106. Leaders demand a miraculous sign: Matthew 16:1-4, Mark 8:11-13
The Pharisees and the Sadducees were opposed to each other in many ways. The Sadducees believed only in the books of Moses (Genesis - Deuteronomy) and did not believe in life after death. The Pharisees believed in all the Scriptures and in obeying all their added religious rules and traditions. They also believed in the resurrection of the dead.
Although they were often opposed, they united against their common enemy, Jesus. Despite all the miracles Jesus had performed, they wanted more signs. They had already missed all the spiritual signs that pointed to Jesus as the Christ. Would one more make any difference? Jesus knew it would not bring them to believe.
By the way, now we know that the origin of this saying is from the Bible:
107. Jesus warns against wrong teaching: Matthew 16:5-12, Mark 8:14-21
Jesus had already fed the 5,000 and 4,000, and the disciples were worried about not having enough bread? They did not get it! (Would I have gotten it?)
This time the "yeast/leaven" of the Pharisees refers to evil or false doctrine that had corrupted the whole nation. Evil sometimes can be small and hidden like leaven, but it spreads and infects everything. Leaven is also given as a picture of false doctrine (Galatians 5:1-9), sin that is not dealt with in the church (1 Corinthians 5), and hypocrisy (Luke 12:1) in other places in the New Testament.
By the way, now we know that the origin of this saying is from the Bible:
Red sky at night: Sailor's delight.
Red sky at morn: Sailor's warn.
107. Jesus warns against wrong teaching: Matthew 16:5-12, Mark 8:14-21
Jesus had already fed the 5,000 and 4,000, and the disciples were worried about not having enough bread? They did not get it! (Would I have gotten it?)
This time the "yeast/leaven" of the Pharisees refers to evil or false doctrine that had corrupted the whole nation. Evil sometimes can be small and hidden like leaven, but it spreads and infects everything. Leaven is also given as a picture of false doctrine (Galatians 5:1-9), sin that is not dealt with in the church (1 Corinthians 5), and hypocrisy (Luke 12:1) in other places in the New Testament.
108. Jesus restores sight to a blind man: Mark 8:22-26
This miracle is only recorded in the book of Mark, and it is gradual, as opposed to how quickly the blind man is healed in Mark 10:46-52. Isaiah 35:5-6 was fulfilled in Jesus!
Jesus instructed the man not to go to unbelieving Bethsaida, where He had already been rejected.
REFLECTION
I had no inspiration for a reflection today until I read this in The Daily Walk:
In the case of the blind man of Bethsaida, Jesus led the man out of town, spit on his eyes, and placed His hands on the man's face twice before his sight was fully restored. With Bartimaeus of Jericho (Mark 10:46-52), full healing came with just the speaking of a word.
So it is with spiritual lessons God may want to teach you. In your friend's life, God may teach dependence through financial problems. You learn the same lesson through illness. Another Christian learns to walk by faith in affluence; you learn in poverty. One person learns patience through being single; you learn through having a spouse. In each case, the danger is to compare -- rather than commit to -- God's perfect curriculum for you. Every time you see an "Under Construction" sign next to a building or highway this month, let it remind you that God is not finished with you yet. (October 13, 2008, p.18)APPLICATION
Wow! Comparison is so prevalent among believers. This is a powerful reminder that God has a special, individualized curriculum for each of us! I am going to thank God for this every time I see an "Under Construction" sign!
PRAYER
Lord, we commit to the sometimes-slow process of transformation and conforming to Your likeness. We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.
I am not a big "comparison" person.
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