No, I am not implying by the title above that the disciples were stupid. Most dictionary's define dumbfounded as meaning "to be greatly astonished or amazed, even to the point of being made speechless." The story's in this article are a retelling of two of Jesus' miracles that dumbfounded his disciples: Jesus Calms the Storm, and the Feeding of the Five Thousand. Of course there are many other instances recorded in the Gospels that produced this effect. The reason may not be obvious to the casual reader, but is stated quite succinctly in the verse above, "Who is this?"
In the fourth chapter of the book of Mark is related the account where Jesus teaches by the Sea of Galilee. There were so many people that Jesus addressed the crowd on the shore from a boat out on the water. As was his custom, he taught by employing the use of parables; stories that are meant to illustrate some spiritual lesson. He told four parables that day but I want to discuss only one.
The Parable of the Sower:
"A farmer went out to sow his seed." Without going into detail, I want to summarize the meaning of this parable. The farmer is a messenger. The seed is the message. In those days farmers would carry a large sack of grain, grab a handful of seed, and scatter it as they walked through the field. And so the parable continues. Some seed fell on the path, some fell on stony ground, some fell where thorny plants would spring up, but some seed fell on good soil. The four types of ground where the seed lands broadly represents four kinds of people in the world.
The seed that fell on the path never had a chance to sprout; it was eaten by birds. In other words it had no effect. This kind of person is indoctrinated to a degree where it is impossible for them to recognize any idea that differs from their own.
The seed that fell on rocky ground did sprout, but because the soil there is so thin it didn't develop a healthy root system. The message didn't linger because the person who received it soon took offense. Perhaps friends or colleagues ridiculed them and so their friendship became more important than the message.
Then there is the case where the seed fell, by all appearances, on promising ground. It sprouted and began to grow very well but, alas, more robust plants appeared in the same plot - thorny perennials that quickly shut out the life giving sunlight. This kind of person is deceived by the temporary things this world has to offer and so the message is suffocated.
Then there is the seed that fell on good ground. This begs the question: What makes the ground good? Do you know what a farmer does to prepare a field for planting? It is usually a process that requires an expense of time and money. The soil is made receptive for the seed, and so this kind of person have yielded themselves to be made receptive. The message grows, blossoms, matures, and produces many times more than what was sown.
I have identified, according to my understanding and that of other Biblical authorities, the particular elements of this parable except one. The seed that is sown is a message, but what, precisely, is the message? This is it: "Now after John [the Baptist] was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, 'The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.'" Mark 1:14,15 KJV
The apostle Paul, who once persecuted early Christians, preached this message throughout the Roman world: "...I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes..." Romans 1:16 NIV The Gospel is not just 'Good News', it is not merely a message; there is a transformative power behind it for those who believe.
When evening came and the sermon by the sea concluded, Jesus said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side." Mark 4:35
The disciples set sail for the opposite shore. Jesus lay down and fell asleep on a cushion in the stern section. During the voyage a furious storm of wind arose causing the waves to crash over the boat threatening to sink it. The disciples, in a panic, awakened Jesus crying out, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?" Mark 4:38
He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!" Mark 4:39-41
This miracle is recorded in all four Gospels. These are the variances in their accounts:
Mathew, Mark and Luke's accounts are prefaced by the beheading of John the Baptist. Luke's account is the only one that does not conclude with Jesus walking on water.
John's account has Jesus asking, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?" He asked this to test his disciples "...for he already had in mind what he was going to do." John 6:5,6 NIV
Jesus had quite a large following at this time. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them [his disciples], "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." Mark 6:30 They got into a boat and sailed away to find a solitary place, but that proved futile as a large number of people followed them. Jesus took pity on them "because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things." Mark 6:34 NIV
When evening came the disciples implored Jesus to send the people away to nearby farms and villages to buy food. Jesus response to this was, "You give them something to eat." I imagine you see the problem here. How could the disciples possibly have carried with them enough food to feed so many? And so this validates the account in John's Gospel as quoted above. Jesus, ever willing to reveal the true nature of God the Father to his disciples and the multitude, was about to perform a miracle.
The disciples brought to him five barley loaves and two small fish. The loaves were kind of a flat bread and the fish were dried, all very good traveling fare. "Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand." Mark 6:41-44 NIV
Jesus Walks On Water:
It was now quite late so the disciples were told to board their boat and make for Capernaum. I'm guessing but it is quite possible they had much to talk about, especially how they now had more food than what they started out with. Meanwhile, back on land, Jesus sent away the multitude and then went up into the hills to pray.
In the early morning hour well before dawn, Jesus saw the disciples still out in the middle of the lake straining at the oars against a head wind. The disciples suddenly became aware of a figure approaching them walking on the water. They cried out in terror thinking it was a ghost. But, of course, it was not a ghost; it was Jesus and to allay their fear he said, "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." Mark 6:50 NIV
In Mathew's gospel, the disciple Peter says to Jesus, "Lord, if it's you,... tell me to come to you on the water." Peter, given the go ahead, got out of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when his attention was diverted by the wind and the waves he began to sink and cried out for Jesus to save him. Jesus took Peter's hand, pulled him up, and when they stepped up into the boat the wind died down. The days events: The miracle of the loaves and fishes and Jesus coming out to them walking on the water had a profound effect on them which they had great difficulty comprehending. Not for the last time, to be sure.
