After Jesus had just fed the four thousand people with just a few fish and loaves of bread, the Pharisees and Sadducees ask for a sign. This seems shocking to me. And yet it further shows how signs and wonders do not lead to faith. Only by the power of the Holy Spirit by the Holy Scriptures can see the truth and have faith.
After the dialog with these religious leaders, it seemed important for Jesus to warn His disciples about the sin of religion. Religion is our attempt to reach God and yet this is an impossible task. Who could possibly reach God? It is only by God's grace that He reaches down to us and desires a relationship. And relation is the key to discipleship. The closer we are in our relation to Christ, the more we become like Him.
The picture of leaven in scripture always points to sin. A little leaven works its way through the whole loaf just like a little sin works its way through our whole lives. It is the old adage, "One bad apple makes the whole barrel bad."
Yet isn't it a beautiful picture when we realise how one good apple, aka Jesus Christ, can make the whole barrel good! When we let a little sin stay in our lives, it can cause all sorts of problems. When we let a little bit of Jesus Christ, through His word, into our lives, it can cause all sorts of good!
"Jesus, please help us to realise how important it is to seek purity, not by simply trying hard to be pure, but by letting go of our lives and giving it to you. Help us to read Your Word and let it do its work in us. Please be that good apple in our lives. Change us from the inside out. We love You and thank You for reaching down to save us! Amen."
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