We’re talking about the twelve disciples here in Mark 6:52. “For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.” Earlier in the same chapter the disciples were worried about feeding the large crowd and Jesus told them (the disciples) to feed them (verse 37). They took the five loaves and two fishes on hand and fed 5,000 men plus women and children.
Now they’re alone, in a boat, on rough water in the wee hours of the morning and are really starting to get worked up. Unbeknownst to them Jesus is keeping an eye on them as only Jesus can. His eyesight reaches far beyond our 20/20 vision.
He sees their crisis, drops what he is doing and walks on the water to them. They are terrified, thinks it’s a ghost and start yelling. Once he’s on ship and has calmed them down all the disciples can think is how amazed they are. It’s like they were thinking, “What just happened?” No wonder the Bible records that their hearts were hardened.
Hardened is easy to understand. It’s like people who attend church and believe all the stories in the Bible, all the miracles that have taken place; but, they just don’t believe any of that stuff works for them. Here we are in the 21st Century and don’t believe that God will do any of those things for us.
Pastor Josh calls it lack of faith in the power of God. He went on to say that Mark 6:54-56 points out that everyone in Gennesaret knew Jesus. Immediately they run through the region and begin carrying the sick into the streets. The townspeople beg Jesus to just come close enough for the sick to touch his garment. They had already heard the story of the woman with the issue of blood, how she had touched his garment and was healed. They knew that if it worked for her, it would work for them. That’s faith in the power of God.
Our church has a revival coming up April 11-15. Join us and watch the power of God at work. “He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names. Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite. (Psalm 147:3-5)”
Now they’re alone, in a boat, on rough water in the wee hours of the morning and are really starting to get worked up. Unbeknownst to them Jesus is keeping an eye on them as only Jesus can. His eyesight reaches far beyond our 20/20 vision.
He sees their crisis, drops what he is doing and walks on the water to them. They are terrified, thinks it’s a ghost and start yelling. Once he’s on ship and has calmed them down all the disciples can think is how amazed they are. It’s like they were thinking, “What just happened?” No wonder the Bible records that their hearts were hardened.
Hardened is easy to understand. It’s like people who attend church and believe all the stories in the Bible, all the miracles that have taken place; but, they just don’t believe any of that stuff works for them. Here we are in the 21st Century and don’t believe that God will do any of those things for us.
Pastor Josh calls it lack of faith in the power of God. He went on to say that Mark 6:54-56 points out that everyone in Gennesaret knew Jesus. Immediately they run through the region and begin carrying the sick into the streets. The townspeople beg Jesus to just come close enough for the sick to touch his garment. They had already heard the story of the woman with the issue of blood, how she had touched his garment and was healed. They knew that if it worked for her, it would work for them. That’s faith in the power of God.
Our church has a revival coming up April 11-15. Join us and watch the power of God at work. “He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names. Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite. (Psalm 147:3-5)”
