He did not give up on them

We often assume that when Jesus picked the twelve disciples, He was picking the best, men above the rest, men who were holy and especially talented for the task ahead. Yet here [Mark 6:51, 52] we read that these men all had hearts that were hardened. They had just participated with Jesus as He fed the five thousand and calmed a storm, and yet they still had hard hearts. They were witnesses of a miracle and yet Jesus received nothing from them by way of recognition or trust. This is additional proof that Jesus does not expect us to meet Him at the top rung of the ladder, but He comes to the bottom rung to get us.

There are times when we know our hearts are hard; whenever we choose the flesh, we have a hardened heart. What sticks out to me is that Jesus kept working with the men until they had soft hearts. More had been given and more was required. If Jesus did not give up on men who had seen miracles and remained hard, how could it be possible for Him to give up on those of us who have seen no such overt miracles and yet possess hard hearts? The bottom line is this: If He did not give up on them, He surely has not given up on you!

--Michael Wells, My Weakness for His Strength Volume II, Day 132

Mark 6:51-52
New International Version
51 Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, 52 for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.