Who Cares?

Who Cares?

It is an interesting phrase. Just the tone with which it is spoken can determine its intention and meaning. It can be used to show disdain and lack of concern. I can remember in high school our girl’s basketball team made the state playoffs and while the other team’s players were being announced we hold up newspapers and yell “Who Cares?” when their names were called. We can use it to show lack of interest or concern about what others may think. It will make so and so angry . . . “Who cares?” However, this phrase also has the ability to rattle and shake us to our very core when we ask ourselves the question “Who Cares?”

Text: Mark 4:35-41

35That day when evening came, He said to His disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36Leaving the crowd behind, they took Him along, just as He was, in the boat. There were also other boats with Him. 37A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” 39He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. 40He said to His disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 41They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey Him!”

The disciples had a “Who Cares?” moment. They are convinced that the boat is going down. They have seen their last sunrise and if they had cell phones they would have called their relatives and loved ones to say, “Goodbye”. So they run to Jesus. Asleep in the boat, he is awakened by the look of fear in the eyes of his followers and they make the statement, “don’t you care that we are going to die?”

Some thoughts out of this account today for us!

A. You can still have “Who Cares” moments with Jesus on board.

The truth is that you can have Jesus on board your life and still have a day, a week, a month, a year where you are convinced that no one cares.

My health is failing. I am doing everything I know to do to try to find healing. I am eating better. I am exercising. I am taking the meds. I am at wits end. Doesn’t anyone care?

I am working so many hours that I have no real life left. I have cut everything nonessential and I am still coming up short. I am working the budget. I have tried every financial solution in the book and my money still runs out before my month. I am being crushed mentally and emotionally by the mountain of worry because of my finances. Does anyone really care?

I have held on. I have cried myself to sleep. I have fixed myself up. I have gone to the events where there will be possible candidates. I have presented myself in the very best light and still no one for me. All my friends are married. All my friends have found soul mates and yet I am still alone. I go home to an empty house. No one to share my dreams, hopes, and fears with. Does anyone really care?

I have done my best. I have loved. I have compromised. I have believed. I have prayed. I have wept. I have fasted. Still no answer for my issue. My addiction isn’t broken. My bondage hasn’t weakened. My marriage has gotten better. My life hasn’t leveled out? My dreams are still shattered. My love is still denied. Doesn’t anyone care?

Even with Jesus on board we all still have moments where we aren’t sure anyone really cares! Some of you are there now! You aren’t sure that anyone, even Jesus, cares what you are going through right now. Don’t you even care that we are about to perish?

There are some things that you need to know about who cares!

2. Don’t mistake lack of response for lack of control.

And His lack of response doesn’t reveal a lack of care. In fact, I believe that His lack of expected response reveals more about us than it does about Him.

We all have expected responses. Jesus, I expect you to bail me out now. Jesus I expect you to heal me right now! Jesus, I expect you to turn my bank account right now! I expected you step in and save my dream relationship! He can, but He doesn’t always respond in the expected manner. Our problem is we equate the lack of miracle, lack of communication, lack of provision with lack of interest and lack of care!