Ah the Pharisees, always good for entertainment, and definitely good for a lesson. The Pharisees confront Jesus and demand a miraculous sign from him, so that they would have proof of Jesus being who he said he is. What did Jesus do? I like what he did, once more he "sighed deeply" .. though it was not out of anger, but out of sorrow or remorse.
In vs 12 scripture says "When he heard this, he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, "Why do these people keep demanding a miraculous sign? I tell you the truth, I will not give this generation any such sign."
Crazy eh? Like Jesus is like a mystical Santa Clause. This happens today though doesn't it? I know some Churches demand a supernatural sign that you are saved. "You say your saved, but unless you give us a sign, you can't be!" (never mind the fruits of the spirit eh?)
Ah, forgive my deep sarcasm.
Jesus says that he would give this generation any such sign. Either he was referring specifically to the Pharisees, or that he was referring to end times stuff, because Jesus was doing miracles to lots of different people, he just fed 4,000 people. Or maybe he's referring to His resurrection but he did use the word 'generation'. Something to ponder.
Lets move on ...
So Jesus and the disciples left on a boat, and Jesus says "Watch out! Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod" The disciples, thought that he was talking about food, and started to argue, because they didn't bring any bread (vs. 16) except for one loaf. Jesus wasn't talking about physical bread, though he did remind them of his previous miracles of the feeding of the 5,000, and the 4,000, and how much food was left over from those miracles.
Here's a few things that I gained from this....
a) The yeast that Jesus speaks about is a symbol of sin. Sin, like yeast rises ... and Jesus was warning them about the sin in the lives of the Pharisees and in Herod. This is why the Jews celebrate the feast of unleavened bread or Passover. We are to be without sin, set apart, striving for holiness. The Pharisees and Herod have let sin take control of them. I have a sermon on this, that maybe I'll post on this blog sometime.
b) The disciples already forgot who was in the boat. They forgot the miracles of the 4,000 and 5,000. We need to keep track of the miracles of Jesus in our own life. Whether its keeping a journal, or a blog whatever. So that when we are in a dire situation in our own life, we are reminded of God's faithfulness in our past. This is a testimony to other people, as well as a reminder to ourselves. Never take for granted God's working in our lives.
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