“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.

After spitting, he touched his (the man’s) tongue with the saliva. – Mark 7:33 (Mark 7:32-35)

One day some folks brought tha Son a man who could not hear. Feller also had trouble speaking. It be hard ter learn how ter speak words if ya kin not hear how they be supposed ter sound. Tha deaf feller’s friends begged tha Son ter do something fer thar mate.

Away from tha crowd, tha Son put his fingers in tha man’s ears. Then he spit some saliva on ter his fingers and touched tha man’s tongue.

When it comes ter reading Skipper’s Code of Conduct, or really any book, it be a good habit ter watch fer patterns and odd stuff. If ya see odd stuff in a story that might be a clue by tha author that ya need ter pay attention, that something mysterious be happening.

Poking a feller in tha ear with yer fingers be odd. Spitting on yer fingers and touching a man’s tongue not be tha sort of thing that happens ever day. So ya might ask yer self if something like this ever happened be fer in Skip’s book.

Once a long time ago tha “finger of God” turned dust in ter gnats (Exodus 8:16–20). In that instance Skipper be proving he has power over creation and can turn dirt in ter a living bug. Another time Skipper wrote parts of his book on stone tablets with his finger (Exodus 31:18). With tha stone tablets Skipper be confirming that he be tha author of his words and that we should hear and pay attention ter what he says.

When tha Son put his fingers in tha deaf man’s ears he be turning dead ears in ter living listening ears. When tha Son put his fingers in tha deaf man’s ears it be as if he whar saying ter tha feller and all around, “Pay attention. Listen. You have ears. Use them. For if you do not, your ears might become as dead as Pharaoh’s and your hearts as hard as his.”

Spitting saliva on a finger and touching a feller’s tongue be a right nasty thing ter do. Only this be tha Son so we ‘ave ter ask, when else ‘ave we seen tha Son or Skipper spit and heal or touch tongue or lips. In tha way he healed tha deaf feller tha Son might be trying ter remind folks that Skipper formed tha first man, Adam, out of dust from the ground (Genesis 2:7). He breathed tha breath of life in ter Adam’s nostrils and tha feller became a living thing.

Some days later tha Son would make mud patties with his saliva and put tha muck over a blind man’s eyes, helping him ter see clearly. In tha old days a seraphim flew ter Isaiah with a burning coal in his hand and touched tha prophet’s unclean lips. In doing so, Isaiah’s guilt be taken away and atonement made fer his sin (Isaiah 6:1-6).

Folks who knew tha stories of Skipper using his finger ter create life and its connection ter dust and breath might ‘ave picked up on who he truly be—not simply a carpenter, or jest a teacher—but Skip himself in tha body of a man.

After tha Son poked tha feller’s ears and touched his tongue he looked up ter heaven and with a deep sigh said ter tha feller, “Be opened! Eph-phatha!”

With his ears opened he began ter hear. With his tongue loosened he spake plainly.

This be how Skipper’s Holy Ghost of Truth heals our stuck ears: he fixes our ears so we kin hear and understand Skip’s Code of Conduct. Then tha Holy Ghost of Truth fixes our tongue so we kin know jest that right thing ter say ter folks when they ask ’bout tha hope we have in tha Son.

If ya ‘ave ears, hear! If ya ‘ave a tongue, speak Skip’s words of truth and love. If both need a wee bit of tweaking, ask tha Son ter poke and prod and touch so as ya kin hear and speak plainly. Why, there be hardly anything better in all tha world than hearing tha voice of Skipper and speaking back ter him thanks and praise fer who he be.

Tha Son left tha place whar he be teaching and healing and went to the vicinity of Tyre, which be about a thirty mile hike. He entered a house and did not want anyone ter know it. Could be he simply wanted ter rest and reflect on all he done thus far. Or perhaps tha Son be taking a short vacation. Ne’er ferget that on tha seventh day of Creation Skipper rested from all his work. This be an example fer us ter take a break from time ter time.

Still, tha Son could not keep his location a secret. Soon as a Greek woman born in Syrian Phoenicia heard he be in tha vicinity, she burst in ter tha home and fell at his feet begging Skip’s Son ter drive an unclean demon out of her daughter.

Tha Son replied, “First let the children eat all they want, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”

No doubt when tha Son mentioned “children’s bread” he be speaking of tha words of Skipper and how folks ought not ter try and get by on bread alone, but by every word that Skipper speaks. Tha “children” he spake of be his own Hebrew brothers and sisters, fer them be who he first came fer. (John 1:11-13)

“Lord,” the woman replied, “even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”

“For such a reply (faith),” tha Son said, “you may go; the demon has left your daughter.”

Tha woman went home and found her child lying on the bed, and that vile demon gone.

Thar be two things we ought ter think on a wee little bit:
First, it seems thar be some things tha Son kin not do. Fer example, John Mark tells us that tha Son “could not keep his presence secret.” In other places we find tha Son telling folks ter keep quiet about him, ’bout what he done, ’bout how he healed, but instead they run off and flap thar trap telling all who ‘ill listen ’bout what a wonderful thing he done fer ’em. Tha Son kin do a great many things but he kin not or will not overrule tha will of folks. If folks get it in thar head ter disregard his orders tha Son kin not stop ’em.

Second, tha Son doth not need ter be present ter cast out demons. Demons obey tha Son from afar and near. This ought ter comfort us, fer if tha Son kin send demons packing with simply a word or thought, then when we pray fer him to cast out one or several demons from our loved ones, he kin do it.

If ya ‘ave family or friends possessed or oppressed by unclean demons, fall at tha feet of tha Son and in prayer, beg him ter cast out such vile spirits. Then be prepared ter accept whatever table scraps ya receive with thanks and praise.