then learned that He was there

Guest speaker yesterday connected Matt14 to Mark6 and highlighted the stunning verses of Mark6:51-52: ". . . and they were utterly astonished, for they had not gained any insight from the incident of the loaves, but their heart was hardened." The verses occur right after Peter's waterwalk and the calming of the storm. What Mark6 makes clear is that their lack of faith had everything to do with their failure to learn about Christ through their interactions with Him and His miracles.

About 8 years ago, a friend's mother survived a brain aneurysm, defeating long odds to have survived beyond statistical norms. The friend related a statement made by his mother describing the miracle: "I don't know if I'm born again, but I'm certainly live-every-moment-to-its-fullest again." That is, unfortunately, the words of someone who didn't gain any insight from a loaf incident.

What most believers fail to realize every day of their lives is that there is no shortage of miracles, no shortage of evidence of the daily working of God in our lives. And when we fail to recognize that, fail to learn more about the God who numbers the hairs on our heads and who orchestrates the details of our lives, He lets that cement block we call a ticker set and harden further. Many long for a less distant connection twixt God and us. Like the disciples in the boat, however, perhaps that connection would be improved if we didn't keep chalking up Christ on the water as some frightening apparition bent on seducing us into sinking, rather than the truth of the matter -- a greatest friend wishing to show you the wonders of stepping across the deep.