"Learning the Hard Way"

 "Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;" (Hebrews 5:8 KJV)

  "The Sovereign LORD has given me his words of wisdom, so that I know how to comfort the weary. Morning by morning he wakens me and opens my understanding to his will. The Sovereign LORD has spoken to me, and I have listened. I have not rebelled or turned away. I offered my back to those who beat me and my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard. I did not hide my face from mockery and spitting. Because the Sovereign LORD helps me, I will not disgraced. Therefore, I have set my face like a stone, determined to do his will. And I know that I will not be put to shame." (Isaiah 50:4-7 NLT)

 Not to make things hard to understand, but the challenges we must go though, although they seem very difficult and sometimes like judgment, they our made to conform us to the image of Christ Jesus! The harder we fight and try to find ways to undo things we really don't understand, the harder it gets to find peace in the storm! 

 I am thinking about the time Jesus was sleeping on the boat, as the disciples were in a panic because they thought the boat was going to sink. If you study that situation, it was pretty much all about the work to be done, and less about the journey. Jesus told His disciples that they were going to the other side; but He didn't tell them why! 

 I'm sorry, but I can really get quit emotional about certain things that happen; and the things that seem the most devastating and hurt the most, usually are the things we want to know, WHY? As did the disciples have a question, Why? As it was, they could not do anything to stop the boat from tossing and filling up with water; yet, Jesus just kept on sleeping, resting His head upon a pillow. Their, Why, was a question that is very familiar to many that suffer though devastation and pain: "Teacher, don't you care that we're going to drown?" Then after Jesus calmed the storm, He too had a question: "Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?" (Mark 4:35-40 NLT) 

 As to the work to be done; Jesus was going to the other side to cast demons out of a man that was naked and lived in the cemetery, sleeping in the burial caves. It is the opinion of some, that the waves were meant to try and stop Jesus from doing what He was sitting out to do. And when the demon possessed man saw him, he ran to Jesus, bowed low before him, and screamed, "Why are you interfering with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In the name of God, I beg you, don't torture me!" (Mark 5:6-7 NLT) 

 There is really a whole lot of why's here, but no matter what, God knows every answer before we can ever figure out what to ask! By the way, the naked man ended up wearing cloths; some suspect that the cloths were in the pillow that Jesus was resting His head on, in the storm...

"A crowed soon gathered around Jesus, and they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons. He was sitting there fully clothed and perfectly sane, and they were all afraid. Then those who had seen what happened told the others about the demon-possessed man and the pigs. And the crowd began pleading with Jesus to go away and leave them alone. As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon possessed begged to go with him. But Jesus said, "No, go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been." So the man started off to visit the Ten Towns of that region and began to proclaim the great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed at what he told them." (Mark 5:15-20 NLT)