Do not disavow Christ [Mark 8]

The Pharisees had seen signs. Christ had fed 5,000, then 4.000. The last time this had happened was when Israel was fed manna in the wilderness, which the Psalms continually reminded anyone who entered a synagogue about.

There had been signs. The Pharisees disavowed them.

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The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. 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.” And he left them, got into the boat again, and went to the other side.

Now they had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. And he cautioned them, saying, “Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” And they began discussing with one another the fact that they had no bread. 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? Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? 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.” “And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” And they said to him, “Seven.” And he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?”

(Mark 8:11-21 ESV)

We all have a tendency to take things a little too literally. To complain about the bread. To grasp one idea, and miss the other. To bring within us that which should not belong. Leaven was not to be in bread over holy week: the leaven was the error here. But the disciples blood sugar was too low, or they were not prepared to hear Christ.

And that is the leaven in this time.

Many people think religion is about love and spirituality. And nothing else. They forget about standards, about righteousness. They forget that we are to pursue righteousness, knowing that we will never get there, and being quite aware of our imperfections.

And they forget that the most loving statements are often challenging: “ If you continue to eat like this and not exercise you will be in pain and will be miserable and shorten your life Doing that degree will give you debt but zero chances of employment ” … “ You need to remain with your husband and love him and your children, so they grow up undamaged. Divorce will damage them. Even though, right now, you are unhappy, because he is working 70 hours a week to pay the mortgage

People want to be told there is no sickness, we are all beautiful, and we are all going to be with Christ. Um, no. Universalism is a heresy, and the Universalist church, cut off from Christ, is dying. And this is a witness for us: cleave to Christ.

Who was not afraid to confront his disciples. And refused to accede to the demands of the social justice warriors of his day. They existed. They were called Pharisees.

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