BaptistWay: The disciples slow to get it

This BaptistWay Bible Series lesson for Jan. 27 focuses on Mark 6:45-52; 8:1-21.

 • Download a powerpoint resource for this lesson here.

“And he sighed deeply is his spirit …” (Mark 8:12). In my recollection, this is the only description of Jesus sighing deeply. One thing I’ve learned from Bible teaching: When it is the only time, we should pay close attention to it. The Bible describes God as “running” once in the New Testament. We all have paid close attention to that.

“… For they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened” (Mark 6:52). In the Scripture above, (8:12) Jesus was responding to the disciples asking for a “sign.” Of course, our response to that is “A sign? Seriously? You guys still need a sign.  He walked on water, healed people and raised a child from the dead in the last three chapters, but you still need a sign?” (Yes, it is in all caps because we all are yelling at the 12 disciples at this point). Jesus, full of patience, doesn’t yell. Rather, he sighs deeply.  

Question: Why does Jesus sigh deeply? Answer: It must be because of the disciple’s lack of understanding of who Jesus is. 

Question: Why don’t they understand who he is? Answer: Because their hearts were hardened.  In our second story, the issue of hardened hearts comes up a second time: “Do you still not perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened?” (Mark 8:18).

Now, we must pause and consider before we go on to verse 19. The implications for us are huge. Above, I jokingly used all caps because of the disciples wanting a sign. But, those caps also should be used for us. In the immortal words of Mr. Potato Head in the movie Toy Story, “Don’t make me put on my angry eyes!”  

Hardened hearts and American Christians go hand in hand. They are strange and horrible bedfellows. HOW IN THE WORLD THE COUNTRY WITH THE MOST FREEDOM IS LOSING GROUND IN EVANGELISM IS BEYOND COMPREHENSION (oops, sorry Mr. Potato Head typed that). Most authorities agree: North America and Western Europe are the only continents upon which Christianity is not growing. Bottom line: No persecution equals no growth.

Our hearts are hard. Really hard. Pastors’ hearts are hard. Really hard. My heart is hard. Really hard. Paul Powell wrote, “There are more pastors holding churches back than there are churches holding pastors back.” I believe it. Pastors are supposed to champion the way of the Greatest Commandment and the Greatest Commission. Church leaders are supposed to rally around their pastor as he strategically leads the church to fulfill this high calling.  The body of Christ is supposed to work feverishly to “make disciples.”

Yet, so often, what do we get? The same ol’ people, at the same ol’ church, doing the same ol’ stuff. We (there is no French mouse in my pocket, I’m guilty too) have created a church culture of lazy, satisfied, bickering Christians in this nation. And Dad gum it, we Texans especially should know better. We are the big buckle of the Bible belt.

At the church I pastor, I refuse to do a “revival.” It’s just one more opportunity to stir people up, give them a “mountain-top” experience, only to need to be “revived” once again, the same month, the following year. We don’t need revival. We need vival (revival minus the “re”). We don’t need increased, ill-directed religiosity; we need a passion that only can come when the body of Christ will be just that, the body of Christ.  We call ourselves (Baptists) the people of the book, yet we see very few churches living out the book of Acts.

And God forbid, some “megachurch” becomes more “mega,” and we scoff and say, “They probably aren’t preaching a strong enough gospel.” Well, maybe they aren’t in some cases, but at least they are doing something to numerically move the kingdom forward. Is it about nickels and noses? You bet it is. Every nose is connected to a soul. And every new convert has some nickels to move the message forward. (Now that I’ve sounded all high and mighty, let me be the first to say that I’ve been way too consumed with football lately, so I’m glad neither Texas team is in the Super Bowl.)

Jesus said it best. He always does. “Do you have eyes, and fail to see?” (Mark 8:18). Have our eyes failed? Are there not millions in our state without the gospel? Are there not churches baptizing just a few each year? Can we not see the chasm of emptiness in the people around us? Are we blind? Or, are we hardened? Are they one and the same?

“Do you have ears, and fail to hear?” Have we not all heard, hundreds of times, messages about the Great Commission? Do we not understand it? Is it that complicated? Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, ends of the earth … is it too hard to comprehend? Is our geography that bad? Or are we just hardened?

And Jesus finishes it masterfully. He always does. “And do you not remember?” (Mark 8:18). Ah. There it is. We’ve forgotten what it was like to be without Jesus Christ. The urgency of needing a Savior has been replaced with the lethargy of being satisfied with “just enough” Christianity. Have we forgotten? Or are we just hardened?

Ok. I will get off of my soapbox now. Mr. Potato Head just put his “angry eyes” away. 

No revival will fix it. No campaign will do. We need Christ. Let’s truly follow him. And the last time I checked, he gave all his life. He died for the movement that is Christianity. If we are not going to die for it, then let’s give our lives to it.

If you are ever uncertain of being hardened, remember this: If you want to follow the first commandment really well, follow the second.  If you want to follow the second commandment really well, follow the first.

Since we are morphing your Bible study group into a “Bible-doing” group, I want to suggest these applications for this week:

1. Simple questions often are the best. Ask your group, “Over what part of your Christianity might Jesus ‘sigh deeply?’”

2. Ask your class to respond to the Paul Powell quote above.