Of Yeast and Signs

May 18, 2016



My 2016 Ongoing Journey: Exploring Matthew to discover what following Jesus and becoming more like him would look like.

Matthew 16:1-12 ~ Some people never get it. When Moses led the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage, there was one miraculous sign after another: the parting of the Red Sea, water from the rock, manna from heaven, and on and on. But at every turn, when there was trouble, the people turned on Moses and questioned God: “Were there not enough graves in Egypt? Did you have to bring us out into this wilderness to die?”

At Mount Sinai the people experienced the thundering, explosive presence of God; but when Moses lingered on the mountain the people grew restless and impatient and persuaded Aaron to manufacture a God that would be more convenient and more easily domesticated.

Jesus had feed five thousand with five loaves, had fed four thousand with seven loaves, had healed the sick, and the Pharisees and Sadducees asked, “Show us a sign!” They had a different agenda.

Good grief, Charlie Brown!

Even the disciples have to have everything explained in great detail. They have their own agenda, too: an Israel restored to the glory it enjoyed under David and Solomon, and places of honor and authority for themselves in that restored Israel.

I guess we all have our own agendas that skew our expectations when it comes to faith. Those agendas usually are about accruing benefit for ourselves.  

I wonder whether I’ve sufficiently surrendered my own agenda in order to align my will with God’s will. I think that’s a big part of what it means to follow Jesus: surrendering my own agenda and trusting that God’s agenda is the superior way.

That's the way it looks through the flawed glass that is my world view.

Together in the Walk,
Jim