David Bahn – Reflections

Mark 8:11-21

And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? ¹⁸ Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? ¹⁹ When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They said to him, “Twelve.” ²⁰ “And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” And they said to him, “Seven.” ²¹ And he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?”

Wiki-answers informs me that the commonly used expression, “Those who ignore history are bound (or doomed) to repeat it” may be traced to an Edmund Burke (1729-1797) statement, “Those who don’t know history are destined to repeat it.” Burke was a British Statesman and Philosopher who is generally viewed as the philosophical founder of modern political conservatism. But long before Burke said this, Jesus lamented the disciples’ failure to remember the most recent of events. But his concern was not whether they would be doomed to repeat the history, but that they would not draw lessons from what they had seen.

Jesus had fed the multitudes – twice! When Jesus mentioned leaven, all the disciples could think about was their failure to bring bread. They were apparently worried about this failure and Jesus reminds them that if the issue was just bread, he could easily handle it. The greater concern was the deeper realities of Jesus’ teaching and the kingdom of God.

Jesus wishes for open hearts, eyes that see beyond the obvious, minds that recall the spiritual lessons of Jesus’ ministry. His questioning of the disciples is to point them toward the deeper truths about God, God’s kingdom, and what really matters. In this case it was the impact of the Pharisees’ and Herod’s teachings. But even more it was the reality of Jesus’ rule over all things, and the spiritual nature of life.

“Man does not live by bread alone,” Jesus said to the devil when he was tempted in the wilderness. But God provides food to his people. We may face difficulties, shortages, and all kinds of challenges in this life. But God will see us through. It is those times that we need to remember his faithfulness, his past actions on our behalf, and his promises. The eternal and spiritual perspective is sustained by recalling the recent and long-past faithfulness and goodness of God.

Mark 8:11-21

The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. ¹² And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” ¹³ And he left them, got into the boat again, and went to the other side.

¹⁴ Now they had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. ¹⁵ And he cautioned them, saying, “Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” ¹⁶ And they began discussing with one another the fact that they had no bread. ¹⁷ And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? ¹⁸ Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? ¹⁹ When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They said to him, “Twelve.” ²⁰ “And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” And they said to him, “Seven.” ²¹ And he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?”