Jesus’ discourse in the synagogue on the bread of life must have given the disciples much to think about – and to discuss among themselves. Peter had confessed that Jesus’ words were the food of eternal life; in the following weeks the symbolism of bread was brought to the notice of the Twelve again and again. Later, they were to realise the full meaning of the teaching; now, it seemed only as if the matter of bread was coming up over and over again, and they hardly realised its full significance, and often mistook Jesus’ meaning.
First, there was the occasion, shortly after the discourse in the synagogue, when the Jerusalem Pharisees visiting Capernaum, who had been watching Jesus’ movements very closely, demanded of him in the street, “Why do your disciples break the traditions of the elders? They don’t wash their hands before they eat!”
Jesus immediately accused them of being hypocrites, breaking God’s commands for the sake of their tradition. The disciples were taken aback as they listened. They had never heard Jesus so scathingly critical of the respected Pharisees. Indeed, Jesus clearly meant his criticisms to be heard far and wide, for he summoned the people in the street to listen, and said, “What goes into a man’s mouth does not make him unclean! It is what comes out of his mouth that makes him unclean!”
The Pharisees were deeply offended, and were not slow to tell some of the disciples so. Some of these were worried at Jesus’ outspokenness, and the sharp way he had spoken. It was as if he was trying to offend the Pharisees by the very plainness of his speech. It goes without saying that Judas was foremost among the concerned. As soon as Jesus had left the crowd, he and some of the others tackled Jesus, saying reproachfully, “Do you realise that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?” “…Leave them! They are blind guides”, said Jesus brusquely. “If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”
Did Jesus mean that some of them were blind? Peter, clinging, if a little uncertainly, to his belief that Jesus must be right, was struggling to comprehend what Jesus had been saying. He asked, “Explain the parable to us”. He had grasped the idea that bread meant words believed. When Jesus said that what a man ate did not defile him, was he talking about doctrine? But Jesus explained that this time he was comparing real food with words spoken – words which could say evil things and defile a man. Peter was finding it quite difficult to see when Jesus was speaking literally, and when symbolically.
The second incident was when they left Galilee and went north for a short stay in Tyre. Jesus was always on the move; it seemed that he was even more anxious than ever to cover as much ground as rapidly as possible. Now he was moving into places they had never gone before to visit. On that trip, one incident stuck out in their minds among the kaliedoscope of healing, preaching, miracle-working which always took place where Jesus went. A gentile woman came and begged Jesus to heal her daughter.
“It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs…”
The words were sharp; but Peter struggled to see the true meaning and the implications – bread again…children… But while he was working out the symbology, the woman seemed to have grasped immediately what Jesus was saying, and cried out, “Yes, Lord! but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table!”
Jesus’ sudden warm smile seemed to wipe out the sharpness of his earlier words. “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.”
Then there was the second great feeding of a multitude. As rapidly as he had gone to Tyre and Sidon, he returned to Galilee, where this second great miracle was performed. Then on to Capernaum – and, of course, to yet another clash with the Pharisees – and controversy is always a discouraging and sterile activity, but has to be faced. This time they wanted Jesus to establish his authority before them as a prophet (ignoring, of course, the vast evidence of miracle and prophecy already given).
“Show us a sign from heaven”, they demanded. Was this not a perfectly reasonable request? The Law held the religious rulers responsible for judging the credentials of a prophet. Well then, Jesus must perform in front of them, and they would assess the validity of his claims. The disciples expected Jesus to confound the Pharisees by immediately showing his power; the Pharisees were narrowly watching for trickery. Jesus frowned, and said at length,
“When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fine weather, for the sky is red; and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast’. You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.”
Then he looked at them as if deeply discouraged, and gave a long sigh, and added,”Why does this generation ask for a miraculous sign? I tell you, no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah.”
He turned abruptly and headed towards the lake shore. The disciples followed, noting as they went the disbelief on the faces of the Pharisees, and wondering why Jesus had not chosen to show a sign. They followed him into Peter’s ship, and cast off. They had not expected to leave so soon, and had no opportunity to look for bread, which they had fotgotten to buy earlier; they could well be heading for a place where food was unobtainable. When they were well under way, Jesus, who had been deep in thought, turned to them suddenly and said, “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
“It’s because we forgot to take bread”, whispered one of them to his neighbour. But Jesus heard and cried, “You of little faith! Why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread? Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand…? How is it that you don’t understand that I was not talking about bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Saducees.”
Bread…yeast…teaching…of course! Jesus must mean the teaching of the Jewish leaders. What teaching? How were they in danger from it? The rulers doubted that Jesus was truly sent by God – had they, too, been in danger of wondering if Jesus was right in all he said and did? Of thinking the Pharisees might be asking reasonable questions, of worrying at how they would take Jesus’ words? Needless to say, they did not – then – realise that subtle points in line with this Pharasaic teaching were continually being suggested by Judas, who had been brought up in the family of a Pharisee, and who did not truly believe in Jesus.
Never again!”, Peter promised himself. “I know Jesus is God’s true prophet.” And his thoughts made him forget his hunger, as they landed on the north shore of Galilee, and began to walk towards Caesarea Philippi.
Jesus often called them round him as he walked, so that he could use the travelling time in teaching them; though sometimes he strode on ahead and they did not intrude on his thoughts. Today he called them to walk with him,and began by asking them a question: “Who do people say that I am?”
“Some say John the Baptist.” said one. “Other people say Elijah”, chimed in another. “Or Jeremiah or one of the prophets”.
“Ah”, Jesus nodded, “But what about you? Who do you say that I am?”
Who, indeed? Had they not worried and talked endlessly over this very point during the last few weeks? But Peter’s thoughts, which had been deeply exercised on the matter, suddenly seemed to crystallise, and he cried out as if he could hardly hold back the words,”You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God!”
“Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it…”
It was a precious moment, a moment of deep meaning, in which all but Judas were deeply conscious of the guiding hand of God over them. It was a time when their minds were open and eager and receptive of God’s teaching. What a wonderful thing to know, certainly, that Jesus was the Christ, Son of God promised to Daved, who would fulfil all the mighty intentions of his Father.
Jesus’ next words brought them back somewhat to the hard realities of the present: “You must tell no-one that I am the Christ.”
A small finger of worry re-entered their minds. Why not? “I must first go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders…”
The worry became dismay; the joy of the earlier moment slipped away in bewilderment. “…I must be killed, and on the third day be raised to life.”
“Oh no!” It was Judas’ barely audible words which soaked into Peter’s consciousness. “That can’t be right!”
Jesus was striding out in front again. Bewildered, furiously discussing among themselves as to what Jesus meant (was he talking symbolically again?), the Twelve hurried after him.”He ought not even to think such things!” (Judas again), “He must be feeling discouraged. We ought to persuade him to see things more hopefully.
It will be disaster for us all if he goes down this path.” Peter decided to tackle the Master. He thrust his way forward and took Jesus’ arm, causing him to halt. It was a quite unprecedented move by Peter, for none of them had ever taken the initiative in this way. He began to reprove Jesus for what he had just said. “Never, Lord! This shall never happen to you!”
Jesus turned and faced Peter with his full authority, speaking with brutal emphasis.
“Out of my sight, Satan: You are a stumbling block to me: You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men!” He went on to speak to them all about self-sacrifice. Peter, bruised, deeply hurt and contrite – was there a tear in his eye? – took a place behind the others. How could he have said what he did? He had failed Jesus – again.
Reflections on the Potter and the Clay