DAY TWENTY-FOUR – Tuesday, March 16, 2021
Mark 6:45-52
Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. After saying farewell to them, he went up on the mountain to pray.
When evening came, the boat was out on the lake, and he was alone on the land. When he saw that they were straining at the oars against an adverse wind, he came towards them early in the morning, walking on the lake. He intended to pass them by. But when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought it was a ghost and cried out; for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.” Then 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.
This passage follows Jesus feeding the 5000 people. Jesus sends the disciples on their way to Bethsaida, across the lake. After he dismisses the crowd, he goes up the mountain to pray where he stays all night. Jesus perhaps needed to spend time with God after the teaching and feeding of the 5000. He may have needed solitude for rest and renewal. We too need to remember to spend time alone with God to renew our spirits. In the morning, he looked out across the lake and could see or knew that the disciples were in trouble, a sudden storm or heavy winds were causing trouble for them on the lake. he went towards them walking on the water. The disciples were filled with terror and they called out in fear. Jesus said, “It is I” and told them not be afraid. He got into the boat with them and the winds became calmer. Likewise, God sees us and knows when we are in trouble. When the storms of life overwhelm us, he comes to us when we call out. He will ‘get into the boat’ with us and journey with us through the storm to bring us to a calmer place. God is always near us ready to join us when we ask him.
The last bit says the disciples did not understand about the loaves and their hearts were hardened. This phrase “hearts are hardened” occurs in other passages in the Bible and it is always a troublesome phrase for me. I never know quite what to make of it. After thinking about this phrase for a few days, I think the key here is “they did not understand”. It is hard to have compassion, sympathy or empathy for any situation that is outside one’s experience. This would make one’s heart appear hardened. I can think of times when I have had less sympathy than I should because I thought there was a simple solution to an issue that I didn’t fully understand. Perhaps we all have had hardened hearts at times in various situations.
Let us humbly ask God, in prayer, to open our hearts and minds, and give us the patience to listen to our neighbour in distress. Listening to our neighbour will help to give us an understanding of the issues and help to soften our hearts so that we can show true compassion and care.
Lorraine Andrews
Mark 6:45-52
Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. After saying farewell to them, he went up on the mountain to pray.
When evening came, the boat was out on the lake, and he was alone on the land. When he saw that they were straining at the oars against an adverse wind, he came towards them early in the morning, walking on the lake. He intended to pass them by. But when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought it was a ghost and cried out; for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.” Then 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.
This passage follows Jesus feeding the 5000 people. Jesus sends the disciples on their way to Bethsaida, across the lake. After he dismisses the crowd, he goes up the mountain to pray where he stays all night. Jesus perhaps needed to spend time with God after the teaching and feeding of the 5000. He may have needed solitude for rest and renewal. We too need to remember to spend time alone with God to renew our spirits. In the morning, he looked out across the lake and could see or knew that the disciples were in trouble, a sudden storm or heavy winds were causing trouble for them on the lake. he went towards them walking on the water. The disciples were filled with terror and they called out in fear. Jesus said, “It is I” and told them not be afraid. He got into the boat with them and the winds became calmer. Likewise, God sees us and knows when we are in trouble. When the storms of life overwhelm us, he comes to us when we call out. He will ‘get into the boat’ with us and journey with us through the storm to bring us to a calmer place. God is always near us ready to join us when we ask him.
The last bit says the disciples did not understand about the loaves and their hearts were hardened. This phrase “hearts are hardened” occurs in other passages in the Bible and it is always a troublesome phrase for me. I never know quite what to make of it. After thinking about this phrase for a few days, I think the key here is “they did not understand”. It is hard to have compassion, sympathy or empathy for any situation that is outside one’s experience. This would make one’s heart appear hardened. I can think of times when I have had less sympathy than I should because I thought there was a simple solution to an issue that I didn’t fully understand. Perhaps we all have had hardened hearts at times in various situations.
Let us humbly ask God, in prayer, to open our hearts and minds, and give us the patience to listen to our neighbour in distress. Listening to our neighbour will help to give us an understanding of the issues and help to soften our hearts so that we can show true compassion and care.
Lorraine Andrews
