“I Get It” – MARK 8:14-21

Looking around and failing to see God is the yeast of the Pharisees (8:15) and of Herod.

How much time and energy has been devoted to DISPROVING supernatural creation? We have come to a point where “scientists” scoff at anyone who disagrees with them on evolution, yet they cannot answer the basic questions of where life came from and how it came to be. Their only recourse is to assert that we are stupid and should simply believe what they say. Both the way of evolution and the way of Yahweh take great faith. Sorry, I think I’ll enjoy God’s creation and look around and what wonders He has made. God’s explanation seems more plausible than theirs.

My faith is in Him.

To not be satisfied with His revelation is the yeast of the Pharisees and Herod. Jesus had proven Himself in word and deed (8:17-18) and some demanded more of Him. It sure would be neat to have a “Red Sea moment” just to assure us every now and then, but our faith cannot be dependant upon these things. Jesus pronounced a blessing upon those who believed without seeing (John 20:29) and we are so blessed. Even so, how dare we see the love of one person to another in the name of Jesus and then say we have not “seen” Him. How can we hear the wonderful words of encouragement and the bolstering words of loving correction and say we have not “heard” Him?

As our faith is in Him, in faith we understand that He is in us.

Taking the facts presented about God and Jesus Christ and rejecting them is the yeast of the Pharisees and Herod. The Pharisees were religious, but did not want Jesus to mess things up for them. Herod was purely secular and did not want to relinquish his throne to anything from God. Make no mistake – if you are set in your ways religiously, then Jesus will mess up you life! In the same way, if you desire life and happiness without religion, then Jesus will mess up your life! The yeast that permeates the lives of people to such devastation is that which distracts us from spirituality in Christ and detracts from His Lordship over us. Faith is essential, but it does not stand alone. Truth is the key to saving faith. The Pharisees and Herod rejected Jesus because they would not accept His truth.

They did not get it.

Our struggle is to take in the message of the cross and understand Jesus. Like the Athenians encountered by Paul (Acts 17) we live in a very religious society and a very religious world. Christianity rocks the religious boat. Christianity shakes our world. Some cling to their private brand of religion in the face of Jesus’ truth. Others cling to the treasure of this world in the face of Jesus’ promise of treasure in heaven. Both are yeast to beware. Each is devastating in its own way. Our challenge is to strip away religion and find Jesus and strip away the lure of this world and find salvation in Him.

Get it?