Hearts Hardened Towards Loaves

After Jesus fed the 5000 with five loaves and two fish, He sent His disciples ahead of Him to the other side of the water. Later, there was a storm but Jesus came to His disciples walking on the water, and He calmed the winds and the waves. Needless to say, the disciples were amazed. The account according to Mark, however, contains an interesting afterthought:

Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased. And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled. For they had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened. (Mk 6:51-52)

In hindsight, Mark realized that they were only amazed at that moment because they did not understand something about the loaves. What did they not understand? Matthew 14:33 gives the answer:

Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.”

If we put these two accounts together, we see that although the disciples witnessed Jesus feed over 5000 people with merely five loaves and two fish, they did not understand He was the Son of God. To them, this miracle was not worth marveling at.

But in hindsight, Mark realized that they should have marveled when Jesus endlessly handed them bread to distribute to the multitude. They should have shaken their heads in sheer amazement when the leftovers they picked up exceeded the amount that they started with, thinking in their minds, “Truly, You are the Son of God.” But they didn’t, because their hearts were hardened.

How many of us receive more than our daily bread…and marvel? When we say grace before eating, do we express our thanks out of plain courtesy as to another person, or out of astonishment and awe as to the almighty God? Do we have our fill of abundance but fail to see the miracle behind it?

In Romans 1:20, 21, Paul writes that we have no excuse not to glorify and be thankful to God. The ordinary everyday things—daily provision, protection, and safety—manifest God’s greatness just as much as the extraordinary. Through creation alone, things that are made, we can clearly see His eternal power and Godhead. Truly, every day is a miracle and grace worth marveling.

Question for Reflection:

What did you give thanks to God for today?