On Line Bible Study - For the week May 25-31, 2009

Lesson 389

Mark 8: ¹¹The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven. ¹²He sighed deeply and said, "Why does this generation ask for a miraculous sign? I tell you the truth, no sign will be given to it." ¹³Then he left them, got back into the boat and crossed to the other side.

Let's remember where we are - Jesus has just fed four thousand people. The text from Mark 8:11-13 is a transitional one. But, as is often true in music, the transitions can be the most important part of the story. If you recall, the crowds in the previous verses had gathered around Jesus; now, Jesus is in a more isolated context - not with an adoring crowd, but with an antagonistic small group of religious leaders.

What the Pharisees are asking for is an authentication of the ministry of Jesus. This might seem odd to us today - as if the miracle of feeding four thousand people would not be enough! But if we remember the way the Bible is written, we recall that not everyone who could do these "miraculous acts" were necessarily people of God. So, perhaps we have to cut the Pharisees some slack. But on the other hand . . .

What is their motive? Also, note that if previous signs had not convinced them, why would some other sign do the trick? What did they want Jesus to do? (If we ever get there, we will consider what St. Paul says in I Corinthians: "Jews demand signs ...")

The "authentication" is not in the actions of Jesus as much as in the person of Jesus. Can we say that God is God not because of what God does, but simply because of who God is? Unfortunately, the Pharisees are not the only ones who don't get it ...

Mark 8: ¹⁴The 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." ¹⁶They discussed this with one another and said, "It is because we have no bread." ¹⁷Aware 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? ¹⁸Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don't you remember? ¹⁹When 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."
²¹He said to them, "Do you still not understand?"

One loaf - one loaf they had with them ... Unusual, don't you think? Remember when the disciples were sent out on their missionary journey? Jesus instructed them to take nothing for the journey - no bread. "Bread" won't be mentioned again in Mark until the last supper.

"Yeast" - a necessary ingredient if bread is going to rise, is also understood to be a corrupting agent. A small amount makes the difference - one way or the other. We all have experienced a brief comment we overhear that bothers us, upsets us. Sometimes just a single word is enough to send our spirit into a downward spiral.

There is something important about the bread - "these loaves". And consistently the disciples don't get it. After Jesus feeds five thousand we read the comment: They had not understood about the loaves ... (Mark 6:52). As noted in our discussion of Mark 6, a "hardened heart" is one of the harshest criticisms that can be leveled against us.

The last sentence is understood by some commentators not to be a question, but a statement - an exclamatory statement of Jesus' disappointment.

The thing is, we do know, don't we. We are aware of how dramatically things have to change - how deeply we have to change. We "know"; but we don't yet understand. Will we ever?

One last comment - Did you notice that Jesus makes reference to "Herod" as well as the Pharisees? (See verse 15. Matthew changes this.) There is some speculation as to what exactly Jesus means here. I can't help but wonder if he may have been referring to the way in which power can be a "yeast" that renders us incapable of "seeking first God's kingdom ....

You have eyes but fail to see ...

Guess what happens next ...