Pay Attention

I was looking at Mark chapter 4 and how it starts off with Jesus teaching the multitudes. What caught my attention was the very first teaching; it was about receiving God’s Word. You’ll not think much about it unless you put the whole chapter together. Jesus made this statement “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” Jesus said to His disciples;

Mark 4:9  And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. Throughout this chapter Jesus does much teaching and the disciples were there but did they hear? Oh, I know they heard the words that came from the lips of Jesus but did they really hear? I’m not sure they did; let me explain. Jesus teaches about the seed and the  different types of soil; was the disciple learning? Later in this chapter Jesus makes this statement. “Pay attention to what you're listening to!”

Mark 4:24  And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.

Pay attention for knowledge will be measured out to you by the measure of attention you give.  Did these disciples really pay attention? Then Jesus makes a simple statement “let us pass over unto the other side.”

Mark 4:35  And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. Simple enough so they all jumped into the ship and off they sail to the other side. Jesus may have said “it’s been a long day boys and I’m going to the back and get some rest.” Jesus goes to the rear of the ship finds a pillow and goes to sleep. All seem to be fine but then something unplanned happen; a great storm.

Mark 4:37  And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. This is bad; the water is coming down, the wind is blowing, the waves are coming in on these disciples and the ship is almost full of water. They may have said what are we going to do? Then one speaks up, go wake up Jesus. That is what they did but it’s what they said that caught my attention “don't you care that we're going to die?"

Mark 4:38  And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? Jesus gets up calms the storm and asked why are you so afraid?

Mark 4:40  And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

It’s easy to get down on these disciple but we do the same thing because we think that the storms of life are going to pass us by. The winds of discomfort are never to come our way; but they do. When they do we must remember it’s not what we are going to do it’s the trust we have in the Lord Jesus that will get us through. Ok you say, what would you have done had you been on that ship that night? More than likely I would have been the one to wake Jesus up. The reason I say that is there have been storms that came into my life and I didn’t handle them very well. Here is the answer;

Proverbs 3:5  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

Proverbs 3:6  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Trust in the Lord! I wonder how the disciples felt!

Mark 5:1  And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes.

Just like Jesus said!