Smoodock's Blog

We often criticize Jesus’ disciples for just not getting it, for missing a point that seems so obvious to us today. Yet, I wonder how many of us really consider the massive undertaking of changing one’s worldview. When someone comes along and tells us that we are wrong, and what we believe is wrong, vis-à-vis what makes sense to us is not really the truth, and, moreover, if that someone is speaking the truth, and we take what he says to heart, our whole world is in upheaval. What if, for example, the other side is correct on the issue of abortion. Whichever side you are on, consider for a moment that the other side is correct! What would it take for you to come to understand what the truth really is? What if, for example, the other side is correct on the issue of Trump![1] What would it take for you to admit you are wrong and seek to understand the truth?

The disciple’s worldview was in upheaval. They actually believed what the Pharisees taught was true. Some may have believed that the Sadducees were correct, and from a political standpoint, some of Jesus’ disciples may have thought a government by Herod, vis-à-vis one of Herod’s sons, would have been infinitely more preferable than being governed by the Romans. Yet, Jesus came along and told them to beware of being taken in by all these groups, denominations, if you will, of Judaism.

After Jesus and the disciples left Capernaum and reached the other side of the Sea of Galilee, we are told that they had forgotten to take bread, but then Jesus fed 4000 men, beside women and children, and took up seven baskets of leftovers. Now, consider for a moment, that before leaving for Magdala, they had seven baskets full of bread and fish (Matthew 15:37; Mark 8:8). So, they must have distributed the contents to the poor of Dalmanutha, for they hadn’t taken with them more than one loaf (Mark 8:14).

Think about this for a moment. What was on the disciples’ minds at this point. Bread! Probably less than a week prior Jesus had fed 5000 with six loaves of bread and only a day before another 4000 with seven loaves. No doubt, all they could think about was B R E A D – bread, and what Jesus had done. So, when Jesus told them to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees (Matthew 16:6) and the leaven of the Herod (Mark 8:15), the first thing that came to mind was BREAD! Why hadn’t they taken some of the seven basketsful along with them?

Interestingly, Jesus didn’t reply to his disciples how we ordinarily reply towards those who disagree with us on issues like abortion and Trump. He didn’t vilify them nor did he accuse them of being stupid. Jesus marveled over their lack of faith. You see, if we acted according to faith, vis-à-vis put our trust in God, there would be no “abortion” issue, nor would “Trump” be an issue. It all comes down to our trust in God (Matthew 16:8).

Jesus asked the Apostles: “Why are you arguing among yourselves?” Bread (abortion/Trump) isn’t the issue here. Think about it for a moment. How many loaves did you start out with before the 5000? …before the 4000? …and how many basketsful did you end up with? Why would you think bread was important? Who’s in charge, you or me/Messiah? Why argue over abortion (religious issues) or Trump (political issues), if I’m in charge (Matthew 16:9-11)?

Finally, it clicked! Jesus wasn’t speaking of bread; he was talking about letting religious and/or political authorities lead us away from him (Matthew 16:12). If we give them the power, then Jesus is left to observe. He certainly wasn’t working through the religious figures of his day or through the political authorities. Why give these folks authority over us today, so that we believe we must defend what they say or do?        [EB1] 

[1] As I write these words in September of 2024, the American Presidential election is about a month and a half away.