They Didn't Understand Miracles

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 6.47-52] 

What was it that Mark understood about the miracle of the loaves that the disciples had missed? Most assuredly it was this:

For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes—so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.’ [Matthew 13.15]

Because a hard heart is blinded and deafened by something, it cannot enjoy the miracles of God. Like physical healing, walking on water also qualifies as a miracle the same as feeding 5,000 people with 5 loaves and 2 fish. The point is, a hard heart gives preference to man's solutions to his problems denying the power of God.

That evening the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.” But Jesus said, “That isn’t necessary—you feed them.” “But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish!” they answered. [Matthew 14.15-17]

The simple solution of the blind and deaf hard-hearted disciples was to, "Send the crowds away so they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves." They never even considered a miracle from God instead. The hard-heartedness of never even considering God is a violation of the 1st Commandment:

“I am the LORD your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery. “You must not have any other god but me. [Exodus 20.2-3]

THINK! How did God bring the Hebrews out of Egypt? WITH UNDENIABLE MIRACLES! In the very context of the 1st Commandment, God demands to be distinguished as His people's ONLY God by powerful miracles. Pharoah did not let God's people go because they posed a significant military threat. Instead, Pharoah let God's people go because He feared their miracle-working God.

The disciples were mindlessly amazed at Jesus walking on the water because their hearts were hard against their miracle-working God. The disciples mindlessly resorted to sending the crowds away to get food because their hearts were hard against their miracle-working God.

Today, God's people mindlessly turn to all manner of man-made solutions for everyday problems because their hearts are hard against their miracle-working God.

Man's "solutions" are idols. Although not an exhaustive list, man's solutions (idols) today are found broadly in his industries of finance, insurance, medicine and technology.

Idolatry only sees the problem (wind and waves, hungry people, poverty, vulnerability, sickness, ignorance...). Idolatry is blind and deaf to anything else.

Faith sees the solution (undeniable miracles). Faith believes God exists and that He rewards those who seek Him. Faith sees every possibility in God the Creator.

To preemptively address any misunderstanding going forward, Jesus placed the responsibility of miracles (and everything else He did) on every believer:

“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. [John 14.12]

Unironically, man has a solution for John 14.12: it's called religion. Like every other man-made solution to "man's problems," religion is also an idol. So firmly established is the idol of religion that books, teachings, and sermons defending man's undeniable failure to comply with John 14.12 cannot be counted. These same books, teachings, and sermons also make damning allowance for man to establish his own spiritual equilibrium regarding Matthew 16.24:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24]

Man's problems identify the condition of his heart. What is the first solution that comes to mind when we encounter a problem? Is it a man-made solution (our way)? Or, is it our miracle-working God (the way of the cross)?

This subject is not going away because the the Word of God is not going away. My "voice" might be silenced, but let us not think for a moment that Jesus' words will ever be silenced!

Father, may the truth of Your Word prevail in this day and age when man's solutions (idols) abound and man's hard heart prevents him from enjoying Your miracles. May there be a revival of Your Word - may there be a revival of Your miraculous intervention in the lives of Your true followers. So be it.