“Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.” –  Mark 8:14 (Mark 8:11-21)

Tha disciples had fergotten ter bring enough bread. Except fer one tiny loaf in tha boat, that be all they carried fer thar trip. “Careful,” tha Son warned them. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.”

Ah good many get stumped over this short story ’bout bread and yeast and unbelief on account of thar doth not seem ter be an explanation as ter what tha Son means “yeast of the Pharisees and Herod.” Only think on this a wee little bit.

By this time tha Son had fed folks with a tiny amount of bread on two occasions. Whilst fellers often be fergetful ’bout things like packing a lunch fer a trip, fer all twelve ter be negligent seems an odd coincidence. It might be that tha Son seen through tha disciple’s ruse and tha way they be testing him ter see if he would feed more folks with only tha one loaf.

So when tha Son asked how many got fed and how many basketfuls of pieces got picked up after tha other two feedings he be testing. They knowed tha score as it whar and tha Son did as well. He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”

Clearly they understood tha Son could produce food from near nothing, so what doth tha Twelve not understand?

Only a short time earlier tha Pharisees came and questioned tha Son. Ter test him, they asked fer a sign from heaven. He sighed deeply and said, “Why does this generation (you people) ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to it.”

Be fer he lopped off tha head of John tha Baptist, Herod Antipas loved ter listen ter John. Ter that black-hearted Herod Smartypants John be little more’n entertainment.

Ah good many folks ‘ave tha same attitude ter day. They like listening ter stories from Skipper’s Code of Conduct. They love watching ter see if Skip ‘ill perform a miracle fer folks. But tha Son and Skip see right ter tha heart of the matter and call such behavior fer what it be: unbelief.

Unbelief in a group, church, nation be like yeast. Ah small amount kin ruin tha whole batch.

If ya be looking fer Skip ter work a miracle on yer behalf ‘fore ya ‘ill believe, ya may be waiting a good long while. Most who be alive when tha Son walked tha earth ne’er seen him work a miracle.  Ah good many who did ne’er really believed he be tha Son of Skipper.

Tha Son don’ have nothing ter prove. He be tha Son of SKipper. All authority on heaven and earth ‘as been given him. Ter ask tha Son ter dance a jig fer our benefit be an insult of a sort we kin hardly fathom.

Watch out fer tha yeast of unbelief. Ya may believe thar be a one all powerful skipper, but doth ya believe in Skipper himself? Ya may believe in Skipper, but doth you believe Skipper, believe his words?

A wee little bit kin wreck yer faith—and ‘as a great many.