Seeking the Spotlight

What Do You Want to Be When You Grow up?

Remember when you were a kid and people would ask you what you wanted to be when you grow up? For me the answer wasn’t a baseball player, an astronaut, or a firefighter.

I wanted to be famous. It didn’t matter what I would do. I just wanted fame. I wanted people to recognize me. I dreamed of the day I would walk down the street and folks would ask me for my autograph.

I loved me some me. And I wanted everybody else to love me too!

Famous for Being Famous

Yeah, I know. Pretty shallow stuff. But it’s true. One hundred percent true. Decades before the Kardashians and everybody who’s famous for just being famous, I had career goal of being a celebrity.

That’s exactly why Jesus’ teaching here in Mark 12:38-40 is like a dagger piercing my still bloated ego. Christ calls out the religious celebrities for their love of the spotlight. First, watch them. Second, watch out for them.

Not Just Any Tuesday

Before we zoom in on the details of the Lord’s dialogue, let’s pull the camera back for context. It’s Tuesday. But not just any Tuesday. This is Tuesday of the last week before His betrayal and brutal murder. 

The place is Jerusalem. Specifically, the temple courts. That’s where Jesus did a little housecleaning by driving out the various vendors who were making a quick buck on worshipers through a nasty system of exchanging currency and officially licensed sacrificial offerings. And you thought prices were bad at the airport!   

A Series of Confrontations

The temple courts are also where Christ faced a series of confrontations with all sorts of religious big shots (Mk 11:20-12:36). The chief priests. The religious teachers. The senior Jewish leaders. The Pharisees. The Herodians. The Sadducees. 

He took them all down. Every. Single. One. And the huge crowd in town for Passover went bonkers (Mk 11:37)! That will all change on Friday, but that’s a story for another day.

Back to Teaching

It’s at this point that Jesus gets back to teaching, you know, what He was doing before He was so rudely interrupted. He does so by using one of the groups who has just tried to ambush Him as an example of what NOT to do.

The Son of God says, “Beware of these teachers of religious law! For they like to parade around in flowing robes and receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces” (v38).

Teaching the Teachers a Lesson

Ah, the teachers of religious law. You may remember them from just getting their collective butts whipped after poking their fingers in the chest of Jesus. He ends up teaching the teachers a lesson they will never forget.

So just who are these guys? The phrase “teachers of religious law” we see here is the Greek noun γραμματευς/grammateus. It’s where we get our word “grammar.”

Word Nerds

It generally describes anybody who deals with the written word. A clerk. A writer. A scholar. A word nerd. In Acts, Dr. Luke drops this term when talking about a local government bureaucrat (Acts 19:35).

But more often that not, it’s talking about a recognized expert in Jewish law. Think of a seminary grad or a theologian. You know, those folks who are your lifeline when you can’t figure out some confusing passage in Scripture.

Illiterate Idiots

Interestingly, some of these very same Hebrew honchos throw Peter and John under the bus after Jesus’ resurrection by calling them “ordinary men with no training in the Scriptures” (Acts 4:13). 

Most translations go easy on their trash talk and call them “unschooled” (NIV) or “uneducated” (NASB). But the original language here literally says they are “illiterate” (Gr. αγραμματος/agrammatos) “idiots” (Gr. ιδιωτης/idiotes).

I’m NOT saying education is a bad thing. But considering what Jesus is going to say about the cockiness of these religious hot shots, let's be careful not to think we’ve got it all going on just because we’ve got a couple of degrees on the wall.

On High Alert

Now that we know who the Lord is talking about, let’s taking a closer look at what He says about them. Spoiler alert. It’s not good.

He tells the big crowd to “beware” of these goobers. The original language uses a verb (Gr. βλεπω/blepo) which means to look at carefully, take notice and consider, or be on high alert while watching out for danger.

Danger, Will Robinson!

Picture one of those caution signs telling warning us of a slippery floor, an angry dog, or even a biohazard. When you’re around these religion experts, be VERY careful. Watch them VERY closely. 

It’s a lot like that famous warning from the robot on “Lost in Space”…Danger, Will Robinson! 

Bad Examples

So what makes these “teachers of religious law” such a threat? Jesus says one big reason is the bad example they set. Just watch how they “like to parade around in flowing robes and receive greetings as they walk in the marketplaces” (v38).

Don’t miss just how much they get off on everyone’s attention. Would you allow me to nerd out in Greek one more time? Ah, you’re the best!

The One in the Mirror

Check out the word the NLT translates here as “like” (Gr. θελω/thelo). It means to truly enjoy or take so much pleasure in something that you’ve just gotta make it happen.

They wake up in the morning thinking about it. They plan their whole day around it. They’re so focused on the one in the mirror that helping others never crosses their mind. 

These guys absolutely love getting all gussied up just to be seen in public. I mean, they are obsessed with it. Can’t you just see them standing in their walk-in closet carefully choosing their outfit. Hmm, I wore that robe yesterday. And that one is so 25 AD.

Hoping to Get Noticed

The language here makes it clear that these teachers don’t simply do this occasionally. No, they are preoccupied with it. And when they put on their best, they make sure they’re seen.

They constantly “parade around” (v38). They don’t just go to the busiest places in town which have the most people. They walk up and down, back and forth. Hoping to get noticed, looking for recognition. Nobody loves a parade like these teachers love their parade.

The Red Carpet

These dudes are constantly walking the red carpet. Their life is an extended photo op. Can’t you just see some First Century cable show dedicated to which theologian wore it best?

It seems to me that long before there was ever an internet or social media, these religious teachers were the original influencers. Let’s be blunt. When someone calls themselves an influencer, it’s usually a desperate plea for attention and fame.

The Best Seats in the House

Jesus tells the crowd at the temple how these Jewish celebrities are constantly angling for the best seats in the house. “And how they love the seats of honor in the synagogues and the head table at banquets” (v39).

One commentator points out that there was a bench at the very front of every synagogue that faced the rest of the people. These are the seats they want. And it’s not so they have a good view. It’s so others will have a good view of them.

Looking for the Limelight

Think about that for just a second. When folks gather to worship God, these religious scholars are looking for the limelight. Here’s a pro tip: God refuses to share the stage with anyone or anything else.

Mind if I ask you a question? Why do you sit where you sit when you go to church? Is it to be seen? Is it so that others will know what a super saint you are? No, I didn’t think so. Where would I get such a ridiculous idea?

These scribes also seek to score the best tables at the restaurant. Anytime there’s an event, it’s important for their ego to sit up front. The closer to the speaker the better. 

A Truth Bomb 

What Jesus says here is a truth bomb that busts the bunker of my ego. For most of my life, I wanted to be famous. I wanted to be noticed. I wanted the attention. 

I’m fairly confident that I would have been a charter member of the religion scholars club if I lived during the days of Christ. Shiny new suit? Check. High traffic location? Check. Luxury box at church? Check. Best table at the trendy restaurant? Check.

Fear of Man

It hurts to type these words. But it’s the truth. I struggle with a little something-something called Fear of Man. The quick explanation is that I’m WAY more concerned about what others think of me than what God does.

The Holy Spirit has done some serious heavy lifting in my life over the past few years when it comes to this. I’m far from finished but grateful for what He’s done.

The Audience of One

A guy named Paul wrote something that the Lord has used to help turn things around. “I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant” (Gal 1:10).

Pleasing people versus pleasing God. What’s it gonna be? It’s a choice I’m faced with just about every single moment my eyes are open. For me, the audience for which I perform is the Audience of One.

An Overwhelming Relief

What an overwhelming relief I found when I stopped trying to impress everyone and get the world to like me. I could stop being something I wasn’t. I could simply be the real me. The One who made made me not only knew me but loved me.

I didn’t need to dress to impress God. I didn’t need to go anywhere special for Him to see me. It didn’t matter where I sat in church or whether I sat at the kid’s table at the party.

Misdirection

Meanwhile, back in the temple courts, Jesus tells the big crowd what these religious teachers are REALLY up to while putting on a show. They may project a slick image but there’s something else altogether different going on.

These experts want you to look over here at their impressive activities. That will distract you from what’s really going on. Magicians call it misdirection. It’s that little trick of calling our attention over here so they can pull off the sleight of hand over there.

Stealing from Widows

So what exactly are they trying to do? I’ll let the Lord tell you. “Yet they shamelessly cheat widows out of their property” (v40).

The scribes use their leverage to put the squeeze on those who can’t protect themselves. In First Century culture, widows were an easy mark. They had few rights and very little protection. 

Looking out for the Most Vulnerable

Apparently their strategy for building their real estate portfolio by running roughshod and basically stealing property from single women. No late night cable infomercials on how to flip houses for these guys. All they had to do was hoodwink a woman who’s lost her husband. 

A couple of thousand years later, has much really changed? Grifters and con artists are still target the elderly and single moms as their prey. As the followers of Jesus, we need to look out for those who are the most vulnerable.

Smokescreens and Flowery Prayers

Christ points out one of the favorite tactics used by the religion teachers. At the same time they’re cheating the powerless, they “pretend to be pious by making long prayers in public” (v40).

They throw up smokescreens with flowery prayers when the crowds are around. Jesus sure seems to indicate there’s not a whole lot of praying going on when they’re alone. As the divine Son of God, He should know who’s really talking to God and who’s not.

Flying Solo in Prayer

Here’s another moment when the Lord’s words hit a little too close to home for me. Don’t get me wrong, going to God in prayer with other followers of Jesus is an awesome experience.

But what’s my prayer life look like when I’m flying solo? Do I pray as passionately and frequently when I’m alone as I do when I’m around others? Asking for a friend.

Getting What They Deserve

The radical Rabbi/Carpenter wants us to know that these religious phonies won’t get away with it. “Because of this, they will be more severely punished” (v40).

He knows they will get what’s coming to them. Maybe not on this side of eternity but God ensures they will get what they deserve. 

How can Jesus be so sure? Because He’s the One who will do it! “For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body” (2Cor 5:10).

Making God Famous

Which brings me back to the whole “what do you want to be when you grow up” thing we started with. Like a I said before, what I wanted was to be famous. What I wanted was to be liked. What I wanted was to be the center of the attention.

Little did I realize at that time that my career goal was to be a religious legal eagle. A phony who was only concerned with my image but had no real substance when you peeked behind the curtain. As they say in Texas, “All hat and no cattle.”

While I’m far from perfect, I’m so incredibly grateful that Jesus has saved me from that. That He saved me from MYSELF! My life is so much so more fulfilling now that my goal is to make God famous.

©2020

Jay Jennings

A Little Pop Quiz

Blindsided by the Teacher

Man, I dreaded a pop quiz back in the day.

You remember those pesky little buggers, don’t you? Your rear end has just hit the seat at school. But before you have a chance to hand that do-you-like-me-check-yes-or-no note to the cute girl behind you, the teacher blindsides you with an unexpected test.

No Cramming for the Exam

Put your books under your desk. Get out a blank piece of paper and a number two pencil. There were no laptops or tablets when I went to class in a previous millennium. Just you and what you knew stepping into the octagon against a handful of unanticipated questions.

You don’t have a chance to cram for this exam. That’s why they call it a pop quiz. It’s the teacher’s way of ambushing you in order to find out what you’re learning along the way.

Catching His Crew Off Guard

Did you know Jesus surprised His disciples with a pop quiz? Mark describes the day the greatest Teacher ever catches His crew off guard with eight questions while they’re taking a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee (Mk 8:14-21).

The Lord isn’t looking to see how much they know. As the Son of God, He already understands that better than they do. He asks them these questions so that THEY will know what they DON’T know. As it turns out, they don’t know much.

Who Is Jesus?

You see, a huge theme in the second Gospel is who is Jesus. The first eight chapters of Mark are chockfull of encounters with all sorts of folks trying to figure out His identity. His family. His followers. The powerful. The powerless. The sick. The disabled. The demon-possessed. The hurting. Who is Jesus?

For just about everyone, it comes down to one possibility. Could He REALLY be the Hero from heaven God has promised to send for centuries? Can this radical Rabbi/Carpenter from the backwater village of Nazareth actually be the Messiah they’ve been waiting for?

A Galilean Boat Ride

We pick up the action with Jesus and His twelve disciples cruising in a fishing boat across a large freshwater lake in northern Israel. Since at least four of His closest followers are commercial fishermen, it’s no shock that this is the team’s preferred form of transportation.

Ganging up on the Son of God

Our Savior has just left an awkward confrontation with a group of Pharisees in the seaside town of Dalmanutha (Mk 8:11-13). It’s not their first dust up and certainly won’t be the last. These arrogant religious know-it-alls continually bully Jewish believers.

In their latest showdown, the Pharisees gang up on Jesus and demand that He put on some supernatural dog-and-pony show and prove He’s legit. If they’ve missed the miraculous signs He’s repeatedly provided, that’s on them. They’ll get nothing and like it.

“I Thought YOU Brought Lunch”

As the camera zooms in on the little ship, the Twelve suddenly realize they’ve got a problem. “But the disciples had forgotten to bring any food. They had only one loaf of bread with them in the boat” (v14).

The boys have dropped the ball when it comes to lunch. There are no drive-thrus or convenient stores out on the lake. No one packed a cooler of snacks or sandwiches. All they have with them is a little bit of bread.

That won’t go very far with thirteen hungry guys. That’s equivalent to sharing a single bag of honey roasted peanuts with the rest of the passengers on a cross country flight. If you’ve flown lately, you know that’s too much of a stretch.

Mark’s Tasty Little Morsel

Like many stories about Jesus, this same incident gets some ink in more than one of the four Gospels. Matthew also describes the same event. But Mark is the only place we read the detail about the lonely loaf.

Where would the author get this tasty little morsel? Well, most members of the very early church believed Mark’s source for his bio of Christ is none other than the Apostle Peter. In other words, we could just as well call this document the Gospel of Peter as told to Mark.

Jesus Jumps in

While they’re trying to figure out where they’re going to grab some grub, Jesus jumps in and interrupts them. “Watch out! Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod” (v15).

Notice how the Lord issues a double barrel warning to the boys. He tells them not just to “watch out!” but also to “beware.” Whatever He’s talking about must be a big deal not just for the Twelve but for you and me as well.

Don’t Miss This!

Let’s take a quick look at both of these words of warning. First of all, “watch out” (Gr. οραω/orao) means to see either with your eyes or your mind. It literally describes staring intently at something.

Pay very close attention. Focus! Don’t miss this! It’s a lot like when an over-served friend asks you to hold their beverage and says, “Hey y’all, watch this!” You don’t want to miss what’s about to happen. It’s time to get out your phone and start shooting video.

Be Wary of Potential Danger

Jesus backs that up with “beware” (Gr. βλεπω/blepo). This Greek verb paints a picture of seeing clearly, getting a good look at something or someone in order to process and understand what’s going on. To beware is to be wary of potential danger.

The Lord basically tells His team to pay close attention and focus not once but twice. Do you see what’s going on? I mean what’s REALLY going on?!? Do you understanding what you’re seeing? Do realize the potential danger of the situation?

Be Fully Present

It’s a powerful encouragement to somebody like me who has a tendency to wander through life obliviously. Too many times, I simply am not paying attention to what’s going on. My mind is somewhere else.

Jesus wants every one of us to be all there. Be fully present. Pay attention. The very name of God is Yahweh, which means “I Am Who I Am” or “I Will Be Who I Will Be” (Ex 3:14).

One of the things that’s so great about the Great I Am is that He is ALWAYS fully present. Since He made us in His image (Gen 1:26-27), we need to be fully present wherever we are.

See the Big Picture

That means seeing the big picture. That means not living in the regret of yesterday or the worry of tomorrow. Wherever you are, be all there.

Henry David Thoreau puts it this way. “It’s not what you look at that matters. It’s what you see.” Don’t just open your eyes but engage your brain and your heart. Pay attention to your current situation and surroundings.

Going Gluten-Free?

Back in the boat, Jesus is NOT wanting His team to pay closer attention to the sanitation grades of local eating establishments or the expiration dates on loaves of bread. He wants them to see what’s REALLY going on.

But the boys believe when the Lord warns about yeast that He’s talking about bread. Wrong. He’s not giving the guys His two-cents worth when it comes to artisan loaves or going gluten-free. Not even close. He wants them to zoom out and pay attention to the bigger picture.

Do You Smell What Jesus’ Is Cooking?

The key to Christ’s words here is the phrase “the yeast of the Pharisees and Herod” (v15). No, these religious leaders haven’t gone into the bakery business with the king. But Jesus wants His team to smell what they’re cooking.

At first glance, who can blame the boys for thinking about bread. The word we translate “yeast” (Gr. ζυμη/zume) literally means leaven. For those of you who don’t know their way around the kitchen (and that includes me), it’s the essential ingredient that causes bread to rise.

A Little Science Lesson

Before we get into what Jesus IS talking about, let’s take a moment to discuss the science behind yeast. Don’t worry. This will NOT be on any pop quiz. I promise. But it will help us understand the Lord’s warning.

Yeast is a tiny critter which contains an enzyme that’s a catalyst in both baking bread and brewing beer. It’s essential ingredient which basically speeds up the transformation of sugar into alcohol and CO2.

A Chemical Catalyst

It’s what scientists call a catalyst. That’s a substance which increases the rate of a chemical reaction without itself undergoing permanent change. In other words, it’s a tiny ingredient that radically changes everything except itself.

In other words, yeast is a small quantity with a much larger impact. It doesn’t take much but it’s permeates everything. It remains unchanged. It breaks stuff down. In the Bible, yeast is used to describe something small with a huge influence.

An Itty Bitty Beast

Jesus actually uses yeast as a positive metaphor for what God’s up to. He compares the beginning of God’s kingdom to how a baker uses a tiny amount of yeast to cause bread to rise (Mt 13:33; Lk 13:21). Something so small that makes a massive difference.

But most of the time, the writers of Scripture see yeast as an itty bitty beast. Paul uses yeast as a way to warn the Corinthians that even the tiniest hint of sexual sin in a church can have disastrous effect (1Cor 5:6-8).

In a letter to believers in Galatia who’ve allowed religious hucksters to derail their faith, the apostle sounds the alarm. “This false teaching is like a little yeast (Gr. ζυμη/zume) that spreads through the whole dough!” (Gal 5:9). As Tullian Tchividjian likes to say, Jesus plus anything equals nothing.

A Hard Look in the Mirror

Back in the boat, the Lord wants His disciples to know the hidden dangers of this so-called yeast. Over in Luke, Christ tells a big crowd that the Pharisees’ yeast is actually hypocrisy (Lk 12:1). That’s when you get more concerned about your image that your heart.

We all need to take a long hard look in the mirror and ask ourselves if we more concerned about who we appear to be than who we really are. Over and over, God’s Word makes the point that real and lasting change doesn’t happen from the outside in, only from the inside out.

Take off the Mask

The Gospel is anything but fake it until you make it. Be real. Be honest. Take off the mask. Stop pretending you’ve got it all together. Admit you need help. As the old saying goes, the first step to getting help is admitting I’ve got a problem. And I’ve got a BIG problem!

Playing the Blame Game

The Lord’s warning triggers a rousing round of the blame game among the boys in the boat. “At this they began to argue with each other because they hadn’t brought any bread” (v16). I thought YOU were going to bring it! Why do I ALWAYS have to take care of lunch?

We’re not sure how long the great bread feud goes on but Jesus jumps right in and drops the first question of His pop quiz. “Why are you arguing about having no bread?” (v17). He wants them to know they’re fighting over something that doesn’t really matter.

Missing the Point of the Mission

How many times do we do that? We get all bent out of shape squabbling over an issue that doesn’t mean a hill of beans from the eternal perspective. We totally miss the point of our mission and tear into each other over trivial things.

I hate to say it but this is how denominations get started. It happens when we argue over stuff like worship style, how to baptize, what communion means, just to name a few. Shouldn’t we be way more concerned with telling folks about the life-saving message of Jesus than the color of the church carpet?

Three Huts

It reminds me of the story about the man discovered living alone for years on a deserted island. Think Tom Hanks in “Cast Away.” His rescuers ask him why are there three huts if he’s all alone.

The man explains, “This is where I live. The next is where I go to church. The other one is where I USED to go to church.” Yeah, it doesn’t take much for us to get upset at what goes on where we worship that we take our ball and go to a new church.

Stopped in Their Tracks

It appears something else has joined them aboard the boat. Crickets. Jesus’ first question stops the disciples in their tracks. Can’t you just picture them staring blankly at each other? Now that the Lord has their full attention, the infighting has stopped.

Question Number Two

Christ doesn’t waste any time before dropping the second question of His pop quiz. “Don’t you know and understand even yet?” (v17). The first question is about the bread. The second is about the head. What’s going on upstairs, gents?

Notice how the Son of God teams up a couple of similar words here. He wants to them to slow their roll and help them realize what they “know and understand.” Better yet, what they DON’T “know and understand.”

Putting the Pieces Together

The first word here is the Greek verb νοεω/noeo. It means to comprehend on the basis of careful thought and consideration. To understand. To think over a matter with care. Gents, stop arguing for a Mississippi minute and engage your brain.

The word the NLT translates as “understand” is συνιημι/suniemi. The term is similar to the first but goes a step further. It describes being wise and applying what you know. It literally means to set or bring things together. Think of assembling the pieces of a puzzle.

We need to remember that these boys aren’t the brightest bulbs in the biblical box. We see them as superstar saints. The truth is they’re just average Joes like you and me. Jesus only uses average, broken, and sinful people. Why? It’s all He has to work with!

From the Head to the Heart

Question three of the quiz drops eighteen inches south from the noggin. “Are your hearts too hard to take it in?” (v17). Christ wants them to realize that when we repeatedly fail to wrap our heads around who He is and what He’s doing, we’re in danger of cardiac calcification.

The longer we want things our way and fight for our own point of view, we become harder to move. Our hearts slowly and steadily start to stiffen. Before you know it, we’re not going anywhere. When that happens, I suddenly become the newest member of the Hard Hearts.

Eyes and Ears

Next Christ asks questions four and five. “You have eyes—can’t you see? You have ears—can’t you hear?” (v18). Is He worried that His twelve closest followers are suddenly now both visually and hearing impaired?

Not so much. It’s the Lord’s way of pointing out to His team that if they had really been watching and listening, they wouldn’t be worried about lunch. They looked but didn’t really see. They heard but didn’t really listen.

A Little Digital Detox

In doing so, Jesus dusts off an OT warning from God made to His people through Jeremiah 600-plus years before (Jer 5:21). If they had been paying attention, they wouldn’t have been blindsided by their all expense paid trip to Babylon.

Once again, these questions should cause us to slow our 21st Century roll. I admit I’m rather addicted to all my devices. I’m so busy sticking my nose in the nearest screen that I miss the reality all around me. It’s probably time for a little digital detox. Care to join me?

Question Number Six

This brings us to question number six. “Do you remember anything at all?” (v18). Jesus isn’t asking them to recite the book of Leviticus or if they can name all the Caesars in order. He just wants the guys to remember what they’ve seen over the past few days!

Weren’t the disciples right there in the suburbs of Tyre when Christ healed the daughter of a desperate mom (Mk 7:24-30)? How about the time He used His supernatural spit to restore the hearing to the deaf dude near the Ten Towns (Mk 7:31-35)?

The Math Portion

But what about those two major league miracle meals? Did the Twelve blank on those as well? Jesus cuts to the chase with the next couple of questions in His pop quiz. You’ll see that we’ve come to the math portion of the exam.

“When I fed the 5,000 with five loaves of bread, how many baskets of leftovers did you pick up afterward?” (v19). Notice that Jesus wants His team to remember what He did and what they did (Mk 6:30-44).

Our Savior fed the 5,000. Not the disciples. Not anybody else. He wants them to never forget the mental picture of the all the leftovers. He wants them to remember how blown away they were by the abundance He created.

The guys answer, “Twelve” (v19).

Bigger Buckets

But Jesus doesn’t stop there. He brings up His second all-you-can-eat-bread-and-seafood buffet. “And when I fed the 4,000 with seven loaves, how many large baskets of leftovers did you pick up?” (v20).

He not only wants them to remember the details of His amazing encore including how they used bigger buckets the next time 

around.

The guys answer, “Seven” (v20).

It’s NOT about the Bread

Christ closes the quiz by asking His crew one last thing. “Don’t you understand anything yet?” (v21). He uses the same word (Gr. συνιημι/suniemi) we saw back in question number two. After everything you’ve seen, have you put anything together yet?

Don’t you get it, guys? It’s NOT about the bread. If they have a clue, they would realize that the one loaf they do have is more than enough when they give it to Jesus.

Engage Your Brain

God wants us to engage our brains as part of our trust in Him. Don’t make the mistake of believing we must check our minds at the door whenever we accept the Lord’s invitation to follow. In the opening chapter of Isaiah, He encourages us to brainstorm with Him. “Come now, let us reason together” (Is 1:18 ESV).

Let’s make sure we don’t get cocky. Stop being a Bible know-it-all. When we do, we’re just being 21st Century Pharisees. That’s EXACTLY what Jesus is warning against with the boys in the boat.

A Humble Former Pharisee

None of us will have a full grasp until we join Jesus in eternity or when He makes His spectacular encore, whichever comes first. Paul puts it this way. “Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in the mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely” (1Cor 13:12).

If the dude who wrote a big chunk of the NT has the kind of intellectual humility, who are we to think we’re hot stuff? Don’t forget that the Apostle Paul is the Pharisee formerly known as Saul (Acts 23:6; Phil 3:5).

The Littlest Danger

The purpose of Jesus’ eight question pop quiz is help the Twelve realize how much they don’t know. He wants us all to know what really matters. First, it’s NOT about the bread. He’ll provide everything we ever need. Remember that whole daily bread thing (Mt 6:11; Lk 11:3)?

His bigger point is all about the littlest danger. We need to beware of the hidden beast of  hypocritical yeast. Don’t ignore the risk of something so seemingly insignificant that has the power to do so much damage.

A Computer Virus

I wonder if Jesus were teaching this same lesson today if He might use the picture of a computer virus. Allowing the most minuscule malware onto a hard drive can take it all down.

Sin may seem small but it has the power to infect our personal operating system and corrupt our relationship with Christ. As followers of Jesus, let’s regularly allow the Lord to scan our hearts and minds and remove the virus (Ps 139:23-24).

Our Teacher’s Point

Okay, I’m still not crazy about pop quizzes, but I understand the Teacher’s point. He wants me to keep me on track. He wants me to realize what I don’t know. He wants His best for me.

Any questions?

©2018

Jay Jennings