Hearing and Faith

Photo Credit: Jeremy Bishop

(By Theanna Joyce)

I was sitting at my desk replying to an email. I had one AirPod in, playing Christmas music, and my sister was sitting nearby, working on her computer.

I finally registered an annoyed huff on the other side of my office and looked up to see that my sister had been talking to me, but I had no clue what she had said. Although I have two working ears and had technically heard her speaking, I had not actually heard her.

I wonder if this is what Jesus is talking about when He told the crowds, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear” (Mark 4:9).

Jesus said this to them in Mark 4, right after telling them the parable of the sower. In the same chapter, Mark records Jesus telling them about a lamp, which is meant to be put on a stand rather than hidden under a bed. Again, Jesus says, “If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear” (Mark 4:23).

The disciples walked with Jesus, following him, yet Mark shows us how slow they were to comprehend His teaching and how weak their faith was. I appreciate that Mark shows us this side of the disciples.

These were real people. They had complex emotions and complicated life experiences. They followed Jesus, but were often confused. They heard Jesus’ teaching in parables and were even given the meaning of those parables, but that does not mean they understood fully or that they followed perfectly.

Romans 10:17 tells us that hearing God’s Word is intended to produce faith. In the next section, Mark 4:35-41, the disciples’ faith is tested as they find themselves in a boat being tossed by the waves of a violent evening storm. As water poured into the boat, they were filled with fear.

Of course, if I were ever on a boat that appeared to be losing a battle against a storm in the middle of a lake in the darkness of night, I think I might be a little terrified, too.

Why were they afraid, though? They had Jesus with them! Why would they be afraid?

Well, He was sleeping at the time, but still! They wake Him, and when Jesus rebukes the winds and tells the waves to settle down, the storm stills. He turns to His disciples and asks them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” (Mark 4:40).

I’ve often wondered why Jesus responded so harshly to them. What else were they supposed to do? The boat was sinking! They were in danger!

We can see that the issue is not that they woke Him up — of course not! He was the one who could save them after all. Yet they had allowed their fear to overwhelm them. Although they knew Him from walking with Him and listening to Him teach and heal, we see here that faith is more than an intellectual exercise; it is trust in a Person.

They knew Him and yet had not fully understood who He was. Hence, when the storm built up, so did their doubts.

And doubt doesn’t sit quietly; it leads to fear.

Thankfully, even though the disciples’ fear was great and their faith weak, Jesus still saved them. He spoke, and the storm settled. Upon seeing this, they were terrified and they asked each other, “Who is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” (Mark 4:41).

I wonder, who is this?

You have heard of Him. You’ve walked with Him, and read His teachings, and heard of His power.

Who is this?

The winds cease and the waves calm. This is One with absolute authority and power over nature. He is a teacher, but not just another voice spreading another teaching. He is the Teacher. The One who speaks the secrets of the kingdom of God and the One whose voice stops the storm.

I wonder, do you have ears to hear?

I’m not sure what sort of storm is kicking up fear in your life, but I know this Teacher. I know that He is with you in the storm and that He has a plan for you through the storm. I know that He has the power to still the waves, no matter how inevitable and undefeatable they seem.

God’s Word tells us that He is a refuge for His people. Psalm 46:1 reminds us, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

Do you have ears to hear that? Will you let this truth sink into your heart, your bones, and will you turn to Him during the storm?

We don’t turn out of fear — although if we are fearing, then certainly, we must turn to Him — we turn to Him in faith because He is our God.

Sometimes He raises his voice and calms the storm. May we praise Him when He does.

Yet sometimes we cry out in faith, but He doesn’t seem to stop the waves from crashing down on us. Or He seems slow to act. How is this? He certainly cares — Calvary leaves us no doubt of this.

Maybe He lets the waves continue so that we might grow in faith. Maybe He is teaching us to long for Him and draw as close as we can to His side. Maybe He has some purpose for us that we will only be able to fulfill if we learn to turn to Him in this storm.

Whatever His purposes are, may we be those who hear Him and who choose faith over fear.