The Fine Art Of Not Paying Attention

THE FINE ART OF NOT PAYING ATTENTION

TEXT: Mark 5:35-36

Mark 5:35-36 KJV While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further? [36] As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.

Mark 5:36 GOODSPEED But Jesus paid no attention to what they said.

Mark 5:36 MESSAGE Jesus overheard what they were talking about and said to the leader, “Don’t listen to them; just trust me.”

Mark 5:36 AMPLIFIED Overhearing but ignoring what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, Do not be seized with alarm and struck with fear; only keep on believing.

Mark 5:36 MOFFATT Instantly Jesus ignored the remark and told the President, “Have no fear, only believe.”

I. INTRODUCTION -- YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE. . .

-There are times when you ought to pay attention in fact you must pay attention.

Greenpeace is an organization that is made up of tree-huggers, believers of global warming, and those who intensely defend the legacy of the spotted owl. All-in-all this organization is probably made up of those who need a real job more than anything else or anyone else in the world.

Greenpeace has a flagship, Rainbow Warrior II, that travels the world’s waterways trying to protect the water. In October 2005, while they were studying the effects of global warming on a fragile underwater coral reef in the Philippines, the ship accidentally ran aground on the reef causing it significant damage. They were fined 384,000 pesos ($6,800).

-They should have been paying attention.

In 2005 Bob Schwartz, crime adviser to the governor of New Mexico, authored a law that would allow felony charges to be brought against any owner of a dangerous dog involved in a vicious attack. A few months after the law was passed, Schwartz was in his backyard when his own dog attacked him, biting both of his arms and sending him to the hospital. He recovered but was not arrested.

-Mr. Schwartz probably should have been paying attention.

It was supposed to be a celebration marking the end of Fire Awareness week in a town in southern Japan. But the festivities were cut short when the two-story fire station where the event was taking place caught on fire. Everyone made it out, but the station was severely damaged. The cause of the fire was a gas tank that had been improperly attached to a barbecue grill the firefighters were using to cook dinner. “It’s very embarrassing that this should happen to people who job it is to go out and put out fires,” said one of the fire-fighters.

-The Fire Department probably should have been paying attention. (All of these stories were adapted from Uncle John’s Curiously Compelling Bathroom Reader, All New 19th Edition, pp. 273-274, Ironic, Isn’t It?)

-But just as there are times that we ought to pay attention and we don’t, there are other times when we pay attention and we should not.

-One of the most important things in living a victorious life for the Lord is learning how to ignore things or to not pay attention.

Ephesians 4:27 KJV Neither give place to the devil.

James 4:7 KJV Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

-This is one of the most important lessons the Lord learned all throughout His ministry. Always there were voices clamoring for His attention.

Multitudes pushed Him toward an earthly throne.

Others encouraged a sword but He knew those who live by the sword will perish by it.

Some warned Him about the Cross but He paid no attention to them.

-He learned the fine art of not paying attention.

II. THE STORY

A. Jairus, Ruler of the Synagogue

-Jairus was a good man. He was the leader of the synagogue. In the days of Jesus, he was one of the most important men in the community. The synagogue was the center of religion, education, leadership, and social activities.

-The leader of the synagogue was the senior religious leader, the highest ranking professor, the mayor, and the best known citizen all rolled into one. But his whole situation had turned him into a beggar.

-Jairus was a desperate man with a very sick daughter. He pleads with Jesus and informs him of the gravity of the situation. “Will You please heal my daughter?” When Jesus hears of the plight of his daughter, He turns toward the house of suffering.

-But in the meantime a miracle interrupts His progress. There are some elements of the story that makes it even more of a dilemma.

A frantic father.

A sick woman.

A dying daughter.

A huge crowd.