Bible Chapter: Mark 8

Because the Bible is practical, here are some statements to get you thinking.

1.  Write one or two key thoughts that come from today’s reading.
    Jesus talked about the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.  Through their traditions they set aside God’s commandments and God’s will.  People look for ease and comfort in their religious experience.  It is a spirit of worldliness.  Believers in Jesus must not allow human ideas and secular teachings to dilute the Gospel.  A little yeast permeates the whole lump of dough.  A little spiritual yeast infiltrates the whole person bringing spiritual failure.
    Jesus also talked about the suffering and rejection He would experience, leading in the end to His death on the cross.  Peter rebuked Him for these sayings.  Jesus responded that Peter didn’t understand the things of God and was thinking like a human.  Jesus said that those who take the easy way out (who wants to save his life) will miss out on the best God has for them.  Jesus said that we must take up our cross and follow Him.  This means that everything will not be smooth in our journey.  This teaching is the opposite of many modern teachers who proclaim that enough faith will make life easy.
    The cross is a symbol of suffering, death, shame ridicule, rejection and self-denial.  There is a battle against sin that we must fight.  The more we work for God the more the forces of evil will push back.  This includes persecution.  Believers must reject the standards of the world, separate ourselves from the morality of the world and be faithful to Jesus in spite of ridicule.

2. What can I apply in my life from the reading?
    Verse 38 talks about not being ashamed of Jesus in this adulterous and sinful generation.  There is a word in the Bible I came across years ago, but not one used commonly today.  It is lascivious.  This word gives a picture of a person acting sinfully in such a way that they are sinful and proud of it.  It talks about unbridled sinful actions.  Lascivious is a good description of our current society.  Entertainment is riddled with sinful actions as the central focus of the program.  I have come to the conclusion that there are few good writers any more in the entertainment field.  It seems like the only thing they can produce for laughs or gaining attention is filth.
    It is easy to get trapped in the thinking process of the world around.  This can lead to rejecting the narrow way of Jesus and acting like I’m ashamed of His teachings.  Jesus said that if I am ashamed of Him and His words, He will be ashamed of me.  I need to apply the clear teachings of the Bible daily and not be ashamed of them.  I’ve come to the conclusion that the sinners should be ashamed, but they don’t seem to be.
    I need to echo Peter’s word in verse 29, “You are the Christ”.  Jesus is the Anointed One come from God.

3.  How can I help someone?
    I can help people see the difference between human religious tradition and the teachings of Jesus.  The yeast Jesus talked about seems to be more widespread today and appears to be increasing.  Many church groups are filled with yeast.  It has blinded many.  I need to pray for God to reveal this to people that their spiritual eyes will be opened.