Common Sense Commentary: Jesus said it in John 7:6 "...Your time is always ready". He has time for anyone and everyone the very moment they have time for Him.
He was a poor, blind, broke and broken beggar. Blind Bartimaeus had nothing to offer Jesus, no money, no service, no influence, nothing but his blindness and his soul. The towns people ignored him and the Apostles rejected him. Yet Jesus had time for the poorest of the poor. "And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me..... And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.
Mk.10:48-52. Jesus has time for the helpless, seemingly useless. This blind beggar became a faithful disciple and follower of Jesus.
She was a disgraced, scarlet woman ... this 5 time divorcee with a live-in boy friend. She was a female in a male biased world, used and abused by men, hated by legalistic, self-righteous, but religious Jews, and probably by herself as well. But Jesus had time for this dejected, disheartened and wasted woman. "Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water..... The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.... The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he." John 4:9-29.
Jesus has time for discouraged, disgraced, sinful and wasted lives. This woman became a committed witness for Jesus.
They were just little, weak and unlearned children, just tolerated and ignored by most adults. They had nothing to give Jesus but their youthful innocence and fear. The Apostles rebuked those who brought them .... but Jesus, corrected the Apostles and drew the little children close and took time for them. "And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them." Mk.10:13-16. Jesus has time for those who could do absolutely nothing for him and have nothing to offer ... but themselves. Who knows the potential of these little children because Jesus took time for them one day.
And then there was a little weasel of a money grubbing man, an extortionist chief of political tax collectors. Zacchaeus had lots of money, power and a conniving ability to cheat the people for his own benefit, and was despised by them. But Jesus even took time out for this greedy, political hack who just wanted to see what Jesus looked like. He had much to give Jesus, but Jesus wanted none of it.
"And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house." Lk.19:1-5. Jesus even has time for a corrupt politician, official or businessman. Because Jesus had time for him, Zacchaeus gave his money away to those he had cheated .
Maybe the least likely candidate for Jesus' time and compassion received the most from Him. The Demoniac of Gadara was feared by the people, abandoned by his family, and driven out of society by the more socially acceptable citizens. He too had nothing to offer Jesus .... but his ruined mind, naked body and miserable life. Jesus had led his Apostles from the extreme northern end of the Sea of Galilee through a fierce storm at sea, to the far southern end of the sea, to Gadara. He went there for one, insane, naked, lost man. He did nothing else there. Jesus landed in Gadara and confronted the man, cast out the demons, healed the man's body, mind and soul, got back in the boat and sailed back to where He had started. That single act of compassion took more Of Jesus' time than any one person in His short 3 1/2 year ministry. "Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him that he might be with him: but Jesus sent him away, saying, Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him." Lk.8:38-39. This saved Demoniac became a soul winner for Jesus. If Jesus cared that much for a devil possessed, lunatic outcast .... could it be possible He cares for you and me too? So what do you have to offer Jesus .... that He needs or wants? Nothing .... but yourself. For that, Jesus has time. He has time for you, just as your are, with all your burdens, fears, regrets and sins. The real question is, "Do you have time for Him?" Will you stop long enough and take time to ask Jesus to forgive, heal and restore .... or save your soul? He has the time ... but do you? RB
And then ... there is you and me ....
"For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence." 1Cor.1:26-29.
The surest sign a person is neither "called" nor "chosen" it when they boast of a special calling or of qualities which God saw in them. RB
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment