Devotional Text: Mark 8: 11-21. Morning Psalm-84; Evening Psalm-42

Text: Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod. (v. 15)

    On a recent trip I opened my dopp kit and discovered that I forgot my toothbrush. Often when I travel I forget something. I went to the desk of the hotel and asked if they could provide me with a toothbrush. A smiling clerk pulled open a drawer and gave me a cellophane wrapped toothbrush.

Jesus and the disciples were traveling from one side of the Lake of Galilee when the disciples remembered something–bread to eat. They forgot to bring bread.  Jesus noticed and said to the 12 to beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod. Beware of what they are trying to tell you is gives life meaning. Today’s Pharisees tell us that it is memorizing certain prayers or attending a certain church or being baptized in a certain. Today’s Herod tells us that they can provide security from “those people”, or that “you should be afraid–very afraid.”  Jesus, though, says, “Don’t you remember the feeding of the 5000? Do you think that I have ever left you in true want? Don’t you know that I love you? No matter what the world says, you are precious to me.”

The disciples forgot bread for a journey. They may have been a little hungry. But Jesus provides the only bread that truly satisfies our spirits.

    Lord, in this season of Lent help us to remember in this world of material want and gain, the You provide the only true bread that gives our lives meaning. Amen.