Rebuilding the Ancient Ruins

Understanding about the loaves

• March 5th, 2008

“Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray. When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.” (Mark 6:45-52, emphasis added)  In all the gospel accounts of Jesus walking on the water, Mark is the only one who includes this insight (underlined).  They were amazed that Jesus had authority over the wind and the sea.  Until now they had seen Jesus do some remarkable things, but never controlling the elements.  In Matthews account of this story, he adds that “those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” (Matthew 14:32)  This was such an amazing feat that because of it they received revelation that Jesus is the Son of God.  But Mark adds that they were amazed because they didn’t understand about the loaves and therefore their hearts were hardened.  There must be more to this miracle of the loaves that we need to understand, if the disciples lack of understanding caused their hearts to be hardened, wouldn’t it cause ours to be hardened too?

The disciples had not understood something which was key to their understanding and walking in the Kingdom of God.  This lack of understanding at the time, distorted their thinking and affected their interpretation of other things Jesus would say.  If we don’t understand about the loaves and the fishes, we too will be led astray in our thinking and our understanding of scripture.  After the disciples had witnessed two accounts of the multiplication of food, they still didn’t get it, but Jesus tried to connect the dots for them … “the disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. “Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.” They discussed this with one another and said, “It is because we have no bread.” Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?” ”Twelve,” they replied. ”And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?” They answered, “Seven.” He said to them, “Do you still not understand?“ (Mark 8:14-21)  The point Jesus is making is that our physical needs are not what should consume our thoughts, our Father in heaven knows what we need and will take care of everything.  In a land of plenty, where almost everyone has too much food, too many clothes and more home than they need, how is this relevant.  I believe Jesus was emphasizing a fundamental Kingdom principal, that of removing our thoughts from day-to-day concerns.  We need to be excellent in all that we do, in our work, in our home, in our finances, but we must not be consumed by them, and we must not find ourselves worrying about our physical needs.  How much of our thoughts turn to finances, retirement, our home (or our next home), our cars (or our next car), to clothing.  Jesus is saying that these things are non-issues, we have the Father’s business to take care of.

There were many other illustrations Jesus gave his disciples so they could remove themselves from worldly concerns.  When the disciples were asked to pay their temple tax, Jesus didn’t think that they should, but so that they didn’t offend the temple officials, he told Peter to “go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.” (Matthew 17:27) Do you find yourself complaining about the taxes you’re paying?

It’s not about becoming careless, but become careful of the right things, so the Father will care of the other things.  After all, it’s “the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant” (Deuteronomy 8:18)

Jesus is so clear about our being removed from worldly concerns, that until we do our faith remains little, “and why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?“ (Matthew 6:28, emphasis added)  Again in the same chapter, Jesus says that it’s the unbelievers who set the minds on these things.

If our thoughts are not intended to dwell on material needs, where should we find our thoughts?  The author of Colossians writes, “set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” (Colossians 3:2) What are the things from above that we can set our thoughts upon? “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,” (Romans 14:17)  There is much to be said about where our thoughts should be, on righteousness, peace, joy, on thanksgiving, on praises, on prayers and intercessions.  These are the Fathers business.  We are in this world, but not of it, not meaning that we’re fools in the world, but that we’re Joseph and Daniel to the world because we have a strength and wisdom far beyond our own.  Daniel was recognized as being a man, but that the spirits of the Gods was in him, and so too it will be with us.

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