Dr. Ray Pritchard Christian Blog and Commentary

Act now to share the love of Christ in the Middle East

Sunday Interlude: Time

  • Dr. Ray Pritchard
    Dr. Ray Pritchard is the president of Keep Believing Ministries, an Internet-based ministry serving Christians in 225 countries. He is the author of 29 books, including Stealth Attack, Fire and Rain,… More
  • 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.


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