How to Listen to Jesus

Today’s passage is Mark 8:14-21.  With an open mind and a humble heart, read this passage and see what sticks out to you in this passage.  Is there a verse, a phrase, or a lesson you think the Holy Spirit may be highlighting for you in this passage?  After you’ve thought about the passage yourself a bit, read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go!

Mark 8:14-21 (NIV)
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?”

On verses 14-21: The disciples were concerned about how they had forgotten to bring bread with them on the boat (v14).  So when Jesus says, “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod” (v15), the disciples immediately assume that Jesus is talking to them about how they had no bread (v16).  But Jesus wasn’t rebuking them for not bringing bread.  Jesus was warning them not to be influenced by “the yeast”, that is the unbelief, of the Pharisees and that of Herod.

What can we learn from this?  Two big lessons:

First, don’t assume that whenever Jesus speaks to you that He always speaks, or worse, that He must speak, to your most immediate felt need or concern.  People can make that mistake when they listen to sermons at church and complain, “Oh, this doesn’t apply to my current situation.”  It doesn’t have to.  Sometimes Jesus has more important things for you to know that are bigger than whatever you yourself are concerned about at that moment.  When listening to Jesus, we need to change our frame of reference from ourselves to Jesus if we really want to hear and understand what Jesus is saying.

Second, guard against unbelief.  Like yeast, unbelief can spread quickly in a group.  So Jesus tells them to guard against it.  How can you guard against the yeast of unbelief?  Here are a few tips:

– Remind yourself often of the incredible works God has accomplished.  “And don’t you remember?” Jesus asks (v18).  Just as Jesus reminded the disciples how many basketfuls his disciples picked up after feeding the crowd of five thousand and the crowd of four thousand, we need to remind ourselves of the amazing things God has done in our lives, starting with creation, the cross and the resurrection, and every other miracle God has done in your life that causes you to be in awe of God.

– Regroup often with people who have a soft heart toward God, since iron sharpens iron.

– Pray that you would always have a soft and humble heart toward God.

Jesus, I pray that I would always have a soft and humble heart toward You.  May I not easily forget the works You have done in our lives and how real, powerful, merciful, loving and wonderful You are.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN!