We love that Thomas doubts, Peter jumps the gun, and James and John vie for the best seat in the house (or rather, heaven).
In short, they seem much like us.
So what Jesus observes in Matthew 16 is pretty comical and unfortunately true of us as well:
On their way to the other side of the lake, the disciples discovered they had forgotten to bring along bread. In the meantime, Jesus said to them, "Keep a sharp eye out for Pharisee-Sadducee yeast."
Thinking he was scolding them for forgetting bread, they discussed in whispers what to do. Jesus knew what they were doing and said, "Why all these worried whispers about forgetting the bread? Runt believers! Haven't you caught on yet? Don't you remember the five loaves of bread and the five thousand people, and how many baskets of fragments you picked up? Or the seven loaves that fed four thousand, and how many baskets of leftovers you collected? Haven't you realized yet that bread isn't the problem? The problem is yeast, Pharisee-Sadducee yeast." Then they got it: that he wasn't concerned about eating, but teaching--the Pharisee-Sadducee kind of teaching.Runt believer describes me perfectly. I rock along faithfully, full of wonder and faith and praise, and then a bump in the road sends me into a tailspin of doubt and fear.
Jesus chose the twelve and he chooses me, too...chooses to work through me to love on the world and field his invitation to all.
Our "runtedness" makes his magnificence all the greater.
Be a good runt.
