Sometimes we all miss the point
45 Right then, Jesus made his disciples get into a boat and go ahead to the other side of the lake, toward Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 After saying good-bye to them, Jesus went up onto a mountain to pray. 47 Evening came and the boat was in the middle of the lake, but he was alone on the land. 48 He saw his disciples struggling. They were trying to row forward, but the wind was blowing against them. Very early in the morning, he came to them, walking on the lake. He intended to pass by them. 49 When they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost and they screamed.50 Seeing him was terrifying to all of them. Just then he spoke to them, “Be encouraged! It’s me. Don’t be afraid.” 51 He got into the boat, and the wind settled down. His disciples were so baffled they were beside themselves. 52 That’s because they hadn’t understood about the loaves. Their hearts had been changed so that they resisted God’s ways.
~ Mark 6:45-52, CEB
The disciples and their hard-heartedness show something about people that has always been true. We struggle to understand the significance and meaning of God. It almost seems like we’re conditioned to misunderstand. We see God through a haze. We can maybe make out God’s silhouette, but we can’t see him clearly, as he actually is. The disciples struggled to recognize God at work in the form of Jesus. Despite the signs and miracles, they couldn’t make the connection.
As we said yesterday, it’s hard to make this connection, and it’s often hard because we’re in pain and pain clouds our vision. Our goal is not necessarily to get clearer vision but to open ourselves up to the healing that is possible when we plant ourselves in a community that shows us God’s love and acceptance. If we do that, then we are not letting out fear define us.
Israel, too, struggled to make the connection between God’s works and God himself. And, in the process, kept forgetting God and going off to get themselves in trouble. It’s something God’s people have done since Cain tried to hide from God after killing his brother. That’s a pretty long time.
It makes me ask myself, what are the ways in which I am missing the point. Where am I looking for God and not seeing him? How do I avoid missing him?
I’m not sure there’s good answers for those questions, but I’m going to dedicate my life to actively look for him and surround myself with good people who will help me make sure that, when I do miss the point, it won’t be for long.
