Understanding the Teacher

Matthew 16:5-12
There’s a curious little story in Matthew 16 involving Jesus and the disciples. As they are travelling together, Jesus issues a warning to the disciples which they misunderstand. In response Jesus says, “You of little faith, why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? How could you fail to perceive that I was not speaking about bread?” (Matt 16:8-11)
When we read a passage like this, it is easy to think to ourselves, “Those stupid disciples. They are at it again not understanding what Jesus has to say”; but I want to encourage us to look a little closer at the disciples’ failure. At first glance, Jesus’ words are a little cryptic, even if we wouldn’t necessarily jump to the same conclusion which the disciples made. However, Jesus’ response to their lack of understanding is instructive. You see, in order to prompt their understanding, Jesus reminds them of the miracles they have seen him do. Why would he be talking about a lack of bread when it is clear that he has provided plenty of bread? They need only to remember what he has done to understand what he says.
I think this also is important for us. Throughout the history of Christianity, there have been debates about what Jesus (or God in general) meant by some of his teachings. Some conclude one way and some another, divisions sometimes can spring up, and often many people can be hurt in the process. What our story today suggests is that our understanding will be improved if only we will watch what Jesus has done and is doing; and the ultimate example of this is Jesus’ life which concluded with his death on the cross. In this we see Jesus’ love and sacrifice which is the paramount lens through which we ought to view the cryptic teachings of the Bible.
As we remember this act of God in Jesus Christ, may we discern rightly the myriad teachings which have been spoken to us. -TL

Popular posts from this blog

The Lord Giveth…and Giveth

2 Samuel 7:1-14 This is a famous passage in the history of the Church because it is where we see the promise of the Messiah to David. God will establish David’s lineage, and one of his own shall sit on the throne of his kingdom forever. We even are treated to such words as “I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me” (7:14). If you have wondered what is with all of the connections to David in the Gospel accounts and why it is so important that Jesus is referred to as God’s “Son,” then this is the answer to those questions. This passage is, perhaps, the crown jewel of christological prophecies. That is why it is so easy for us to overlook other aspects of this passage which also bear significance for us. You see, this passage began with David being at peace because of all that God had done for him, so he wanted to do something great for God in return. What a wonderful impulse! Surely, we ought to give thanks to God (Luke 17:11-19), and such thanks might even take the ...
Read more

To Live or To Die?

1 Kings 19:4-8 This passage is a little startling because we do not expect prophets to act like this. Here is Elijah giving up and asking to die because he feels worthless. It is even more surprising considering what has just happened (1 Kings 18). Elijah just had the showdown with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. He showed the people who is the true God, he destroyed the prophets of the false god, and then he announced the sending of rain which was three years in the making. What power! What goodness! Why does he now feel that it would be best for him to curl up and die? Is this how prophets act? In our Wednesday night class this week, we encountered another prophet of God (if you will) who also faced death. In Philippians 1, Paul seems to be facing some sort of dilemma. Does he live or does he give into death? It is a tough choice for Paul because he knows that dying means going to be with Christ in heaven; but living means advancing the Gospel even more and encouraging ...
Read more

That We May Know the Lord

Exodus 16:1-15 As you know, Beth and I are in the midst of raising our first child, and being in this position invites an endless wave of advice. Some of the advice is good, and some of it does not align with what we want to do as parents. That is fine because parents are different and children are different, there is more than one way to raise a child, and who knows what will be useful and what will not. Well, as I read this passage, I was reminded of a particular kind of advice which takes different forms: Do not give into your children when they whine, or it will just teach them that they can get what they want by whining. It is a fair bit of advice, and one which we try to use in different ways. It is curious that God does not seem to know this trick. Here the Israelites are in the wilderness, just having finished celebrating God’s deliverance of them from Egypt, and they start complaining that things were better in Egypt. Back there, they could eat as much as they wanted w...
Read more