realize that they only brought one loaf of bread with them in the boat. They discuss between themselves what they are going to do. Jesus is astounded that they have so quickly forgotten the miracles He had already performed. With very few loaves He miraculously fed thousands until they were full, with baskets left over. The disciples were forgetful and therefore faithless.

Application: I find in myself this same tendency that the disciples had. I think I often miss the main point. I wonder how many times I have been struggling with something in my life and not realized that Jesus is trying to teach me a great lesson in truth. This is a lack of maturity and faith. I don’t want to get caught up in the worries of this world and miss out on the blessings of God. The Bible is the revelation of God. In it I find the truths that God wants me to know. I must be diligent to read and study it so that I can then apply it to my life. O God, help me to beware and watch out for the leaven of this world. Help me not be distracted from you and the lessons you are trying to teach me.