Loaves and Fishes

(Part 3 of 3)

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

                                                                                                                        Mark 8:11-13

Beware of a Pharisaical Spirit! As Jesus met the needs of the people; a religiously charged or super-spiritualized attitude rose among the religious leaders. Apparently the feeding of four thousand people with only seven loaves and two fish was not enough of a miracle for them; they needed a sign from heaven.

Jesus, concerned that His disciples may be influenced by these contaminated attitudes, addressed His disciples in Mark 8:14-15:

“The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. “Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.”

However, instead of gleaning what Jesus was attempting to teach them; all the disciples could focus on once again was their lack!

“They discussed this with one another and said, “It is because we have no bread.”

                                                                                                            Mark 8:16

The disciples had brought only one loaf of bread; and even though Jesus had just demonstrated what he could do with just a little; they looked at the little they had and declared “we have no bread.”

“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? Do you have eyes that fail to see and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?” “Twelve,” they replied. “And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?” They answered, “Seven.” He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”

                                                                                                Mark 8:17-21

Jesus instruction to them had nothing at all to do with the bread! Jesus was teaching them that having little will never hinder a move of God, but a wrong spirit most certainly will.

Compassion is not about having the resource to meet the needs of the suffering; it is about having the desire to meet the needs. Some of you need to pray that God will fan the flame of compassion in your hearts to meet the needs of others. Others need to give thanks for what you have been given and begin setting it before the people. While there are some that need to abandon a pharisaical spirit  in order to see the miraculous work of God in meeting the needs of others.