From Hardness to Understanding the Greatness of Jesus
Notice how Mark shows the progression throughout his Gospel of how Jesus manifested His power and how the disciples lacked understanding: from chapter 4 (calming the waves), to chapter 6 (feeding the five thousand), to chapter 8 (feeding the four thousand). Discipleship is necessary for all Christians to better understand the surpassing greatness of Jesus Christ in the Scriptures.
“Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, Peace, be still! And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith? And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!” (Mk 4:39-41)
“And when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out; for they all saw Him and were troubled. But immediately He talked with them and said to them, Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid. Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased. And they were greatly amazed [existemi] in themselves beyond measure, and marveled [thaumazo]. For they had notunderstood [suniemi] about the loaves, because their heart was hardened [poroo].” (Mk 6:49-52)
“Then He charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod…But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, Why do you reason [dialogizomai] because you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive [noeoe] nor understand [suniemi]? Is your heart still hardened [poroo]? Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets [kophinos] full of fragments did you take up? They said to Him, Twelve. Also, when I broke the seven for the four thousand, how many large baskets [spuris] full of fragments did you take up? And they said, Seven. So He said to them, How is it you do not understand [suniemi]?” (Mk 8:15,17-21)
“Do you not yet understand [noeo], or remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you took up? Nor the seven loaves of the four thousand and how many large baskets you took up?” (Matt 16:9-10)
Jesus, after His resurrection, was able to effectively open the disciples’ spiritual understanding as Immanuel God with us, as Anointed Messiah, and as risen Lord. The disciples did not understand His miracles and did not understand His predictions about His death and resurrection.
“Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished. For He will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon. They will scourge Him and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again [anistemi = to rise up, stand up]. But they understood [suniemi] none of these things; this saying was hidden from them, and they did not know [ginosko] the things which were spoken.” (Lk 18:31-34)
“And He opened [dianoigo] their understanding [nous], that they might comprehend [suniemi] the Scriptures.” (Lk 24:45)