Daily Devotions
Mark
2 Peter 1:21 "For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit."
Day 177 – Mark 8
“For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” 2 Peter 1:21
LEAVING THE PHARISEES BEHIND
Jesus once again prepared to leave to minister elsewhere. This time He was not leaving the multitudes behind. He turned His back on the quarrelsome and critical Pharisees.
“And He left them, and getting into the boat again,
departed to the other side.”
MARK 8:13
FORGETFULNESS
How very human the disciples were! Their part was to learn well the lessons Jesus taught them. They were also responsible for the daily provisions for their band of disciples. How very human to be forgetful at times.
“Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread,
and they did not have more than one loaf with them
with them in the boat.”
MARK 8:14
A SOLEMN CHARGE
Jesus, being the Master-Teacher that He was, used every opportunity to teach His disciples deep spiritual truths. He made this remark to His disciples, and charged them to be very careful of their opponents.
“Then He charged them, saying,
‘Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees
and the leaven of Herod.'”
MARK 8:15
1. The Pharisees as opponents
The Disciples must know that the Pharisees were strong opponents.
a) They would instigate the crowds to go against Jesus.
b) They would seize every opportunity to criticize.
c) They would engage them in public debate, in the hope of faulting Jesus.
d) Their work may indeed be compared to leaven.
i) Like leaven it worked pervasively
ii) Like leaven it worked invisibly
2. The Herodians
They too must be recognized as dangerous opponents. They may not be as subtle as the Pharisees, but they were nonetheless not to be taken for granted. They were people who were closely associated with Herod who killed John the Baptiser (Cf. Mark 6:14-29).