Sunday Interlude: Time
- Updated Mar 08, 2009
“What do you want me to do for you?” (Mark 10:51).
Since Daylight Savings Time begins this morning, we’re all turning our clocks ahead one hour. That means we “lost” an hour overnight. Now we have even less time do what we need to do today. Or that’s the way it feels. Against that backdrop, let’s consider the simple question Jesus asked a blind man.
No one was more conscious of the passing of time than
our Lord. For days and weeks he has been on a journey toward Jerusalem.
He has an appointment with destiny in that city. As storm clouds of
angry judgment gather on the horizon, he knows what lies ahead. He sees
with perfect clarity everything that is about to happen—the plot, the
30 pieces of silver, the traitor’s kiss, the late-night arrest, the
trials, the false accusations, the scourging and the crown of thorns.
Most of all, he sees the Cross clearly and knows that in just a matter
of days he will hang there, suspended between heaven and earth.
This is why he came to earth, this is what the Bible means when it says that “his hour” had finally come.
Today
he has come to Jericho, his last stop before climbing the hills to meet
his fate in Jerusalem. The crowds were large that day as word spread
quickly that Jesus of Nazareth was passing through. As they were
leaving the city amid much clamor, a blind man began to call out for
Jesus. The crowd rebuked him, but the man would not be silent.
When
the sound of his voice reached the ears of Jesus, he stopped and called
for the man who came running to meet him. “What do you want me to do
for you,” he asked. The reply was simple: “I want to see.” “Go, your
faith has healed you,” Jesus said. Instantly the man’s eyes were opened
and he followed Jesus down the road.
I don’t doubt that Jesus
had a lot on his mind. He must have been looking ahead to those final
few days in Jerusalem when he would enter as King to the cheers of the
crowd only to be crucified with two thieves five days later. No one
could blame him if he simply didn’t have the time to bother with a
blind man in Jericho.
But he stopped and took the time to heal him. Ponder that thought for a moment. There is a lesson here if we will receive it. Keep your eyes open for the people God puts in your path. Almost every day you’ll find someone who needs the help only you can give.
The next time you feel stressed out about your schedule, remember that on his way to the Cross, the Lord Jesus took time to heal a blind man.
We always have enough time to do everything God wants us to do.
Lord
Jesus, forgive us for being in such a hurry that we miss the hurting
people you put in our path. Give us “missionary eyes” to see them and
give us your heart to care enough help them. Amen.
You can reach the author at ray@keepbelieving.com. Click here to sign up for the free weekly email sermon.