Mark 4:9, 23
As I continue to read in Mark I have been fascinated by the recent repetition of the phrase, “If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” I mean if anything its like Jesus is yelling to me to slow up and pay attention to what’s being said. I feel like I can hear Jesus saying, “Hey, its right here Matthew! You want to know how to get closer to me and have the life you always wanted? Then pay close attention to this section!”
Already within Mark four, this has been said twice in verses 9 and 23 (Actually verse 24 is a variation of that same phrase). However, it’s interesting to me that this is the only time in the book of Mark that this is said. And for that matter, it’s said right here where He is talking about the condition of our heart.
Right after Jesus gave the first parable speech in Mark’s gospel on the posture or condition of our heart, He said our phrase of the day (Similar to Peewee Herman’s word of the day! Remember that?). Anyway, the disciples weren’t paying attention so they asked Jesus what He was talking about. Well, He repeated the parable, and then went on to explain that basically if we aren’t ready for the Word of God, that it won’t take root and grow. In other words, we won’t understand it to believe it.
It makes me think that when we “hear” Jesus, we can expect to be moved to belief. It seems as though that to truly “hear,” our heart has to be ready for it, or to play on what Jesus said, the soil has to be ready. When the soil is ready and accepts the seed, the seed will grow. In other words, when we accept the Word of God, we believe it to the point we act upon it.
I’m so good at listening and remembering Scripture, but as I have said before, I’m not the best at applying it. I can know who I am in Christ, but I don’t always believe it! If anything, I believe Jesus is trying to tell us here that God isn’t looking for a bunch of walking Bibles; He is looking for active disciples. He doesn’t care if we can quote Scripture; He cares if we live it. He doesn’t care if we know Scripture; He cares about what we do with it.
The truth is we won’t do anything with it if we don’t believe it. Right? I mean, the only reason I would apply something to my life is if I hear it and believe it’s true. The only time I can be free from my past and from its accusations is when I truly believe that Jesus set me free from it. The only way you can be free, is if you believe.
As we continue to read through the Scriptures, my prayer is that we all will hear what God is saying to us. Not just so we can quote the Scripture, but so we can live and believe that God is who He says He is, and we are who He says we are. I hate this old cliché but it’s true. I don’t want us to be Christians who can “talk the talk.” I want us to be the type of Christians who will “walk the walk.” This only comes when we believe; this only comes when we hear. So, “If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”
God, help us hear You.