Bad Yeast

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(Mark 8:11-21)

Mari Ikeda

A. We make ourselves our god (11-13)

11 The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven. 12 He sighed deeply and said, “Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to it.” 13 Then he left them, got back into the boat and crossed to the other side.

B. We don’t understand that Jesus is God (14-21)

14 The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. 15 “Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.” 16 They discussed this with one another and said, “It is because we have no bread.” 17 Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? 18 Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?” “Twelve,” they replied. 20 “And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?” They answered, “Seven.” 21 He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”

1. We think we know Jesus, but we actually misunderstand Him

2. We care too much about “having no bread”

3. We cannot understand the greatness of Jesus’ compassion

C. Jesus’ bread

Summary

We all have this bad yeast within us. It is the state of our heart that makes something other than Jesus our god. We are unable to get rid of this yeast by ourselves. The only thing we can do in order for us not to let this yeast rise up is that we eat Jesus’ bread. Jesus’ bread (His love and compassion) never runs out or runs short, and there are always plenty of it available for us. We tend to be distracted by our own mistakes and lack of capacity, but let us not forget to keep our hope in what Jesus may do for us.

For Discussion

1) What is your bad yeast?
2) What does it mean specifically to eat Jesus’ bread?