Christian Living

POP QUIZ

by paul hoffmaster
11/22/20
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Every day can be a learning experience.  The more we learn, the better equipped we are to face the ever-changing challenges in life.  I believe that God gives every Believer “pop quizzes” throughout their spiritual walk.  The results of these tests will reveal either one’s understanding or lack of comprehension of Biblical truth.  The majority of mistakes that Christians make are due to not doing their homework.  When we make mistakes in life we are to learn from those missteps, so when a similar situation arises in our future we will know how to handle those challenges.  Failing to learn from the past will cause our spiritual journey to experience speed bumps and unnecessary challenges.  Believers need to focus on the Scriptural teachings, so when challenges do arise they will be better prepared to respond.

A few weeks after the feeding of the five thousand, Jesus and His disciples faced a situation that mirrored the experience they had had in the wilderness near Bethsaida.  In the region of the Decapolis, Jesus was confronted with a mega-crowd seeking physical and spiritual healing.  For three days, the crowd watched and listened as Jesus expounded the Word.  Jesus, realizing they had no food, presented the disciples an indirect challenge.  He told them He could not send the people away for they might faint from hunger.  The disciples responded to the “pop quiz” in the same way they did previously when they had no food to feed the five thousand.  How could they fail this exam two times in a row?  Jesus gathered up seven loaves, blessed the food, and the disciples distributed the food the same way they did in Galilee.  After the feast, they gathered up seven baskets of left-overs. (Mark 8: 1-9)  Jesus and the disciples then got in a boat and headed back across the Sea of Galilee to Bethsaida.

Not far into the voyage, Jesus warned them about the leaven (yeast) that the Pharisees and Herod were distributing.  The Pharisees were teaching things that were contrary to the Old Testament scrolls.  These teachings were influencing the people.  Jesus was telling them to be careful that they do not succumb to those false doctrines.  Herod would bring persecution to Believers and it would continue to gain momentum in the days ahead.  Those warnings were to bring awareness of a growing problem.  The disciples totally missed what He was saying and centered on what they thought He was saying, which was chastising them for not bringing more bread.  When Jesus saw that they missed what He was actually saying, He rebuked them for the hardness of their hearts.  They were more concerned about not have enough bread than understanding what leaven was all about.

Instead of trying to get them to understand what He was saying, He responded to their arena of thought and rebuked them for their short memories.  He asked them how many loaves were over the feeding of the five thousand and of the four thousand.  They sheepishly recalled what they had so conveniently failed to remember.  Jesus ended the correction with, “How is it that ye do not understand?”  (Mark 8:14-21)

Many times Believers face similarly reoccurring challenges in life with little remembrance of past lessons learned.  Satan wants Believers to have amnesia when it comes to pass victories, but instant recall of past failures.  Let us not be caught unaware, but be prepared with knowing and understanding the Word.  Let us review our past victories, so when similar challenges come we can face them with the same assurance that Jesus is still the answer.