The sun is barely up but the day is already turning hot. There are miles to travel along the dusty road from Jericho on the way to Jerusalem. The crowd following Jesus presses in, adding to the heat. Above the sounds of the city and the gathering people, Jesus heard a voice cry out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
What Would You Have Done?
It would have been easy to continue on your way, pretending not to hear your name. After all, who could blame you with all of the noise and chaos of a large crowd? Jesus had just been stopped the day before to answer a theological question from the rich ruler along with other interruptions to His day. But He didn’t continue on. He stopped and told His disciples to bring the man to Him. He then asked the man what he wanted Jesus to do for him. His answer was “I want to see.” And that’s exactly what Jesus did.
How many times do we hear our names called by those who need our help? Do we stop, turn around, and ask what they need? Or do we, like so many others, continue on with our own tasks and responsibilities? After all, God gave us this family, this job, these duties so He expects us to focus on them. We can’t be bothered by the cries of strangers.
Lasting Treasure
Jesus knew the secret to doing the Father’s will was in meeting the needs of others. His whole purpose in coming to earth was to meet our need for a Savior. But along the way, He took the time to meet individual needs, knowing He was investing in their lives and strengthening their faith.
Do we follow the verse that says to lay up treasures in Heaven by ministering to the needs of others or are we so focused on carpools and soccer practice that we fail to even see those needs? While there is nothing wrong with earthly obligations and schedules, they should never blind us to our true purpose.
Meeting Their Needs
Jesus first asked the blind man what he wanted Jesus to do for him. He didn’t try to push His own agenda or choose what He thought the man needed. And if Jesus, who knows our needs even before we do, takes the time to ask, shouldn’t we find out what others need of us instead of trying to tell them what they need? Maybe we know they need spiritual insight, but first they require a good meal. Or a listening ear. While we don’t want to be so focused on the temporary things of life that we forget the eternal, we also don’t want to be too preoccupied with other people’s eternal condition that we forget to meet their present, temporary needs. Are you meeting others’ needs today with a focus on their future?
