Mark 8:13-21 (NLT)
So he got back into the boat and left them, and he crossed to the other side of the lake.
But the disciples had forgotten to bring any food. They had only one loaf of bread with them in the boat. As they were crossing the lake, Jesus warned them, “Watch out! Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod.”
At this they began to argue with each other because they hadn’t brought any bread. Jesus knew what they were saying, so he said, “Why are you arguing about having no bread? Don’t you know or understand even yet? Are your hearts too hard to take it in? ‘You have eyes—can’t you see? You have ears—can’t you hear?' Don’t you remember anything at all? When I fed the 5,000 with five loaves of bread, how many baskets of leftovers did you pick up afterward?”
“Twelve,” they said.
“And when I fed the 4,000 with seven loaves, how many large baskets of leftovers did you pick up?”
“Seven,” they said.
"Don’t you understand yet?” he asked them.
It's one of those things we all do best- fussing, knit-picking, gossiping, back-biting, bickering, finger-pointing, passing blame. No matter which expression you refer to it by, the act of finding fault in others is rampant. All the more disconcerting is the brutal truth that we do so to people we love the most and are closest to. We’re not alone. The disciples, the tight, yet enigmatic band of Jesus’ followers, succumbed to the pressures and strains surrounding them. And lashed out. Not at the situation so much as at each other. Overhearing them, Jesus lashed back (righteously of course) and reminds them that they’re missing the bigger picture. Their attention is on the corporeal, what they will eat, this despite Jesus performing two miracles providing such sustenance. All the “bread” they needed was standing in the boat. They were standing with Life personified, the Life (of the Way, the Truth, and the Life fame). In yet another profound, emphatic statement, he’s steering them into a collision with another lesson: You have me! That’s all you really need! I will provide if you just believe!
Similarly, this is a crucial time in the Refugee camp. The timing of this passage in no mere coincidence. We all face stresses and adversity. And there’s nothing like a church move to trigger such things. There is equipment and supplies which must be packed and shipped, walls and structures which need painting and repair, trash which needs to be disposed off, mopping and dusting, decorating and organizing and renovating and so forth and so on. Compounded to these are expectations (usually unrealistic) of how things should go and who shows up and for how long. And inevitably, whether it occurs verbally or internally, the fussing will ensue. We will look at the circumstances and fall prey to the same thing which devoured the disciples: taking their eyes of Jesus and blaming each other.
Or, we can stay focused on Jesus throughout the process. Not worried about all the work that “needs” to be done or whether so-and-so is working up at the church every night of the week. Not concerned about who’s not doing their part or who “forgot the bread.” Rather, fix our eyes on who the whole thing is for and about- Jesus!
Application: Scrutinize your thoughts today. Any time you find yourself placing unrealistic expectations on people and wanting to fuss at them about it, remember to focus on Jesus instead. Knowing that he can and will provide everything that “needs” to be done.
