In many ways, it just doesn’t seem possible. With all they had heard . . . with all they had seen . . . with all they had touched and experienced . . . how is it possible that they could still not be getting it? They had the puzzle pieces . . . but weren’t getting the picture. And, says Mark, it was a matter of the heart.

And He got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.   (Mark 6:51-52 ESV)

It’s post beach party. The 5,000 men, along with wives and children, have had their fill of bread and fish. The disciples would have sent them all away to go fend for themselves, but the Great Shepherd, looking upon the crowd with compassion, took five loaves and the two fishes and fed the multitude again . . . again, because, up until the day grew late, He had been feeding them the Word of God, seeking to nourish their souls. But now the party’s over . . . should have left quiet an impression on those closest to the Master — they had seen how much food there wasn’t and how many full stomachs there were . . . and they’re back in the boat, heading over to the other side as Jesus dismisses the crowd and then spends some time in prayer (6:45-46)

It was slow going across the sea . . . “painfully” says the ESV (6:48b). The headwind was brutal. It’s 3:00 a.m. . . . they’ve been at it 8 or 9 hours . . . not making much progress . . . I’m guessing tired . . . frustrated . . . maybe even fearful and a bit despondent. And then they see Him . . . the ALL see Him . . . Jesus walking on the water. Amazing! Not the first time they’d seen His authority over the sea . . . then He spoke it into submission (Mark 4:35-40) . . . now He places it under His feet . . . not to mention that the headwinds don’t seem to be hindering the Head of the Winds.

You can almost imagine the disciples doing one of those classic double takes . . . their eyes springing out of their heads as they can’t believe what they’re seeing. They were “utterly astounded” at what they saw . . . literally “thrown out of position” . . . displaced . . . out of one’s mind . . . beside one’s self . . . can anyone say, “Does not compute?” And the divine commentator, Mark, moved by the Holy Spirit, records that such a reaction was because they weren’t getting it . . . they did not understand about the loaves . . . and this, because their hearts were hardened.

The sense is that their amazement wasn’t of the “Right on! Of course, He’d be walking on the water! Of course, He’d come get us! Amazing, but not surprising consider He is the Son of God” kind. But their “separation of mind” was of the “Huh? What? How could this be?!? Way to freaky! Who is this?!?” kind. And, so says the Spirit, they should have been in a different place by now.

Having walked with the Master . . . having heard His teaching . . . having seen the healings . . . having been on their own ministry tours with His message and His power . . . having just witnessed the feeding of the 5,000 . . . with all these “pieces to the puzzle” they should have been putting together the picture. But, their hearts were hardened.

That which should have been responding in wonder and worship was reacting in confusion and fear . . . that which should have been alive to the revelation of Messiah was, instead, calloused and non-receptive . . . that which should have been alive to the things of the kingdom was dull like a stone. And far from sitting in judgment on the disciples, . . . as I sit back and noodle on it . . . I get it.

Prone to wander, Lord I feel it . . . prone to leave the God I love . . . here’s my heart, Lord, take and seal it . . . seal it for Thy courts above . . .
(Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing)

It’s a matter of the heart . . . .

We can have all the pieces to the puzzle . . . encounter the living God as the living Christ resides in us through the living Spirit . . . but without His gracious work in our hearts, we can still cower in fear and confusion.

O’ that the God who has given us hearts of flesh to replace hearts of stone (Ezekiel 36:25-27) might continue to tune those hearts to the things of heaven . . . to tune those hearts to respond in awe and adoration . . . to tune those hearts to sing His praise! Amen?