Slices
Prepare
Are you good at recognising where God’s at work? Are you slow to connect the Word of God with your everyday life? Is anything obstructing your growth in faith?
Bible passage
The yeast of the Pharisees and Herod
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?’
Explore
Some people take to driving a car as the proverbial duck takes to water, others are almost paralysed by anxiety, others are just slow to learn and build up confidence, while some never learn.
Jesus is disturbed by the Pharisees’ blank refusal to give him a fair hearing (v 12) and he’s frustrated by the disciples’ slowness to understand. Is there a difference between the two? On Tuesday we read how he probably travelled north to get away from the unbelief and rejection of the Pharisees and Herod. Here he’s not deserting his disciples but longing for them to make progress in understanding.
Ironically this discussion begins because one loaf of bread is not enough to feed a boatful. Someone has forgotten to bring the lunch. They’ve all forgotten Jesus is in the boat. They’ve all forgotten how Jesus can provide enough bread for all. Would Jesus perform another miracle, or find another solution? We don’t know. Like the Pharisees who are bound by material regulations, the disciples are bound by material things, not the spiritual bread of life. They are slow learners, spiritually short-sighted.
Respond
A few Pharisees put their faith in Christ. Filled with the Holy Spirit after Pentecost, Jesus’ disciples were emboldened in faith. Pray for yourself and anyone you know who’s a slow learner when it comes to trusting Jesus.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Nehemiah 7,8; Luke 8
Pray for Scripture Union
Thank God for the opportunities Mission Partner Brentwood Schools Christian Worker Trust has to take It’s Your Move lessons in primary schools, supporting Year 6 pupils with their move to secondary school. Pray for the pupils as they each receive a copy of It’s Your Move, thanks to sponsorship by local churches.
