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Hardness of Heart in Mark
Hardness of Heart in Mark
Jesus spoke of the condition of men’s hearts on several occasions. He stated that Moses allowed divorce for the hardness of hearts - But Jesus said to them, "Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment” (Mark 10:5).
He was angry with the leaders in the synagogue: “After looking around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored” (Mark 3:5).
It was NOT just the unbelievers that had such heart problems, but The Disciples also! “Then He got into the boat with them, and the wind stopped; and they were utterly astonished, for they had not gained any insight from the incident of the loaves, but their heart was hardened” (Mark 6:51-52).
And AGAIN: And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, "Why do you discuss the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet see or understand? Do you have a hardened heart?” (Mark 8:17)
And yet AGAIN with the disciples: “Afterward He appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table; and He reproached them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had risen” (Mark 16:14).
The apostles WERE disciples. They had ‘left all and followed Jesus’. Jesus had chosen them from among the other disciples to be the ones that he trained, taught, and commissioned. They were with Jesus daily, seeing and hearing. YET, Jesus could say of them on several occasions that their hearts were hardened. Jesus specified what He meant: First, they failed to gain any insight from the miracles of the loaves. Jesus expected them to be able to discern and learn from their experiences with Him. Second, they failed to believe the testimony of credible witnesses concerning His resurrection.
The two things are demanded of us. WE are expected to be growing in our faith (2Pet. 3:18). While we are not in the direct presence of Jesus, yet we share the apostles’ experiences in the reading of the gospels. We should be gaining insight from what Jesus said and did. Then, we are also expected to believe the testimony of such witnesses. How is your heart? Has it become dull and hardened or is it tender and receptive to Jesus’ teachings?
Hugh DeLong
