Don't Call Something Nothing

Late that night, the disciples were in their boat in the middle of the lake, and Jesus was alone on land. He saw that they were in serious trouble, rowing hard and struggling against the wind and waves. About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. He intended to go past them, but when they saw him walking on the water, they cried out in terror, thinking he was a ghost. They were all terrified when they saw him. But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage! I am here!” Then he climbed into the boat, and the wind stopped. They were totally amazed,for they still didn’t understand the significance of the miracle of the loaves. Their hearts were too hard to take it in. [Mark 6.52]

Because they didn't understand the miracle of the fish and loaves, the disciples were totally amazed when Jesus walked on the water and then calmed the storm. Why is that?

All four Gospels report the story of the fish and loaves. It was significant enough to make an impression on the memory of all four Gospel writers. Of the four, John records it with a little different detail: he is the only one who mentions a little boy having the 5 loaves and 2 fish.

Here is what I have gleaned from this today: Jesus asked His men how much food they had. Luke reports the following:

Late in the afternoon the twelve disciples came to him and said, “Send the crowds away to the nearby villages and farms, so they can find food and lodging for the night. There is nothing to eat here in this remote place.” [Luke 9.12]

Let's look closer at this verse, particularly the part that says, "There is nothing to eat here in this remote place." This statement was not altogether true! Why do I say this? Because among them (apparently in their closest group) existed 5 loaves and 2 fish. According to John's version of the story, there was a boy among them (a disciple's son maybe?) who had brought some food. the 5 loaves and 2 fish could possibly have been enough to feed the twelve and Jesus. I am just speculating here, but the point I wish to make is that all four Gospels record they had the 5 loaves and 2 fish! And, Luke recorded that they said they had nothing!

Herein is the problem: calling something nothing! Don't call something nothing! This is obviously indicative of their hard hearts! This is obviously indicative of MY hard heart even today!

But let's look deeper. Why did their hard hearts keep them from understanding Jesus walking on the water and calming the wind and waves? Because that's what spiritual blindness does! That's what non-Kingdom thinking does because that is what non-Kingdom thinking is - blindness to God's power over every aspect of Creation, and blindness to the notion that God expects His followers to live accordingly!

The thing is, Jesus could have spoken food into existence from nothing. But he disciples didn't even have enough Kingdom faith to envision a miracle upon "some" food they had. That is non-Kingdom thinking! And, non-Kingdom thinking is one and the same and hard-heartedness!

There is a certain 'expectation' that accompanies Kingdom thinking. There is certainly no attitude that something (5 loaves and 2 fish) is nothing, in Kingdom mindedness.

Okay, I need to think about all this... Overwhelmed!

Father, forgive me for non-Kingdom thinking (hard-heartedness). Every time I hear or think the words, "not enough" I want to think about the story of the 5 loaves and 2 fish!