I needed to read this story this morning. The disciples were clearly not understanding who Jesus was and what their response should be. Jesus had previously fed more than 5000 people from a few loaves and fish and his disciples had picked up 12 full baskets of bread that were left over. Now, he fed more than 4000 people and they picked up 7 full baskets of bread that were left over.

In both cases, there was a confrontation that followed the events. In the case of the 5000, it was with the crowd of people who followed Jesus to the other side of the lake, wanting to make him king so that they could have more bread. They loved to eat free bread! But Jesus wanted them to understand who he was, so he began to explain himself, saying that he was the manna, the bread that came down from heaven. He said that the people must eat his flesh and drink his blood if they wanted to live. That was the only food and drink that he would offer them beyond what he had given them already.

Now, after feeding the 4000, the confrontation this time was with his disciples. Jesus had told his disciples that they should watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod. They should be looking out for religiosity that simply demands another sign, then demands another sign, then demands another sign. If only they had another sign, then they might believe. In short, this “yeast” was that of unbelief despite knowing what was true, despite having seen things that only God could do with their own eyes.

The disciples didn’t get it, so Jesus spells it out for them and calls them to account:

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?”

Mark 8:17-21

Jesus is telling them to not be like the Pharisees or Herod. Don’t be the people that have eyes and perfectly good vision and yet do not see. Don’t be among those who have ears and perfectly good hearing and yet do not listen and comprehend what you are hearing.

And what is more… Do not forget.

Remember what I have done.

And this is the lesson for me this morning. In the middle of difficult times, in the middle of challenges, in the middle of one problem after the next, I need to remember that God has done miracles before. He has been faithful over and over. He has taken care of us, taken care of all of us, even in the midst of difficulty. And he will do it again.

My role, what I must do, is believe.

Yes, I must act. I must continue forward. I must do what he has called me to do. But Jesus promises that he will go with me. He will be with each of us. And it will be his power that will work all things out. Now, will I walk today in that belief? Or will I walk in anxiety and unbelief, living instead by the yeast of the Pharisees and Herod? That is the question for me today and the same question for each of us throughout our lives. Upon whom am I depending? Me? Or God? I pray that I will depend on him today. His strength and not my own, for his glory.