Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi
Well, well, our kind of inconsistent of late stroll through the NIV 84 looking at words translated as 'Heart/ Hearts' has brought us up to the most...abrupt...of the Gospels, Mark. The distribution gives us a bit of an uneven spread, but, whatever, we'll roll.
The first verse comes in the narrative of the the paralytic who was lowered through the roof. When Jesus rather oddly told the guy that his sins were forgiven, some folks who were there got offended.
Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, "Why does this fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, "Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven, ' or to say, 'Get up, take your mat, and walk?' " --Mark 2:6-9; 'Hearts' is, as is becoming typical, Strong's G2588, kardia - the heart.
Of course, Jesus goes on to demonstrate that he does have the authority to forgive sins by telling the man to get up and walk...and they all observe the miracle. We have, of course, already looked at this event when we were in Matthew but this time what stood out to me is a variation on a theme we encountered over and over in the Old Testament...God KNOWS our hearts. Because, as Mark makes very clear, Jesus knew the exact thoughts these disgruntled folks were thinking and then answered them. Apparently everyone there that day went away amazed at the miracle...I hope at least a few pondered the significance of Jesus answering the very things they were thinking.
We have a variation on the same theme in chapter three, in which Jesus attended a synagogue along with a man who had a shriveled hand.
Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, "Stand up in front of everyone." Then Jesus asked them, "Which is lawful to do on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save live or to kill?" But they remained silent. He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. -- Mark 3:2-5, "hearts" is, once more, G2588.
In this case, no one actually said anything...the guy was just doing the regular Sabbath thing. But Jesus happened to be there that day. The home folks knew the guy was coming and were just...waiting to see what Jesus would do. Of course, Jesus would notice him...this wasn't a megachurch. Once again, we see that Jesus was aware of what was in the hearts of those who were hoping to accuse him.
It is rather ludicrous that this is even considered 'working'. What did Jesus actually do? He said four words. The guy's hand was restored (which implies his condition was the result of an injury). But what aggravated Jesus was that these folks would seemingly rather their friend go through life crippled than for him to be miraculously healed on the Sabbath. That, my friends, is what religion does. Rules over people (and I would point out that the 'rules' I am referring to are the extra requirements put on to the Law given by Moses. The ones people added.) But Mark notes in the next verse that this incident resulted in the Pharisees and the Herodians began their plot to kill Jesus. Because Jesus healed a guy when he saw him instead of the next day.
The final passage for today is Mark's relating of Jesus walking on the water; he omits the bit about Peter climbing out of the boat; he just records Jesus saying, basically, 'Hey, guys, it's me. Don't freak.'
Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened. -- Mark 6:51-52; 'Hearts' is, again, G2588.
Every time I come across this verse it perplexes me. I wonder what it was the disciples were supposed to understand about the loaves...and I am kinda shocked that the disciples are described as having 'hardened hearts.' The best I can do is to say that the multiplication of the bread and fish clearly showed Jesus' power and authority...but they were so close to him they didn't recognize it. Had they seen it for what it was, it would not be so astonishing that he would be able to walk across even wind-driven waves. Their hearts weren't hardened in quite the same degree as the Pharisees and Herodians who were trying to trap and execute Jesus...but they were hardened in the sense that they had set ideas about Jesus that were not ...yet...open to the truth.
That's the best I got. I am not here to say that's the one and only true meaning of these verses. But it does make at least some sense...and it does also make me wonder what box I have put Jesus in that keeps me from understanding about the loaves...whatever the loaves are in my own life.
