“Almost without exception, Mark paints the twelve as dull-witted, inept, unreliable, cowardly, and, in at least one case, treacherous. When Jesus stills a storm, the disciples are impressed but unaware of the act’s significance (4: 35–41). After his feeding of the multitudes, the disciples “had not understood the intent of the loaves” because “their minds were closed” (6: 52). The harshness of Mark’s judgment is better rendered in the phrase “their hearts were hardened” (as given in the New Revised Standard Version). This is the same phrase used to describe the Egyptian pharaoh when he arrogantly “hardened his heart” and refused to obey Yahweh’s commands (Exod. 7: 14–10: 27). After listening for months to Jesus’ teaching, the disciples are such slow learners that they are still ignorant of “what [Jesus’ reference to] ‘rising from the dead’ could mean” (9: 9–10). Not only do they fail to grasp the concept of sharing in Jesus’ glory (10: 35–41), but even the simplest, most obvious parables escape their comprehension (4: 10–13). As Jesus asks, “You do not understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable?” (4: 13).”