Sometimes We Forget 

Written by Jan Jalowiec

If you were born in America, you are surely familiar with the concepts of a  ‘pioneering spirit’, a ‘can-do attitude’, or frequently saying “I’ve got this!”. It’s bred into us like curls on a poodle, or an underbite on a bulldog. We pride ourselves with our self-sufficiency, thinking we have no need of help.

This self-reliance fights against submitting to the mind or will of another, and we seem foolishly unaware of the struggle. However, it will eventually blind us from seeing how desperately we need Jesus.

By the time we get to chapter eight in the book of Mark, the disciples had spent several days ministering, casting out devils, and miraculously feeding thousands of people… twice! They saw Jesus moved with compassion to heal a woman who had been suffering from a medical condition for 12 years, then moments later raise a girl from the dead. These were some pretty amazing, albeit exhausting, days!

After a brief encounter with the Pharisees, Jesus and his disciples set sail yet again, and it occurred to the disciples that they didn’t have much food for their journey- only one loaf of bread. At that same moment Jesus gave them a warning to beware of the Pharisees and Herod, equating their sinful ways to leaven. The disciples heard ‘leaven’, and started chattering to each other about their lack of food.

vs 15-16 “And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod. And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread.”

Jesus then asked a string of questions that pointed out their faulty thoughts and mental lapses of forgetting the many miracles they had not only just witnessed, but also actually been a part of! He was reminding them of Who they were with. Imagine being worried about having only a small loaf of bread while in the presence of the Bread of Life!

Yet they represent us so well, don’t they? Too often we ‘go it alone’ in our struggles. We reason within ourselves to figure everything out. All the while, the King of creation desires, and is waiting, for us to ask Him for help. Do we truly recognize Who we are with?

Imagine being worried about having only a small loaf of bread while in the presence of the Bread of Life!

Jesus’ last question to the disciples is one that we need to ask ourselves as well.

“How is it that ye do not understand?” (vs. 21)