When will we understand?

Jesus was in a boat with his closest followers. He was talking with them, warning them to be wary of the “yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.”

I love this story. Jesus is taking a moment of calm to teach these men. He gives them a piece of advice which they don’t understand. In fact, they start mumbling to each other about what he could mean. They settle on the fact that he’s upset because they didn’t bring enough bread, focusing on his use of the word yeast.

Jesus response shows his disappointment, and he asks them how they could still be missing the point. In modern language his response would be, “Bread! You think I am worried about bread?” He reminds them he just made food materialize for thousands of people, not once but twice. Even after that, they think he’s concerned about the bread.

These men are not prepared for what is about to happen. They are limited in their understanding by what they have already experienced. Nothing that they will soon see can be predicted by the world as they understand it.

We also are trapped by our own view point, by our experiences. It can be hard to fathom what might happen next, or how the events that are ongoing could shape our understanding.

We are very much like these disciples. If Jesus came and spoke to me today I think his words would be the same. He’d likely point out all the miracles he has preformed in my life, that I accepted without question. He’d be disappointed in my lack of understanding also.

Mark 8: 21 He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”