Hard Hearts

“Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased. And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled. For they had not understood about the loaves, because their hearts were hardened.” Mark 6:51-52 NKJV

So Jesus had just feed 5000 men plus women and children from 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish and they had 12 baskets of leftovers. Jesus then sent the disciples ahead by boat while He sent the crowds home, after everyone had left Jesus went up on the mountain to pray. When evening came Jesus was able to see the boat the disciples were in on the sea and that they were straining at the oars because they were going against the wind. It says that in the forth watch of the night¹ that Jesus was walking on the water (in Matthew’s account he tells of Peter calling out to Jesus and walking on the water for a few moments while the wind was still making the sea rough). In all the accounts after Jesus enters the boat the wind and sea calms and the disciples are amazed and marvel. In Mark’s account Holy Spirit tells us that the disciples had not understood about the loaves because their hearts were hardened. What does this mean?

Holy Spirit seems to be implying that they did not understand that Jesus fed the people because He was their shepherd and His desire was to provide for them. In each of the accounts the disciples are worried about the cost and labor involved in feeding 5000 plus people.

I have heard people using the term, “GOD is showing out!” in regards to miracles in the Bible and today, that is probably because showing off has a negative connotation. I do not believe that GOD shows out or shows off, He loves and shepherds His children, even the ones in disbelief or rebellion. The disciples still did not understand this which is why they still had unbelief, fear and worry about how much work and cost was involved in serving the people. That is why when Jesus fed the 4000 plus people they had the same response during and after.

If we are frustrated or worried about what is involved in doing the work of the Kingdom rather than concerned for the lost, deceived and suffering, then we have a hard heart that Jesus wants to break and soften so that we are not just willing but eager to do the work that He calls us to personally and jointly.

Personally is the individual call and gift that He puts in us in our mother’s womb and then calls us to; jointly as the Body of Christ obeying the commission He gave us before He ascended to the right hand of the throne of GOD where He waits for us to fulfill His Will.

Study Matthew 14:13-33; Mark 6:30-52; John 6:1-21; Luke 9:10-17 (feeding 5000 only); Matthew 15:29-39 & Mark 8:1-10; also study Psalm 139:13-18; Romans 8:26-30; Galatians 1:11-17 & Ephesians 1.

¹ I have not done any research on this but I believe this is correct, In their culture and custom night started at sundown, a watch was 2 hours so the forth watch was 8 hours after sundown or sometime after midnight.