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24 January 2017
READING: MARK 8:1-21
During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, ‘I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance.’
His disciples answered, ‘But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?’
‘How many loaves do you have?’ Jesus asked.
‘Seven,’ they replied.
He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When he had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people, and they did so. They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them. The people ate and were satisfied. Afterwards the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. About four thousand were present. After he had sent them away, he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the region of Dalmanutha.
The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven. He sighed deeply and said, ‘Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to it.’ Then he left them, got back into the boat and crossed to the other side.
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
I saw this joke recently on Twitter: Jesus walks into a bar and says to the barman: "Thirteen glasses of water, please!", Jesus then turns to the disciples and gives a sly wink.
You can’t read the Gospels and fail to see some of Jesus’ remarkable miracles. Each one points to the Kingdom of God and reveals more of the character of God.
The Disciples have been with Jesus as he has fed 4000 people. There was enough bread for everyone. Sailing across the Sea of Galilee in their boat it becomes clear they don’t have enough bread for the journey. This all happens in the presence of the one who has just produced a miraculous amount of bread – but they seem to default to 'fix it' mode.
Have you faced a similar situation – you don’t have enough money to do something? Your job is threatened? There’s an issue within your family?
There’s a temptation in all of us to try fix it by ourselves rather than submit the situation to the God of miracles?
Let me give you an example:
Over the New Year some friends told us how much money they had saved up. It was rather more than us. I’ll be honest I went to bed that night with a slight anxiety – if I’m honest a slight fear. My mind was whirring away about what we could to fix the situation.
The next morning I was reminded of all the times God has provided for us financially. It is truly remarkable. And then I think of the prophetic words God has spoken over our family. Peace returned as I turned back to God and thanked him for his promises.
The disciples have fallen into the same trap. They’ve encountered need and their response is to process how to fix it. Jesus warns them about the ‘yeast’ of Herod and of the Pharisees.
The ‘yeast’ refers to their hard hearts. They are totally self reliant – religion concerns the outward appearance – looking the part but inside their hearts are unable to see Jesus and who he really is.
Jesus is inviting his disciples on the adventure of a lifetime. Forget self sufficiency. Forget self protection. Dive into the depths of faith – trusting in him.
Just think about your day. Perhaps you’re listening to this in the morning heading to work or you’re going to be revising today. Are there aspects of your day you’ve been rehearsing over and over? That tricky conversation with your boss or anxiety about your studies? Have you shared it with a friend and asked for prayer or offered it to God in prayer?
If you’re in Sheffield today and you have some free time – why not join us at 9am or 3pm prayers or sign up to the Foundations emails and join with hundreds of others to pray?
PRAYER
We thank you Lord we can trust you with everything. This day, we offer our lives – all the details. Help us Lord to remember that you are our provider. Amen.
Want to get this podcast regularly? See http://stthomascrookes.org/podcast/
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By STC SheffieldREADING: MARK 8:1-21
During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, ‘I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance.’
His disciples answered, ‘But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?’
‘How many loaves do you have?’ Jesus asked.
‘Seven,’ they replied.
He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When he had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people, and they did so. They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them. The people ate and were satisfied. Afterwards the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. About four thousand were present. After he had sent them away, he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the region of Dalmanutha.
The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven. He sighed deeply and said, ‘Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to it.’ Then he left them, got back into the boat and crossed to the other side.
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
I saw this joke recently on Twitter: Jesus walks into a bar and says to the barman: "Thirteen glasses of water, please!", Jesus then turns to the disciples and gives a sly wink.
You can’t read the Gospels and fail to see some of Jesus’ remarkable miracles. Each one points to the Kingdom of God and reveals more of the character of God.
The Disciples have been with Jesus as he has fed 4000 people. There was enough bread for everyone. Sailing across the Sea of Galilee in their boat it becomes clear they don’t have enough bread for the journey. This all happens in the presence of the one who has just produced a miraculous amount of bread – but they seem to default to 'fix it' mode.
Have you faced a similar situation – you don’t have enough money to do something? Your job is threatened? There’s an issue within your family?
There’s a temptation in all of us to try fix it by ourselves rather than submit the situation to the God of miracles?
Let me give you an example:
Over the New Year some friends told us how much money they had saved up. It was rather more than us. I’ll be honest I went to bed that night with a slight anxiety – if I’m honest a slight fear. My mind was whirring away about what we could to fix the situation.
The next morning I was reminded of all the times God has provided for us financially. It is truly remarkable. And then I think of the prophetic words God has spoken over our family. Peace returned as I turned back to God and thanked him for his promises.
The disciples have fallen into the same trap. They’ve encountered need and their response is to process how to fix it. Jesus warns them about the ‘yeast’ of Herod and of the Pharisees.
The ‘yeast’ refers to their hard hearts. They are totally self reliant – religion concerns the outward appearance – looking the part but inside their hearts are unable to see Jesus and who he really is.
Jesus is inviting his disciples on the adventure of a lifetime. Forget self sufficiency. Forget self protection. Dive into the depths of faith – trusting in him.
Just think about your day. Perhaps you’re listening to this in the morning heading to work or you’re going to be revising today. Are there aspects of your day you’ve been rehearsing over and over? That tricky conversation with your boss or anxiety about your studies? Have you shared it with a friend and asked for prayer or offered it to God in prayer?
If you’re in Sheffield today and you have some free time – why not join us at 9am or 3pm prayers or sign up to the Foundations emails and join with hundreds of others to pray?
PRAYER
We thank you Lord we can trust you with everything. This day, we offer our lives – all the details. Help us Lord to remember that you are our provider. Amen.
Want to get this podcast regularly? See http://stthomascrookes.org/podcast/