Continuing where we left off in my last blog~
After Jesus fed the 5000 and kindly stayed to say His goodbyes, He went up to the mountain to pray. It was late and the disciples were already in the boat and out at sea. Jesus saw that they were “straining at the oars” because the winds were against them, and that is when He walked out onto the water. It is interesting to read that He intended to pass them by. When the disciples saw Him, they thought they were seeing a ghost. Terrified by this, they cried out! Jesus immediately spoke up, “Take courage, It is I.”
The next two verses are really speaking to me right now-
Mark 6:51-52- And He got into the boat with them, and the wind stopped; and they were greatly astonished, for they had not gained any insight from the incident of the loaves, but their heart was hardened.
Jump ahead to Mark 8- Jesus had been ministering to the masses for three days straight. He called to His disciples and said, “I feel compassion for the multitude because they have remained with Me for three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them away hungry they will faint on the way, and some have traveled very far to get here.”
His disciples answered “Where will anyone be able to find enough to satisfy these 4000 men with food in a desolate place?”
It is so hard to believe that they would ask this question after what Jesus did for the 5000 in a desolate place, and the whole walking on water experience…..
But is it? Why do you think that was the case?
Jesus took seven loaves of bread that He was given, along with a few fish, multiplied it and all the people ate and were satisfied. This time there was seven large baskets of leftovers.
After this, they all got into a boat to go to another city. Upon arrival, Jesus was confronted by the Pharisees. They were arguing with Him; seeking a sign from Him in order to test Him. When Jesus got back into the boat after being hassled by the Pharisees, He immediately gave orders to His disciples, “Watch out! Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” They were assuming he was talking about bread, but He was talking about the hypocrisy of the Pharisees.
They began discussing together the fact that they have no bread.
Jesus spoke up (seems to me He was feeling a bit annoyed at this point),”Why do you discuss the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet see or understand? Do you have a hardened heart? “Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, Do you not hear? Do you not remember how many left overs you counted after feeding the 5000? After feeding the 4000?
I’ve been frustrated with my physical heart lately, because it is not cooperating the way it is supposed to since getting over Covid. At the same time I’ve been dealing with this, these two words keep coming to me-
Wholehearted and hardhearted.
The disciples were with Jesus every day. They witnessed and were apart of huge miracles constantly, but that wasn’t enough….
It was a heart issue….. Their heart’s issue.
Instead of being upset and confused about what I am personally experiencing, it dawned on me to ask myself the questions, “Is God talking to me about my heart’s condition? Is He using my physical heart to speak to me about the eyes of my heart?
Lord, what is my heart condition?
“Search me O Lord. Try me and see if there be any anxious way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.”
Psalms 139:23-24