6:36:52 What does Mark mean by what he says here about the disciples?
6:52 What does Mark mean by what he says here about the disciples?
What this passage teaches is that when the disciples saw the figure walking on the water toward them they should have reasoned upon the basis of the miracle Jesus performed that same day with the loaves and fishes, that it was He and not an apparition walking on the water (cp Mk 6:35-52).
The disciples should have reasoned that if Jesus had the supernatural power to feed over 5000 people from just five loaves and two fishes - and still have twelve baskets of food left over - then He could also exert that supernatural power to walk on water, quieten the wind, and still the sea.
But because the disciples had not understood the significance of the miracle of the loaves and fishes as pointing to the true identity of Jesus, they had allowed their hearts to become dull and lose their power of understanding in the hours that had elapsed since that miracle, and when they saw the figure walking on the water they did not even bother to reason that it was Jesus.
The same thing happened to them after Jesus fed the 4000 in Mk 8.
Again, because they did not grasp the significance of this miracle, their hearts were dull and devoid of understanding (cp Mk 8:1-9 with Mk 8:14-21).
These teachings are also recorded in Mt 15:29-38 and 16:6-12.
Heart here refers to the entire inner man, his reason, affection and will.
(See also comments on Mt 14:13-21 and 16:5-12).
6:53-56 See comments on
Mk 5:24-34