A Church with a Heart for our Community

2018 March 22nd Thursday

Happy Spring! and greetings in the name of the Way, the Truth, and the Life, Jesus Christ – THE Risen Saviour! I trust that all is well in your world today and that you are experiencing a good measure of health, strength, and a cheerful heart. Today I will be praying for you, asking Father to surprise you with unexpected blessings and delights and satisfaction.

Well – we are drawing closer to the final destination in our Lenten journey. I pray that you have a collection of memories, insights, and things yet to ponder that will allow you moments of positive reflection after the Easter weekend. I have been interested, as I make the trek to Easter 2018, to the ‘encounters’ that Jesus had with individuals. Over the past few days I have been reading in Luke 18 and 19 as Jesus is drawing near to Jerusalem and His entry to the city on what we call Palm Sunday. There are two encounters that have caught my eye causing me to consider familiar stories looking for what I had previously missed.

First, in Luke 18:35-42 – the story of Bartimaeus, the blind beggar. I notice that Jesus asks for Bart to be brought ‘near’ to him. Why did Jesus want Bart near ? Was Jesus aware of Bart’s aloneness and isolation from those could help him? Did Jesus want Bart to know that it takes more than a shout across the crowd to find what he needed?Was Jesus trying to teach the crowd of those who think they are better a lesson in inclusive compassion? Was Jesus trying to teach us the value of looking into the face of a needy soul and seeing his/her worth and potential? It can be so easy to help someone without ever looking at them or knowing they truly exist. The next thing is that Bart responds by following Jesus, no going home or to the temple or off to enjoy his miracle. No, he was praising God and everyone noticed and joined in. The power of joyfully sharing your ‘miracle-story’ whereevr you go

Next, in Luke 19:1-10 – the story of Zacchaeus, the ‘wee little man who climbed the sycamore tree for the Saviour he wanted to see’ … aha! I heard you singing that chorus! Interesting that this time it is Jesus who positions himself ‘near’ to an individual – Jesus went looking for a man. The interesting thing that is not mentioned is that Bartimaeus was with Jesus’ band of followers now. Bart from the suburbs of Jericho and Zacch from downtown Jericho. I wonder if Bart and Zacch knew each other, was there a history between them? Two men, isolated from the society around them because of their profession. A poor beggar man and a rich tax collector – disliked and devalued by the people around them. Jesus enjoys putting people together…maybe when Zacch was paying back people, Bart received a little donation to his bank account.

I think God is trying to tell me to pay attention to all the details and nuances of incident reports in scripture, especially those I read many times before. I believe He wants me to see that there is always a backstory, for the writers of scripture were only giving the facts that were revealed to them at that time…2 Timothy 3:16. I believe God wants me to understand that the Holy Spirit is still active inspiring insights and understanding and divine truths. So next time you read a familiar story from the Bible – take a few moments and encounter the backstory as Holy Spirit works in you heart and mind.

I pray God’s touch on you!