Dense Disciples

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   This past Sunday, I returned to my sermon series through the Gospel of Mark, picking up with a story that is very familiar: Jesus walking on the water. The disciples have just witnessed Jesus feeding 5,000 men, not including women and children, and now He sends them off across the Sea of Galilee. What should have been a short 1 or 2-hour journey turns into an all night marathon as they find themselves straining with all their might against the winds and the waves. Between three and six in the morning, Jesus comes striding on the storm-tossed waters, terrifying the disciples. As Jesus steps into the boat, the storm ceases, and the men are utterly astonished at what has just occurred. In his account, Mark explains the reason for their shock, "...for they had not gained any insight from the incident of the loaves, but their heart was hardened (Mark 6:52)." The statement "their heart was hardened" can also carry the idea that they had become dull-minded or thick-headed. They were clueless; they just didn't get it.

   It is easy for us, 2,000 years removed from this event, to think that we would have understood what Jesus was endeavoring to teach the disciples in that moment. We have the benefit centuries of teaching on this subject, as well as the rest of Scripture to help us understand. However, in many ways, I think this betrays how prideful and self-centered we can be. If we are to be honest with ourselves, we are not terribly different from the disciples. How many of us have sat under solid Bible teaching (or prepared biblically sound lessons and sermons) where the point was right there, but we missed it altogether?

   The grace and greatness of Christ is that His work is not dependent on whether or not we get it in the moment. History is filled with stories of God working through people who are dense, dull, and thick-headed. His mission is not dependent on the capacity of our intellect or the volume of our faith. The grace and greatness of Christ is that He seeks to use clueless, imperfect and unholy people like you and me to accomplish His perfect and holy purposes. As we seek this week to be faithful to the mission He has given each one of us, let us take time to humbly thank God that He has chosen to us as clueless as we might be at times, to accomplish His will.