Read Mark 8
Mark 8 takes us to the story of the “feeding of the four thousand” and also to Peter’s famous “Confession of Faith” and subsequent rebuke by Jesus. There is so much material in these passages, but we will only consider a few salient points that, I believe, tie this chapter into a meaningful whole.
We see Jesus leading His disciples in feeding an enormous number of visitors – four thousand men not counting women and children – with just seven loaves of bread. It apparently occurs on the heels of a similar miracle where Jesus fed five thousand men with just five loaves of bread and a few fish. It is an obvious miracle in the sight of at least many observers, but the passage directs us to Jesus’ teaching.
After a subsequent encounter with the Pharisees, Jesus warns His disciples to “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod” (v15). What is He saying? He is speaking about the leaven of the teaching of men.
The natural mind of man distorts God’s truth and conforms it to serve man’s own wants. Where God invites us to humble ourselves before Almighty God, we wish to establish ourselves instead.
Herod was not appointed by God but by the Romans. His faith was in power and position and he wielded it accordingly, to serve his own interests. He lavished himself on the riches and power it afforded to him.
Men foolishly think they advance their own power in God’s name, but their success in overcoming is temporary.
The Pharisees also seek to establish their own selves in the name of God. In our arrogance, we assume our own efforts can establish a standing of righteousness before God. We claim rights that we could never qualify for by our own righteousness.
In ourselves, we are no different from them. We hide from the real helplessness of our position before God. Yet He is merciful and gracious to those who are willing to come to Him. In love, He invites us to “follow” Him. He then hints at the divine paradox: our seeking to have what we want can never avail us of entry into His holy kingdom.
We must receive these things as a gift. This is the road to overcoming. No one seeks to lose their own life, but Jesus is showing us the necessity of his grace. We cannot walk Calvary Road on our own. It is a life received and no man is able to be worthy of it. Yes, we must “follow” Him but He instructs us of the utter foolishness of seeking to save ourselves.
Moreover, the self cannot, by human initiation, accomplish God’s work. We “set our minds on man’s interests, not God’s” (v. 33). Jesus warns them to guard against such a corrupting motivation. “He whoever wishes to save will lose it but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.
But what do we overcome? What is overcome in Christ? The slavery to our wants. The liberty to be free from fear of man – fear of anything! The capacity to love unselfishly, to pour our lives out for others with joy and overflowing with thanksgiving.
What, then does the gospel instruct us to do? To believe in His atoning and sanctifying power alone for overcoming. A wise man will humble himself before God and seek to find Him in truth. “Having eyes do you not see?” Jesus points out how blind we are. We look to ourselves, our natural abilities, and our performance – like the disciples forgetting to bring bread.
Jesus redirects their thinking to consider that their lack of bread (resources) was not a problem with the loaves. In fact, He points out that when there was greater need (Five thousand men) and fewer resources (five loaves), they ended up with even more leftover baskets full of pieces (twelve).
A death experience in life is not the end. It can be just the beginning of something marvelous for us. The grave cannot keep those who hope only in Him. Yes, believing only in Christ’s death and no longer in ourselves will lead to death experience (2 Corinthians 4:10-11), but will always produce magnificent fruit! You can count on it.
Therefore, our death moments ought to be moments of rejoicing, knowing the victory that is ours momentarily, daily. And oh what joy it is, that resurrection life which emerges in us! It moves mountains and overcomes any obstacle!
In this way, we enter into true service to Him. Daily “losing” our wants, and yet gaining all things. We daily suffer loss and inherit the mysteries of His power and glory. We are no longer serving ourselves but Him who reigns. He is our Good Shepherd and oh, how He cares for His sheep. The closer we come to Him, the more radiant is His love.
