If you don’t get upset about a situation when others are upset and panicking, sometimes it can be perceived by others as apathy … you might be looked upon as being “uncaring.” But, that’s not always the case. There are two particular instances in the Gospel stories where Jesus wasn’t as upset about a situation as others thought He should be.
On one occasion, Jesus and the disciples were out in a boat during a storm. While the disciples were panicking and thinking they were going to drown, Jesus was in the back of the boat, asleep on a cushion. The disciples woke him up shouting, “Teacher, DON’T YOU CARE that we are going to drown?” (Mark 4:38)
Jesus didn’t answer their question. Instead, he woke from his sleep, calmed the storm with the words, “Peace, be still,” then rebuked his disciples for their lack of faith.
On another occasion, Jesus was in the home of Martha and Mary for a meal and fellowship. Martha was busy preparing the meal, but Mary sat at Jesus’ feet listening to him speak. Martha was “ticked off” at her sister for not helping with the preparations so she came to Jesus and said, “Lord, DON’T YOU CARE that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” Jesus responded with the words, “Martha, Martha, you are worried about many things, but only one thing is necessary, and Mary has chosen the good portion, and it will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41-42).
On both occasions, Jesus was asked “DON’T YOU CARE?” Both times he responded with a rebuke. When you accuse the Lord of NOT CARING you will most likely get a rebuke too! But, our way of CARING and His way of CARING are totally different.
He knows the end from the beginning … We only know RIGHT NOW. He knows what will happen … we’re so immersed in our current situation that it is our only focus. He knows what is truly important … the value and importance we place on things is usually misguided. He sees the future … we’re stuck in the present. This is why He must rebuke us for “panicking” about so many things.
If we were to interview Martha in Heaven today, she would most likely laugh at how foolish her remarks were as she was preparing the meal for Jesus in her house that day. And, if we were to ask the disciples about the storm at sea, I feel certain that they, too, would laugh about how frantic and fearful they were, seeing that the Lord of Heaven and Earth was there in the boat with them.
And why should we panic, fret, worry and lose sleep over situations in our lives when we know that the Master is with us? He has promised to take care of us … if we will only let Him.
