The stupid question …

If you’ve ever attend a workshop, seminar, conference or retreat, you know that some time after the speaker has delivered their talk they often take questions from the audience. Usually the speaker will coax the crowd by telling them to feel comfortable to ask anything because, “… there are no stupid questions.”

As a speaker, I’ve led some of those question and answer sessions, and from that experience I have to admit there are, at times, some stupid questions. Not often, but occasionally someone may ask something that truly is a “stupid question.”

You know a “stupid question” when you hear it. And we read one that was asked to Jesus in Mark 4. First, let’s get the context by reading verses 35-37: “35 As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.’ 36 So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). 37 But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water.”

With that back drop, here comes the stupid question in verse 38: “Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, ‘Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?'”

This question is being posed to the One who had wrapped Himself in human flesh and left the splendors of heaven to walk this earth with sinful humanity so that by offering His own life, we could be saved. So did he “care” about the well-being of His friends and disciples in the boat?

What a stupid question!

Notice that Jesus was fast asleep in the midst of a fierce storm. He had no concern about what the world was throwing at them because He was with them. But at the sound of the voices of His needy, frightened followers, Jesus was alert and responded to their concern.

Unlike us, Jesus isn’t afraid of any aspect of this world. He tunes it out when we tune it in and become frightened and overwhelmed. But what always immediately captures His attention are the cries of His children because He cares so much for them!

We don’t have to wonder if Jesus cares about the storms that come raging into our lives. The Word of God shows us clearly how deeply He does, indeed, care. Instead of wondering, all we have to do is call out to Him and He will respond. He may not always calm the storm, but at the least He will calm us and walk us through the storm.

Do you trust that Jesus cares about what is happening in your life? Are you focused on the storm, or trusting in Christ? How do you respond to the storms that arise in your life?

Scotty