The disciples were just as confused as we are…

Mark 6

I think life was as confusing and difficult for the disciples who were physically with Jesus as it is for us now.

Exhibit A: In chapter 4, the text says that the disciples have basically been given special insight to understand what Jesus says. Disciples: “It’s good to be a disciple! You get to know things! Important things!”

Exhibit B: In chapter 6, now, Jesus goes back to his hometown and is “appalled” by everyone’s disbelief in his wisdom and miracles. Disciples: “why does his whole town hate him? Are we missing something?”

Exhibit C: Jesus gives the disciples authority over evil spirits and sickness and sends them out to the people to heal people and tell them to change their hearts and lives. Disciples: “This is pretty cool, and at least he sent us out in pairs.”

Exhibit D: Jesus tells the disciples to feed 5000 people, in the middle of nowhere, with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. When they can’t figure it out, Jesus does it and ends up with 12 baskets of extra food. Disciples: “how he do that? And why did he ask us to do it first?”

Exhibit E: While the disciples are rowing hard against the wind, Jesus decides it’s a good time to just walk out across the lake towards them. As if that wouldn’t freak them out. Disciples: *screaming* *ghosties* “how is he WALKING ON THE WATER?!?!?!”

In case you’re not convinced yet, Chapter 6 (of the Common English Bible) winds up with this statement:

“His disciples were so baffled that they were beside themselves. That’s because they hadn’t understood about the loaves. Their hearts had been changed so that they resisted God’s ways.”

The defense rests.

At so many different points in our history, people have said things along the lines of “the world is going to hell in a hand basket”.

I just have to wonder if the disciples didn’t feel the same way. I think they were as baffled and mystified by life as we are. I think they asked all the same questions:

Why is there so much evil?

Why do we understand what Jesus says one day and the next feel completely lost?

Will any of this ever make sense?

What are we even doing here?

And, on some days, maybe on the days in Chapter 6, I can’t help but thinking that the disciples just asked themselves over and over again, “is he just screwing with us?”