Do you still not understand?

Do you still not understand? 

Twice in today’s Gospel (Mark 8:21),  Jesus asked his apostles,   “Do you not yet understand? . . . Do you still not understand?” (Mark 8:17, 21).   The answer is obvious.   The apostles thought Jesus was lecturing them about their irresponsibility in forgetting to bring enough bread for their journey (8:16).   But Jesus was after something much more important.

When Jesus told them,  “Guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod,” he was talking about corrupt teaching that imposes burdensome laws, employs a double standard, and seeks for personal gain (Mark 8:15).

Jesus was also telling the apostles that he was capable of meeting all of their needs.   You can hear him saying,  “Can’t you remember?   Didn’t you see me take a few loaves and feed everyone?   Didn’t you gather up many baskets of leftovers?   Why would you ever doubt me?”

So what lessons can we glean from this?

First, don’t reduce your faith to a matter of obeying laws and commandments.   If you do, you risk falling into the trap of feeling good about yourself if you succeed and feeling miserable if you feel you have failed.   There is so much more to the life of faith than upholding God’s laws.

Second, let Jesus’ multiplication of the loaves and fishes build up your faith in his love for you.   He knows how difficult it can be to believe in something that seems illogical at first — something like a miracle.   But this is exactly what Jesus asks us to do every day.   He asks us to put our whole hope in him even though we can’t see him.   He asks us to believe that he will provide for us.   He asks us to believe that he can lead us to heaven.

If we trust only in what we see, we will limit what Jesus can do in us.   Instead, let the miracle of the loaves help you see that Jesus is both willing and able to meet your needs.

John’s Gospel tells us that the apostles eventually understood (16:30).   We can understand too — if we persist in faith and believe in the One who loves us unconditionally.

Word Among Us