Lessons of Jesus
Chapter 9: When the disciples reached the other side

Previous Chapter: They had only one Loaf


Under the title "Lessons of Jesus" we are studying, how our Lord transformed His disciples—who were once unruly, uneducated—into His own children who could live according to his law and carry the Gospel to the entire world.

When Christ appointed his disciples, he said to them metaphorically "Let's go over to the other side", so, basically Christ want us to detach ourselves from worldly affairs and completely rely on Him - On that day, when evening came, He said to them, Let’s go over to the other side - Mark 4:35

And it took sometime for the disciples to understand the actual meaning, and they had to go thorough multiple lessons to implement it, will see few examples in this chapter.

When Christ fed five thousand, the disciples took 12 baskets full of leftover bread, which means each one of them took one basket full of leftover bread, It depicts the spiritual condition of the disciples, their desires and trust - 42.So they all ate and were filled. 43.And they took up twelve baskets full of fragments and of the fish - Mark 6:42-43

And, next time, When Christ fed four thousand, they took only 7 baskets leftover bread, which means, out of 12 disciples only 7 of them collected the leftover bread, and 5 of them did not, and Lord traveled with them for the sake of the 5 disciples who left their worldy desire - 8.And they ate and were satisfied. And they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full - Mark 8:8

Then why did Book of Matthew says, Christ taught this when the disciples reached the other side? - 5.When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten[neglected] to bring any bread. 6.Jesus said to them, “Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 7.And they began discussing it among themselves, saying, “We brought no bread.” 8.But Jesus, aware of this, said, “O you of little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you have no bread? 9.Do you not yet perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? 10.Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? 11.How is it that you fail to understand that I did not speak about bread? Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 12.Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees - Matthew 16:5-12

For Christ to take this great lesson, first the Disciples have to leave behind their worldly affairs and completely rely on Christ, that was the reason, in the early days, Christ said to his disciples "Let’s go over to the other side", - Now when Jesus saw a crowd around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side - Matthew 8:18

Basically the ask is to leave all the worldly desires and completely rely on Christ, and Christ patiently waited for this to happen, so that He can teach devil's plan, and how the devil would bring false doctrine that would deny Christ Jesus as Son of God and lead many into eternal hell, and finally this great lesson took place at the middle of the ocean while traveling from Dalmanutha to Bethsaida, but in God's sight the disciples already reached other side of the Ocean, that's why in the Book of Matthew its written like this, When the disciples reached the other side Christ took this great lesson.


Dangerousness of Pharisees and Sadducees teachings?

Why Christ warned about the teaching of Pharisees and Sadducee? In the teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees, the God of Heaven will be there, prophets and other biblical characters also will be there, sometime Jesus Christ also will be there, but not as a Son of God, not as a Savior, but merely as a historical figure.

this teaching will separate us from God's love, from his Salvation, and would lead into eternal hell, and its happening now in this world, all religious movements, like Islam, Judaism, Catholicism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons (Latter-day Saints) everything comes in this category.

When Lord says to beware of religious movements that would deny Jesus Christ, He also warning that our teaching should emphasize the salvation of Jesus Christ alone.

Dangerousness of Herod's teaching?

And then, Christ taught his disciples about the Dangerousness of the teaching of Herod - 15.And he cautioned them, saying, “Watch out! beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod" - Mark 8:15

What is the teaching of Herod according to Bible? - 21.On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them. 22.And the people were shouting, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” 23.Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last - Acts 12:21-23

Its happening now in this world, gathering will be organized for the glorification of Herod, this Herod could be a political leader or a miracles healer, where the people will be amazed by his/her attire, talent, throne, achievements, and everyone's heart will be filled with Herod, there will not be any room for Christ and His Salvation, and the final outcome is wrath of God and death.

When Lord says to beware of Herod's teaching, He is not only warning about Teaching's of Herod, He also warning that we should not become like Herod, because the first commandment given to us was - Woe to you, when all people speak well of you - Luke 6:26a


Next Chapter: Mother of Jesus in the Book of John