Perfect theology leads to love

…when they saw him walking on the water, they cried out in terror, thinking he was a ghost. They were all terrified when they saw him.

But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage! I am here!” Then he climbed into the boat, and the wind stopped. They were totally amazed, for they still didn’t understand the significance of the miracle of the loaves. Their hearts were too hard to take it in.

Mark 6:49-52 NLT

Good theology is going to change more than our thoughts. It must change our hearts. Theology must be relational for it to be transformative. It must lead to love.

Not everyone gets this of course. Only one disciple got out the boat! In fact, Mark doesn’t mention anyone getting out at all—but he does record Jesus’ assessment of their hearts: hard.

Here was perfect theology making his way across the lake through the storm. Here was the voice of peace echoing out across the waters. Here was the Creator of all creation getting into their boat. And their hearts were hard. Terrified. Astonished. And hard.

The word used for ‘hard’ is from the same family as ‘petrified’ or ‘calloused’. Ossification of their heart meant they had not understood the full context or importance of this momentous episode. Mark says it is because they had not understood about the ‘loaves’—a reference to the feeding of five (and likely more) thousand earlier in the same chapter.

On that grassy hillside the disciples had participated in a mass meal with many leftovers! Abundance all around! Yet how quickly they forgot in that boat on that rough sea. There would only be one way their hearts would change: through love.

It was in love that Jesus walked out on that lake. And it was to join him in love that he invited Peter out of the boat. It is knowing God who is love that leads us to love. And perfect theology will lead us into perfect love. 

What is perfect love? Not loving perfectly, but loving with the love of the God who is love.

This is our calling from Jesus today. To leave the predictability of the boat and walk into the unknown seas of loving others.

When Peter kept his eyes on Jesus he was able to stride across the surf. He participated in the faith Jesus had in his Father’s power. But when he watched the waves, and believed their natural power, he began to sink.

When we keep our eyes on Jesus we are able to live in love, stepping out in the faith of Jesus in his Father’s love. But when we doubt, and start believing the ways of this life will prevail, we will start to sink.

Loving others is often like walking across the stormy waves. It’s not easy. It’s very possible to sink in deep despair. But with God all things are possible! Let us keep our eyes fixed on him. This is no party trick—this is full participation in building the Kingdom of God.

May our hearts be softened by his love so that geysers of glorious eternal heavenly love might break through the petrified callouses and bless those around us who need it most.