Hard Hearted Disciples

Immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while He dismissed the crowd. After He said goodbye to them, He went away to the mountain to pray. When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and He was alone on the land. He saw them being battered as they rowed, because the wind was against them. Around three in the morning He came towards them walking on the sea and wanted to pass by them. When they saw Him walking on the sea, they thought they had seen a ghost and cried out; for they saw Him and were terrified. Immediately He spoke with them and said, "Have courage! It is I!" Don't be afraid." Then He got into the boat with them, and the wind creased. They were completely astounded, because they had not understood about the loaves. Instead, their heart were hardened. Mark 6:45-52

Why were the disciples hearts hardened? Had they been self-centered and become offended at again being required to minister to the crowd and give up their food for them? The Pharisees were characterised by hard hearts. They were offended at Jesus and unable to see Him as He was.

Hard hearts cannot understand kingdom principles. In fact hard hearts are worldly, man centered. People are offended when others breach what they consider is right to them. The core belief structure is the problem and a new heart is required and this is obtained through repentance.

Jesus was going to walk by the disciples. I wonder why? Was their hard hearts so unattractive? It was His compassion that made Him get in the boat. He saw their fear and said, "have no fear, it is I!"

We need to see and understand that going to church we can still have hard hearts and miss the point. The disciples had gone out ministering, doing the work of the ministry, and still they had hard hearts. How do we deal with this? Spend time with an open repentant heart.

We cannot afford to miss the heart of Jesus! Amen!


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