Step 24

Mark 8:11-21 A Yeast Infection

About Mark: We have drawn attention earlier to Mark's unique interest in Pharisees and Herodians, two groups which combined to oppose Jesus (see Mark 3:6 & 12:13). The first were religious fundamentalists. "Pharisee" means "separated one", considering themselves superior to ordinary Jews. Such groups, by the time of Jesus, are best known for their strict legalism and traditionalism, and their defensive resistance to thinking about the basics for themselves. 

Little is known of the Herodians, though they appear to be supporters of the political dynasty of the Herods. The Herodian dynasty's 80 year project to renovate the Temple of Jerusalem might have lent an air of religious respectability to an otherwise immoral and murderous family. In any case, both groups had a common agenda not to be disturbed by God, which united them in opposition to Jesus. 

Bible: Mark 8:11-21, The Yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod
11 The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, asking him for a sign from heaven, to test him. 12 And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, "Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation." 13 And he left them, and getting into the boat again, he went across to the other side. 

14 Now the disciples had forgotten to bring any bread; and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. 15 And he cautioned them, saying, "Watch out - beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod." 16 They said to one another, "It is because we have no bread." 17 And becoming aware of it, Jesus said to them, "Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? 18 Do you have eyes, and fail to see? Do you have ears, and fail to 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 collect?" They said to him, "Twelve." 20 "And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you collect?" And they said to him, "Seven." 21 Then he said to them, "Do you not yet understand?"

Comment: A YEAST INFECTION THERE HAS BEEN one miraculous sign after another in this section of Mark. Each one has aroused wonder. Each one has occurred because of the natural compassion of Jesus towards personal need. Each one has signified that Jesus is the Messiah. 

But blind to all this, the Pharisees still demand another sign by which to test Jesus. The grace of Christ has overflowed in the presence of human need. But it is not simply turned on to satisfy curiosity or scepticism. When Jesus has been deeply moved with compassion, signs have followed. But here he sighs deeply in his spirit (12) at their insistence that he must jump their hurdles to satisfy their demands. And he makes it clear that "no sign will be given this species". (The Greek word "genea" is often translated generation, but throughout this Gospel it is better to translate it genus, "family", or species.) This generation had already seen many signs. 

In the continuing conversation with the disciples (14-21), Jesus warns against this invasive yeast of the Pharisees and Herodians. The disciples themselves are still working out who Jesus is. Here he urges their painstaking investigation of what has been revealed to them.

Revelation is not written in the sky, as the Pharisees demand. It comes through painstaking investigation. It requires careful scrutiny by the eyes, accurate hearing by the ears, a marshalling of information in memory recall (18), the processing of multiple bits of information (19-20), and a concentrated and dedicated effort towards understanding (21). And with all of this, the unveiling will only come partially at first, as the next story will show. 

But above all, it requires that our hearts are receptive to God. "Do you still not perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened?" (17). Jesus suggests that entrenched difficulty of understanding arises from a heart problem not a head problem. Hardness of heart is invasive like yeast, the yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod. 

Discipleship today: The previous section suggested that you might wish for an individual encounter with Jesus so direct and convincing that all room for doubt about his reality and personal concern for you is removed. We suggested that an individual experience could be a demand beyond what true faith shows here. Expecting God to comply with our agenda is not true faith.
 
True faith is rather a response to God as he is, and as he has revealed himself to us. Indeed Jesus says here that true faith involves considering the evidence provided, and working steadily through it with our full faculties of recall, perception, and understanding. It is a serious mental exercise, but it is much more than that.
 
It also involves the heart. The heart can so easily get the mind to find some reason for rejecting an unpalatable reality. Our problems of accepting Christ are seldom truly intellectual. They are much more frequently of the heart. But I suppose you've realised that already. And sometimes, our way of covering all this up is simply like the Pharisees and Herodians, to ignore what God has already done, and set impossible demands of our own. It's subtle, but still a yeast infection.