Missing The Point
READ
Have you ever missed the point entirely? The disciples find themselves in a boat, worried about forgetting bread, while Jesus tries to teach them about something far more significant. Their minds are stuck on physical sustenance while Jesus warns them about the subtle, pervasive influence of dangerous thinking.
Let’s take a moment to read Mark 8:14-21:
The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. “Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.”
They discussed this with one another and said, “It is because we have no bread.”
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? Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”
“Twelve,” they replied.
“And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”
They answered, “Seven.”
He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”
REFLECT
They're all in a boat together when Jesus starts warning them about "the yeast of the Pharisees and Herod." It's meant to be this deep, spiritual moment. But the disciples? They're nudging each other and whispering, "Did you forget to pack lunch?" Jesus must have wanted to facepalm right there.
But before we laugh too hard at the disciples, let's be honest—we do this all the time. We're sitting in church worried about Monday's presentation, or we're trying to pray but can't stop thinking about our to-do list. Our minds get stuck on the practical while God's trying to have a deeper conversation with us.
Jesus' choice of yeast as an example is actually brilliant when you think about it. Anyone who's baked bread knows yeast works invisibly—you can't see it happening, but give it time and it changes the whole loaf. That's exactly how harmful influences work in our spiritual lives. It's rarely the obvious stuff that trips us up. Instead, it's the subtle things—a little compromise here, a bit of worldly wisdom there, and before we know it, our whole perspective has shifted.
The disciples are still stuck on the bread thing, so Jesus hits them with some questions: "Remember when I fed five thousand people? Remember the leftovers? Remember when we did it again with four thousand?" You can hear the patience in His voice, like a teacher trying to help students connect the dots. He's basically saying, "Guys, if I can feed thousands with a few loaves, do you really think I'm worried about lunch right now?"
This whole scene feels like those moments when something finally clicks and you think, "Oh... that's what they meant!" Maybe it's that conversation you replayed in your head hours later and suddenly got the joke. Jesus is pushing His disciples—and us—to see beyond the surface level.
Here's the thing: it's easy to get caught up in life's practical concerns. Bills need paying, decisions need making, and yes, lunch needs packing. But Jesus invites us to a deeper awareness. What subtle influences are shaping our thoughts? What's slowly changing our perspectives? Are we letting Netflix shape our values more than Scripture? Are we more influenced by social media hot takes than by God's wisdom?
RESPOND
Take a moment to process what God might be leading you to do in light of what you read.
Where are you focusing on physical concerns while missing spiritual meanings?
How can you develop better spiritual discernment in your daily life?
REST
Take a moment to rest in God’s presence and consider one thing you can take away from your time reading, then close your devotional experience by praying:
Lord of Understanding, sharpen our spiritual perception. Help us recognize subtle influences that could lead us away from authentic faith. When we're distracted by physical concerns, redirect our focus to eternal truths. Grant us wisdom to distinguish between Your truth and counterfeit spirituality. Amen.