18 "Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don't you remember?"
Mark 8:18 (NIV)
In today's text, Jesus admonishes his disciples. They were without much bread, only one loaf for all 13 of them. A long boat ride and even longer meal gap left them clearly concerned. At mere mention of food, of yeast, the disciples derailed. They couldn’t handle the road trip any more.
Jesus warned His men about 'the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod', about the way both religion and politics can blind and deafen us and lead us astray. And all they could think about was what they didn't have...food. They became blind and deaf to what Jesus wanted them to sense.
What's in it for us? How does this apply? See, hear, remember these things:
POWER POISONS AND LEGALISM PUFFS UP! Preoccupation with politics and religion indeed blinds and deafens. Might doesn't make right. Keeping all the rules or being better than others doesn't get us into Heaven. Beware!
WHO'S IN MY BOAT! To have Him is to have enough. Jesus had just fed a last meal to 4000 people with just 7 loaves of bread. I think He can take care of our next meal...and every other shortage we face.
Athlete, are you hungry? Do you feel shortchanged? Don’t like your current road trip in life? You seeing, hearing, remembering as you ought?
O may we see, not just look. O may we listen, not just hear. O may we remember who's in our boat.
