Reflecting on Mark 6:45-52“They had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.” (Mark 6:52)
As a Jesus follower, I still have a lot that I do not understand.
I do not understand the miracle of the loaves.
I do not understand Jesus walking on the water.
I do not understand the use of spit and mud to heal a blind man.
I do not understand the cursing of the fig tree.
I could keep going; suffice it to say that I do not understand these.
How these things happened is beyond me; somehow God did it.
Why these things happened is confusing too; they seem a bit showy to me.
If these things are possible for Jesus, why do they still not happen?
People are still hungry, people are still going through storms.
Is it because my heart is hardened?
I do not see their ‘hardened hearts’ as a judgment on them.
Their hearts are naturally hardened – these were crazy experiences.
Experiencing the impossible will always cause doubt and uncertainty.
If I saw someone walking on water today, I would still not understand.
If I heard someone calm a storm with a word, I would be shocked too.
Life and experience harden our hearts.
Like the heels of our feet, the longer we walk, the harder they get.
I used to be more certain about miracles before, than I am now.
Because I’ve experienced too many times when they didn’t happen.
Is this lack of faith, or just my mind being realistic?
It is important to note that Jesus doesn’t say their hearts were hardened.
This was the author’s observation, that the loaves should have helped them.
The miracle of the multiplied loaves should have convinced them.
They should have known that Jesus was not ‘normal’ or ‘ordinary’.
But Jesus does not criticize them, He comforts them.
“Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” (Mark 6:50)
Jesus knows their limitations, their naturally resistant hearts.
He knows from personal experience the power of fear and death.
I am the first to admit that my faith is weak.
Some Christians may criticize me for this, but Jesus doesn’t.
Jesus comes to me in the midst of my doubt and fear storms.
He knows my spiritual hunger, my need for spiritual nutrition.
He says to me, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” (Mark 6:50)
I don’t understand the WHAT and the WHY and the HOW.
Doubt, uncertainty, hesitation, fear, unbelief – these are real for me.
But I hear His comforting words, and I am encouraged.
For all those who struggle like this, be encouraged.
For those whose faith is deconstructing…
For those who are losing their faith in traditional Christianity…
For those who’ve left church, who are looking elsewhere for hope…
Jesus still sees and knows and understands you.
Jesus still loves you, and is not criticizing or rejecting you.
The church may denounce or reject you, but Jesus says to you:
“Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” (Mark 6:50)
I believe that Jesus is still feeding those who are losing their faith.
He is still walking toward them, even if they do not see or understand it.
He knows why our hearts are hardened, toughened by our experiences.
We should stop criticizing those who are losing their way in the storm.
We should stop judging those who are spiritually malnourished.
Like Jesus we should love them, be with them, feed them, calm them.
We should say to them, “Take courage! It is Jesus. Don’t be afraid.” (Mark 6:50)
And we should stay with them in their storm, like Jesus did.
Not judge them or abandon them to the wind and waves.
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, many are losing their way, losing their faith. They do not understand a lot of things either, and life and experience have hardened their hearts. I know some personally like this, and I can relate to their fears and doubts.
Thank You for not giving up on us in our weakness. Thank You for meeting us in our hunger, in our storm, and offering us courage and comfort, even when we do not understand or accept it all.
Use me to encourage and comfort those who are losing their way, losing their faith. May they sense that You are with them through me, and find hope in their storms.
I have struggled with whether I am losing my faith. I believe I am losing my faith in the church but not in Jesus. I still see the goodness in the church and in fellow believers but not in the direction of the church. It has been hard work to resolve the two. I pray my faith in Jesus stays strong.
I have both inlaws and outlaws. Some of the outlaws have lost their way due to life’s hard lessons asking themselves ‘Where is God in all of this?’ God is always with His people but we need open eyes and open ears to see and hear Him speaking and not close our hearts. I need to be a channel of His peace to them, to all I meet and greet. I need to daily to include them in my prayers. He is our Shepherd and even though we walk through dark valleys, may Your Spirit still lead and guide them to the green pastures – home.