As anyone who has studied in school knows, sometimes it is necessary to hear a lesson more than once before a person can understand it. Our minds are not always capable of grasping the material the first time. However, there is another reason why people sometimes do not understand – it is because their hearts are hard. The message cannot penetrate because it is not what a person wants to hear, or it conflicts with what he has already concluded.
Jesus’ disciples were no exception to this. They witnessed the miracle of Jesus feeding over 5,000 people with only 5 loaves and 2 fish. Afterwards they witnessed Jesus walking on the surface of the Sea of Galilee to the boat in which they had embarked. Yet, Scripture records that, “…They were completely amazed, for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.” (Mark 6:51-52 NIV)
Sometime later Jesus gave His disciples another opportunity to learn the lesson. In chapter 8, verses 1 though 21 of the Gospel which bears his name, Mark writes, “In those days, when there was a very great multitude, and they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to himself, and said to them, “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have stayed with me now three days, and have nothing to eat. If I send them away fasting to their home, they will faint on the way, for some of them have come a long way.” His disciples answered him, “From where could one satisfy these people with bread here in a deserted place?” He asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven.” He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground, and he took the seven loaves. Having given thanks, he broke them, and gave them to his disciples to serve, and they served the multitude. They had a few small fish. Having blessed them, he said to serve these also. They ate, and were filled. They took up seven baskets of broken pieces that were left over. Those who had eaten were about four thousand. Then he sent them away. Immediately he entered into the boat with his disciples, and came into the region of Dalmanutha. The Pharisees came out and began to question him, seeking from him a sign from heaven, and testing him. He sighed deeply in his spirit, and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Most certainly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation.” He left them, and again entering into the boat, departed to the other side. They forgot to take bread; and they didn’t have more than one loaf in the boat with them. He warned them, saying, “Take heed: beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.” They reasoned with one another, saying, “It’s because we have no bread.” Jesus, perceiving it, said to them, “Why do you reason that it’s because you have no bread? Don’t you perceive yet, neither understand? Is your heart still hardened? Having eyes, don’t you see? Having ears, don’t you hear? Don’t you remember? When I broke the five loaves among the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They told him, “Twelve.” “When the seven loaves fed the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They told him, “Seven.” He asked them, “Don’t you understand yet?””
Even though the disciples had already seen Jesus use a tiny amount of food to feed a multitude, they failed to understand the significance of it because of their hardened hearts. This is why, when Jesus expressed compassion for this hungry crowd, they questioned that anyone could find enough food to feed the people. The problem was that, in spite of witnessing the miracles, the disciples still did not realize or understand who Jesus was. Jesus was far more than a man who had God’s approval. In reality, as the prophet Isaiah wrote long ago, Jesus was also Immanuel, that is, “God with us.” (Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:23) Since God is the Creator, Jesus could have fed the crowd starting with nothing instead of the seven loaves and the few fish He actually used. Later, the Apostle John wrote, “He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.” (John 1:10 NIV)
Since, at this point, the disciples did not recognize who Jesus really is, they could not draw the logical conclusion from the miracle He performed – that is, since Jesus is God among us, He can not only provide physical needs but He can supply our spiritual needs as well. Many years later, after he finally understood, the Apostle Peter wrote, “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” (2 Peter 1:3 NIV)
The disciples were not the only ones who’s hardness of heart caused them to question Jesus. Some Pharisees tested Him by asking for a sign from heaven. By this they were casting doubt on the source of Jesus’ power. It was a strange request in light of what Jesus had already done. What more proof did they expect Jesus to give? At Jesus’ baptism a voice from heaven had already confirmed His identity. Jesus had already healed scores of people. He had just created food out of almost nothing and fed a huge crowd. If all these miracles were not signs from heaven, then what kind of sign would they accept? No, if the evidence they had already seen was not enough to convince them, then nothing would. Jesus was not a magician who performed tricks on command. He refused to provide a sign for people who would not believe the signs He had already given.
What about us? There are many people today who claim that they would believe Jesus if they could witness one of His miracles. Yet, they refuse to believe the testimony of the people who did witness them. If the written accounts are not enough to convince us of who Jesus is then, just like the Pharisees, we will not believe even if we saw the miracles with our own eyes. What kind of sign will it take for you to believe?
On the way back across the lake Jesus warned His disciples against the yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod. The Scriptures use yeast as a metaphor for evil or sin. Like yeast in bread-dough, sin influences others in subtle and unnoticed ways until its effects are unmistakable. By using this metaphor Jesus was waring the disciples not to fall prey to the same hypocritical skepticism the Pharisees showed when they asked for a sign from heaven. To doubt the signs already given would lead to unbelief.
The disciples did not understand Jesus’ warning. They thought He was upset because they forgot to bring bread. Jesus rebuked them for their lack of understanding. A man who can feed a crowd can surely feed a few men! They were in danger of not seeing what was before their eyes.