Author Archives: John D. Willome

[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. [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?”

Mark 8:11-21

Dear God, I’ve heard the “yeast of the Pharisees” described loosely before, but I wonder how we might define it more precisely. How might I look at this story and see the Pharisee in me or in church leaders (both local and national) today?

So what did Jesus see when he looked at the Pharisees?

• People who had lost their first love–you.
• People who had become too focused on keeping their existing position of power and influence in the community.
• People who cared more about the letter of the law than the spirit of the law.
• People who judged as inferior things they didn’t understand.
• People who had made a bargain with the existing political powers so they they and the Jewish religion would maintain its influence.

So what was Jesus saying to the disciples as he made this statement to them? Considering this is likely Peter relating this story to us through Mark, I would say that Peter definitely took a lesson from this story. He didn’t know how to apply it initially, but as the years passed, he got to apply it through the acceptance of Paul as an apostle, the following of the vision to eat the unclean food and minister to and accept Gentiles, and even the ushering in of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, certainly something for which they had no frame of reference.

So what kinds of things might Peter have to say to the American or worldwide church today in terms of what we should learn from Jesus’s words. Politically, there are certainly some national leaders who have made deals with existing political power in order to have top-down influence over society. In fact, they are very yeast-y when you compare them with the things I mentioned above. But they are too easy of a target. What is it in me that tends to be yeast-y?

• I tend to make an idol out of the man-made structures around me. I put a lot of my confidence in electricity running to my home, access to the Internet, water that comes out of the faucets (both hot and cold), and the ability to communicate with others any time I desire. How do I know this? Because right now every single one of these things has either been taken from me or is being threatened, and it has gotten my attention. I have made an idol out of my American societal infrastructure.
• I tend to want to influence others to see things my way and act accordingly. I like having an influential role in our local community. I can become prideful in that. I can desire the attention and respect I receive.
• I tend to be close-minded when it comes to what you might be doing differently today than you were hundreds or thousands of years ago. I am skeptical of those who advocate all of the gifts of the Holy Spirit such as tongues and prophecy.
• I certainly allow myself to love things in my society more than I love you. I embrace the wrong things. I pursue the wrong things. I allow lethargy and complacency to distract me from the different things you call me to.

Father, help me to see the yeast of the Pharisees that is in my life. Help me to identify it and reject it. It starts with the idols I’ve made. The idol of my society providing for me. The idol of my government solving my problems. The idol of my country’s military or economy making me feel good when I walk around instead of you. I heard yesterday about a former bishop in Haiti who is just trying to feed people, but his life is always in danger. He has no one but you. He has no government upon which he can depend. He has not power grid, running water, or Internet connection that he can say with confidence will be running tomorrow. He has no police to protect him. He doesn’t even have the church supporting him. He has only you. I have to admit that I don’t want to have to get to that point to learn that lesson, but I know that it is easy for me to look to my idols instead of you. I am so sorry.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

About this time another large crowd had gathered, and the people ran out of food again. Jesus called his disciples and told them, “I feel sorry for these people. They have been here with me for three days, and they have nothing left to eat. If I send them home hungry, they will faint along the way. For some of them have come a long distance.” His disciples replied, “How are we supposed to find enough food to feed them out here in the wilderness?” Jesus asked, “How much bread do you have?” “Seven loaves,” they replied. So Jesus told all the people to sit down on the ground. Then he took the seven loaves, thanked God for them, and broke them into pieces. He gave them to his disciples, who distributed the bread to the crowd. A few small fish were found, too, so Jesus also blessed these and told the disciples to distribute them. They ate as much as they wanted. Afterward, the disciples picked up seven large baskets of leftover food. There were about 4,000 men in the crowd that day, and Jesus sent them home after they had eaten.

Mark 8:1-9

Dear God, I don’t have any fancy, deep and meaningful thoughts about this passage this morning. I just have the knowledge that we had to cancel the monthly food truck distribution at First Baptist Church because of ice and there are people who will get about 70 lbs. less food this morning because we cannot be there. Some of them have bare cupboards. Some of them live in the country and have no electricity. Some of them are scared. Some of them are in legitimate physical danger. 

Father, as Jesus did for this crowd, have mercy on them. My wife and I have some resources. Show us how to use them. Make it very clear to us how to reach out. But regardless, please meet these needs. Meet the needs for food. Multiply what is in their cupboards for your glory’s sake. Help the CTEC people trying to restore power so that the people can defend their homes against this cold weather. We are not as strong as we think we are. Help us to embrace that idea, submit to that idea, and lean on you for our provision. Through this pain, bring revival, even in my own heart.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

After Jesus left the synagogue with James and John, they went to Simon and Andrew’s home. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a high fever. They told Jesus about her right away. So he went to her bedside, took her by the hand, and helped her sit up. Then the fever left her, and she prepared a meal for them. That evening after sunset, many sick and demon-possessed people were brought to Jesus. The whole town gathered at the door to watch. So Jesus healed many people who were sick with various diseases, and he cast out many demons. But because the demons knew who he was, he did not allow them to speak. Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray. Later Simon and the others went out to find him. When they found him, they said, “Everyone is looking for you.” But Jesus replied, “We must go on to other towns as well, and I will preach to them, too. That is why I came.” So he traveled throughout the region of Galilee, preaching in the synagogues and casting out demons.

Mark 1:29-39

Dear God, it seems like Jesus was always careful about lingering too long when the adoration became too much. Is that right? Let me think about that before I say that definitively. Is that what Jesus was doing as he went away to pray by himself?

I was thinking about this story in concert with the story about Jesus sending out the 72, and then, when they returned and told of their successes (your successes through them), he suggested they get away alone for a while. Of course, that was interrupted by the multitudes and he took one extra bit of compassion to teach them and eventually feed them, but he still got away by himself afterward. He still got away to pray.

I think Jesus knew that he had to walk a very fine line between being you and your essence, and keeping the humanness of himself submitted to you. In this story from Mark, it seems that Jesus got up early to go to “an isolated place to pray” because he knew he needed you. He knew he needed perspective. He simply could not do this without being completely connected to you.

I told my wife this morning that the crowd gathered at the door and that “everyone looking for [him]” the disciples referenced the next morning, reminds me of the people now who are looking for the COVID-19 vaccine. Some have received it and are thrilled. Others are looking for a place, any place, to get their shot. Frankly, my wife and I are among the lucky ones. Because of my work, I’m considered 1A and my wife’s arm happened to be in the right place at the right time when they had a few extra doses for a vial that needed to go somewhere or they would be wasted. And I remember the feeling I had when I saw her getting her shot. I was elated. I was grateful. I can only imagine how much more elated and grateful these people felt–to have run across the one man in the entire world who could heal their infirmities.

But Jesus apparently had something affirmed to him that morning in his prayer time with you. Healing was nice, fun, kind, and benevolent, but what he came to do was preach: “That is why I came.” So they left there. I am sure the people in the town were devastated. I would think the disciples’ families would have been upset, wondering why they couldn’t just keep Jesus in their home and to themselves. I’m sure some people started following him just to see if they could get access to him. Maybe a healing for themselves or a loved one. Later, the teaching will get hard and many will turn away. It’s not just fun and miracles anymore. They were going to be asked to stretch and grow. They were going to be asked to sacrifice.

Father, I am disheartened to see how similar I am to the disciples and the others. I want what is best for and benefits me. I like my luxuries and my toys. I like my home, my healthcare and benefits, and I want the same advantages for those I love as well. I don’t want to suffer or sacrifice. I do my best to avoid hurt and pain. So I am sorry. And when I do experience success, help me to remember that my first action should be to get by myself and pray to you instead of reveling in and marveling in the great things that you did through me. No, help me to always ask you, what am I doing here?

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen