Apicontent

“After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias. Now this is how he did so. Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael (who was from Cana in Galilee), the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples of his were together. Simon Peter told them, ‘I am going fishing.’ ‘We will go with you,’ they replied. They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
“When it was already very early morning, Jesus stood on the beach, but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. So Jesus said to them, ‘Children, you don’t have any fish, do you?’ They replied, ‘No.’ He told them, ‘Throw your net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.’ So they threw the net, and were not able to pull it in because of the large number of fish.” —John 21:1–6

The Sea of Tiberius, also known as the Sea of Galilee, was the chosen sight for our Lord’s appearance to His beloved disciples. This would have been familiar territory and sweet surroundings for these men. Indeed, it was the place where Jesus had done some of His mightiest works—walked on water, stilled the waves and winds, provided money for taxes from the mouth of a fish, fed the multitudes loaves and fishes, cast out legions of demons, and delivered the parable of the sower. This place would serve to remind His disciples of the days when Jesus’ power, love, and wisdom were constantly in their view. Sometimes we just need to be reminded of His mercy, power, love, wisdom, and forgiveness. Jesus is always aware of what His followers need—ever reminding us of His presence, especially when faith ebbs low.

Interestingly, this was where Peter, James, and John had first followed Jesus. It was here that He had called them to abandon their fishing for mere fish and embrace the highest work of fishing for the souls of men. Of interest as well is the fact that Thomas, the doubter turned believer, is now mentioned with Peter. Thomas had missed the appearance of Jesus when the other disciples had assembled, and he was wisely not about to let another opportunity slip through his hands!

Peter demonstrates his leadership abilities as the small band of disciples seem to follow him when he makes mention of going fishing. The simple definition of a leader is to have someone follow. In our verses for today, Peter goes fishing with six others. Not wanting to simply wait for Jesus’ next appearance with idle hands, Peter gravitates to what he knows—fishing. He goes back to what he is accustomed to doing and the others follow suit. There is something very comforting in doing the familiar—it clears one’s mind particularly when so much surprise and unknown swirls in the head.

Not much has gone as expected for the disciples! In the beginning, when the disciples left everything to follow Jesus, their expectations and dreams were not exactly what eventually played out (to say the least). Now they are trying to absorb all that has just happened: Judas’ betrayal; Peter’s denial; Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection; and His appearance to them after His resurrection. They had to have been overwhelmed. As they try to figure out where to go from here, they return to what they know.

Oftentimes, when we set out to follow Jesus, we must tear up into the smallest pieces any itinerary we may have for the journey. Not much happens as we expect. Jesus keeps to no beaten path nor will He allow us to put Him in a box. He leads us by a way our eyes and ears and minds have never seen, heard, imagined, or dreamed. He knows no fear and He expects His servants to fear nothing because He always walks with us. It is His great promise to all believers. He is a “with us” God.

“Your conduct must be free from the love of money and you must be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you and I will never abandon you.’” —Hebrews 13:5

In our passage for today we find that the disciples catch nothing, not a thing. I think this is another lesson Jesus was gently teaching his followers, apart from Him we can do nothing. However, with Him, abiding in Him, we can turn the world upside down. In and of ourselves we can do nothing of eternal value. Only He can do all things. Our power is in following Him.

Become More

“We need to keep reminding ourselves that without the Lord we can do nothing. It needs to become a habit of mind with each of us to tell the Lord as we tackle each task, ‘I can’t do this without your help, please help me’, and then to expect to be helped because we have admitted our helplessness, given up self-reliance and are now looking to Him.” —J. I. Packer

Further Reflections

“But just as it is written, ‘Things that no eye has seen, or ear heard, or mind imagined, are the things God has prepared for those who love him.’” —1 Corinthians 2:9

“Remain in me, and I will remain in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. ‘I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me—and I in him—bears much fruit, because apart from me you can accomplish nothing.’” —John 15:4–5

“Two other criminals were also led away to be executed with him. One of the criminals who was hanging there railed at him, saying, ‘Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!’ But the other rebuked him, saying, ‘Don’t you fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we rightly so, for we are getting what we deserve for what we did, but this man has done nothing wrong.’ Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingdom.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.’” —Luke 23:32, 39–40

In these few verses, we see all the steps necessary for our salvation. Here are a few truths I see in the conversation between Jesus and the second criminal on the cross:

• The criminal actually feared God. He showed this by not insulting Jesus nor blaspheming or reviling Him, but by turning to Him.
• The criminal was aware of his own sin and his inability to save himself.
• The criminal realized that his sin had to be punished.
• The criminal realized Jesus was without sin.
• The criminal also realized Jesus was going to another kingdom.
• The criminal asked Jesus to remember him in His kingdom.
• The criminal actually rebuked the other criminal.
• The criminal is with Jesus in paradise and has been since that day.

Maintaining a confidence in Jesus, committing his way to Him, expecting help from Him, rejoicing in the hope of being with Him forever, the criminal on the cross sets for us a good example.

Do we maintain such a confidence in Jesus? Have we committed our way to the One who is more than sufficient to meet our every need? Do we expect Jesus to grant us the grace to accomplish whatever He allows into our lives with contentment, peace, and joy?

Paul reminds us of the source of his supernatural strength when he proclaims:

“I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content in any circumstance. I have experienced times of need and times of abundance. In any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of contentment, whether I go satisfied or hungry, have plenty or nothing. I am able to do all things through the one who strengthens me. Nevertheless, you did well to share with me in my trouble.” —Philippians 4:11–13

Do we rejoice in the hope of being with Him forever—holding fast in confidence to our future eternal bliss? Jesus desires for us to be encouraged and strengthened by this truth. Just as He told His first disciples, He tells us:

“Do not let your hearts be distressed. You believe in God; believe also in me. There are many dwelling places in my Father’s house. Otherwise, I would have told you, because I am going away to make ready a place for you. And if I go and make ready a place for you, I will come again and take you to be with me, so that where I am you may be too.” —John 14:1–3

Become More

“Even youths get tired and weary; even strong young men clumsily stumble. But those who wait for the Lord’s help find renewed strength; they rise up as if they had eagles’ wings, they run without growing weary, they walk without getting tired.”—Isaiah 40:29–31

Further Reflections

“Nothing can harm us, including death, when we have trusted Christ as Savior, because Christ has conquered death—and so shall we.” —Billy Graham

“The only ground on which God can forgive our sin and reinstate us to His favor is through the Cross of Christ. There is no other way! Forgiveness, which is so easy for us to accept, cost the agony at Calvary. We should never take the forgiveness of sin, the gift of the Holy Spirit, and our sanctification in simple faith, and then forget the enormous cost to God that made all of this ours. Forgiveness is the divine miracle of grace. The cost to God was the Cross of Christ. To forgive sin, while remaining a holy God, this price had to be paid. Never accept a view of the fatherhood of God if it blots out the atonement. The revealed truth of God is that without the atonement He cannot forgive–He would contradict His nature if He did. The only way we can be forgiven is by being brought back to God through the atonement of the Cross. God’s forgiveness is possible only in the supernatural realm. Once you realize all that it cost God to forgive you, you will be held as in a vise, constrained by the love of God.” —Oswald Chambers

“So Pilate went back into the governor’s residence, summoned Jesus, and asked him, ‘Are you the king of the Jews?’
“Jesus replied, ‘Are you saying this on your own initiative, or have others told you about me?’
“Pilate answered, ‘I am not a Jew, am I? Your own people and your chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?’” —John 18:33–34

Pilate has summoned Jesus into his palace in an effort to remove Him from the raucous of the rabble and ask his own questions. It is the perfect picture of Holiness himself being summoned into defilement. In some ways, that is also a description of what Jesus does every time He is asked to enter a heart at the point of salvation. The pure, holy, blameless, and set apart from sinners Savior enters into a heart blackened by sin and depravity—saving, cleansing, and empowering that heart to be like Him.

All four gospels record Pilate asking this same question: “Are you the king of the Jews?” He obviously had a true desire to know if Jesus was the king of this ancient people over whom he and his soldiers now ruled. Considering our Lord’s attire and humble appearance, Pilate surely assumed Jesus was merely a mock messiah—simply setting himself up over the masses. Matthew, Mark, and Luke all record our Lord replying to Pilate with the same words: “You say so.”

“Then Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, ‘Are you the king of the Jews?’ Jesus said, ‘You say so.’” —Matthew 27:1

“Pilate asked him, ‘Are you the king of the Jews?’ He replied, ‘You say so.’” —Mark 15:2

“So Pilate asked Jesus, ‘Are you the king of the Jews?’ He replied, ‘You say so.’” —Luke 23:3

A few verses later in John 18 we find similar words from Jesus, yet adding a stipulation for those willing to hear Him:

“Then Pilate said, ‘So you are a king!’ Jesus replied, ‘You say that I am a king. For this reason I was born, and for this reason I came into the world—to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.’” —John 18:37

Jesus answers Pilate with an affirmative. Indeed, Jesus was the king of the Jews, yet not a king in the way Pilate supposed Him to be. Jesus’ kingdom was not a political kingdom to rival Rome. He was no threat to Roman rule. Jesus’ kingdom is entirely unlike the kingdoms of the world. His realm is not dependent upon the world’s power or arms or money. It is a kingdom with origins from heaven. It is far more glorious and incomprehensible than anything we can assemble or even imagine on earth. It is a spiritual kingdom over the heart and will and mind.

The question is: Are we willing to proclaim Jesus King?

Become More

“Whenever God rules over the human heart as King, there is the kingdom of God established.” —Paul W. Harrison

Further Reflections

“Jesus showed us what God really wants to cleanse and purify—our hearts. Christ’s transforming work on the cross helps us to break free from desires that hold us in bondage. As we submit to God, we become like Christ, no longer wanting to offend God. Out of gratitude we obey Him from the inside out.” —Tremper Longman

“Jesus said, ‘Have the people sit down.’ (Now there was a lot of grass in that place.) So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed the bread to those who were seated. He then did the same with the fish, as much as they wanted.” —John 6:10–13

Jesus had compassion for the masses following Him. The people were weary and they were hungry and they were in need of restoration. Like rain on a parched land, Jesus restores our spent spirits and weary bodies. There is, quite simply, no one to which we can compare Him. He is the ultimate restorer of our souls.

Jesus gives instructions to have the people sit down in the soft, green grass. Our God is a God of order and not confusion. Chaos and disorder belong to Satan’s realm. From the stars in the sky, to the seasons in each year, to the songbirds, to the seas, God’s order permeates. I wonder if Satan likes to hold us in chaos and confusion in order to hinder us from thinking; to keep us from delving deeper into the ways of God. Distractions from what is truly important are rampant in our day and age. From the headphones blaring, to the cell phones ringing, to the television blasting; there is rarely a time when silence and tranquility prevail. Yet, God calls His children to this treasure. It is in the stillness that we are able to intently hear His still small voice.

I am reminded of the prophet Elijah who had a mountaintop experience with God. Soon after, he found himself fleeing, hotly pursued by Jezebel who wanted to take his life. Spent physically, emotionally, and spiritually he heads for Horeb, the mountain of God. God sent an angel to strengthen him and he traveled 40 days to meet with his Maker.

“He went into a cave there and spent the night. All of a sudden the LORD’s message came to him, ‘Why are you here, Elijah?’ He answered, ‘I have been absolutely loyal to the LORD God of Heaven’s Armies, even though the Israelites have abandoned the covenant they made with you, torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left and now they want to take my life.” The LORD said, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD. Look, the LORD is ready to pass by.’
“A very powerful wind went before the LORD, digging into the mountain and causing landslides, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the windstorm there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake, there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. After the fire, there was a soft whisper. When Elijah heard it, he covered his face with his robe and went out and stood at the entrance to the cave. All of a sudden a voice asked him, ‘Why are you here, Elijah?’” —1 Kings 19:9–13

While God certainly can be in the wind and in the earthquake and in the fire, He thankfully most always lovingly speaks to His children through the gentle whisper of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Oftentimes, unfortunately, our busyness robs us of this intimacy.

It is important that we do not let our lives become so busy and distracted that we are unable to get off to a solitary place to meditate and pray, enjoying the company of our Creator. Even in Jesus’ life, the early hour was the most conducive for this high privilege. We find in the book of Mark the habit of our Savior:

“Then Jesus got up early in the morning when it was still very dark, departed, and went out to a deserted place, and there he spent time in prayer.” —Mark 1:35

If this was our Savior’s custom, how much more should it be ours!

In our verses for today, we find Jesus giving thanks for the provision before the food is distributed. I think it is important to note that thankfulness and praise precede the miraculous here.

The crowds had been satisfied when Jesus issued the following direction to His disciples: “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” It is comforting to know that our God is not a God of waste. He does not waste bread fragments, He does not waste our experiences, He does not waste the broken pieces of our lives, He does not waste our failures. Instead, He miraculously weaves together all things in His children’s lives—even the poor choices allowed by His permissive will—into a beautiful tapestry which brings glory to Him. Out of our darkest experiences the brightest light can dawn for those who love Him. God works for His children’s good as we gather the broken pieces of our lives and give them back to Him.

God takes our meager sacrifices and turns them into abundance. With the young lad’s giving of two small fish and five little loaves God fed more than 5000 people, and there were twelve baskets leftover.

Our satisfaction and sufficiency rest in God and God alone. Until we are able to grasp that truth, we will always find ourselves wanting, no matter how much of the world’s temporal treasures we may possess. Our Maker knows how we are made and therefore knows our every need—emotional, physical, and spiritual, and it is His desire to overflow our cups with Him.

Become More

“Be still, and know that I am God.” —Psalm 46:10

Further Reflections

“The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He takes me to lush pastures, he leads me to refreshing water. He restores my strength. He leads me down the right paths for the sake of his reputation.” —Psalm 23:1–3

“Somehow in the wonder-working providence of God, our worst problems become our best pulpits. God turns our tragedies into testimonies and our emergencies into evangelism. Our testimonies are forged and crafted in the trials of life, our pain has an evangelistic purpose, our problems become His pulpits, and the things that happen to us turn out for the furtherance of the gospel.” —Robert Morgan

“Then Jesus, when he looked up and saw that a large crowd was coming to him, said to Philip, ‘Where can we buy bread so that these people may eat?’ (Now Jesus said this to test him, for he knew what he was going to do.) Philip replied, ‘Two hundred silver coins worth of bread would not be enough for them, for each one to get a little.’ One of Jesus’ disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, ‘Here is a boy who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what good are these for so many people?’” —John 6:5–9

Philip should have taken his cue from the prophet Ezekiel’s response to God in the valley full of dry bones:

“The hand of the LORD was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and placed me in the midst of the valley, and it was full of bones. He made me walk all around among them. I realized there were a great many bones in the valley and they were very dry. He said to me, ‘Son of man, can these bones live?’ I said to him, ‘Sovereign LORD, you know.’” —Ezekiel 37:1–3

We discover great truth in the prophet’s words: “Sovereign LORD, you alone know.” Indeed, God alone knows.

I love the command and promise presented to us in Proverbs:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. Acknowledge him in all your ways, and he will make your paths straight.” —Proverbs 3:5–6

We see and reason imperfectly with our limited vision and understanding. Human insight and reasoning will always be found wanting; it is simply incomplete. Contrast, on the other hand, God’s ways, which are incomprehensible, His paths, beyond tracing out. We read in Romans:

“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how unfathomable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor” —Romans 11:33–34

Isaiah tells us:

“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is an eternal God, the Creator of the whole earth. He does not get tired or weary, there is no limit to his wisdom.” —Isaiah 40:28

Needless to say, Jesus already knew the answer to His question before He even asked it. Our Savior was not searching for information; He was simply helping Philip to go deeper. Philip, who had been Jesus’ disciple from the first, and had been privy to His miracles, should have known without a doubt that Jesus could provide. Those who have witnessed and participated in God’s works should certainly maintain a deeper understanding of His ways.

Ever been with your back against the wall and nowhere to turn? Ever been empty of ability when presented with great need? Ever been clueless when the questions just kept pouring in? Jesus has asked His disciples where they can buy bread for 5,000 plus people. The disciples do not have the money. They are in a remote area. They totally lack the ability to do as Jesus has requested. It is no wonder the other three gospels tell us the disciples told Jesus to send the people away. That sounds like a reasonable response to me. Yet Jesus is not looking for my reasonable responses. He is looking for dependence on Him.

Oftentimes, when we are confronted by an out of our league need, our initial response is to send it away, get rid of it, flee, or turn a deaf ear. What we need to do is turn to the Lord! He gives His direction and power as we place our trust in Him. I can’t imagine Moses thought he would part the Red Sea, or Joshua thought he would level Jericho’s walls, or Gideon thought his three hundred men could lay flat an army as numerous as the sand on the seashore. Fact is, they did not have the ability in and of themselves, but God did. And because of His great love for His people, He chooses to use those who put their trust in Him.

It was Jesus’ desire to show His disciples—and us as well—not to look inward or outward for help, but to look upward. When we learn to lean into Him, He proves himself faithful to either miraculously change the circumstance or change us by bestowing upon us the grace sufficient to meet the need.

Become More

“Confidence in the natural world is self-reliance; in the spiritual world it is God-reliance.” —Oswald Chambers

“God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supply.” —Hudson Taylor

Further Reflections

“Our extremities are the Lord’s opportunities.” —Charles Spurgeon

“Faith sees the invisible, believes the unbelievable, and receives the impossible.” —Corrie Ten Boom

“Faith raises the soul above the difficulty, straight to God Himself, and enables one to stand still. We gain nothing by our restless and anxious efforts … It is therefore true wisdom, in all times of difficulty and perplexity, to stand still—to wait only upon God, and He will assuredly open a way for us.” —C.H. MacIntosh

“As he was saying these things, a leader came, bowed low before him, and said, ‘My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her and she will live.’ Jesus and his disciples got up and followed him. … When Jesus entered the leader’s house and saw the flute players and the disorderly crowd, he said, ‘Go away, for the girl is not dead but asleep!’ And they began making fun of him. But when the crowd had been forced outside, he went in and gently took her by the hand, and the girl got up. And the news of this spread throughout that region.” —Matthew 9:18–19, 23–26

In these verses, we experience Jesus the Healer. Jairus, the synagogue ruler whose daughter had just died, and the woman with the issue of blood, both humbly approach the Master, hopeful in the God of all hope to heal. Both of the situations of these two supplicants were completely beyond the powers of nature. And yet, they were both well within the power of Jesus.

It is interesting that the age of Jairus’ daughter and the woman’s duration of hemorrhaging had both been twelve years. In reading the other gospel accounts of this same passage, one can clearly see the hopelessness of both situations. However, those not possessing the hope of nature can possess the hope of Jesus! As I read these accounts of suffering, I am reminded of Paul’s words:

“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in him, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” —Romans 15:13

This passage begins with Jairus approaching Jesus, kneeling before Him, humbly requesting Jesus to come to heal his son. This incident, I’m sure, had shattered his family, and had sent this ruler straight to the Shepherd who ever-lovingly tends His sheep. All things in our life should drive us to the feet of Jesus! We see here that the Savior’s job description not only included preaching the truth, but producing the good work of healing and binding up the brokenhearted as well. We discover in Isaiah:

“The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon me, because the LORD has chosen me. He has commissioned me to encourage the poor, to help the brokenhearted, to decree the release of captives, and the freeing of prisoners, to announce the year when the LORD will show his favor, the day when our God will seek vengeance, to console all who mourn.” —Isaiah 61:1–2

Agreeing to the ruler’s request, Jesus begins His journey to Jairus’ home. Jesus’ readiness to help this man is evident as He immediately rises and goes with him, not only willing to grant his request but even being willing to go to his home to fulfill it. Those who seek Jesus never seek Him in vain!

The mourners had already gathered. Many had come together to grieve the loss and comfort the parents in their distress. Jesus rebukes the noisy crowd with His words, “Go away, for the girl is not dead but asleep!” He is unconcerned by their mocking, and leaving the crowds outside, Jesus goes in and does what only He can do; immediately raising the child to life again with but a word. She was dead to the world but alive to Christ who knew what He would and could do. Amazing!

Become More

Jesus is the Help of the helpless, the Hope of the hopeless. Hold on tightly to Him!

Become More

“God’s mercy is vast and beyond our comprehension. He will never reject anyone who turns to Him for mercy. Nor will He force Himself on anyone who chooses to live without Him.” —Michael Youssef

“God alone knows the depth and riches of His Godhead, and divine wisdom alone can declare His secrets.” —Thomas Aquinas

“Jesus said to him, ‘Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.’ And immediately he regained his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they too gave praise to God.” —Luke 18:42–43

Praise—to speak highly of the greatness and excellence of God—is the natural outflow from a thankful heart. Indeed, not only was the healed, blind beggar praising, but also all those who beheld the miracle.

King David gives us the proper perspective on praise:

“I will thank the LORD with all my heart! I will tell about all your amazing deeds! I will be happy and rejoice in you! I will sing praises to you, O Most High!” —Psalm 9:1–2

Unfortunately, many Christians do not manifest this attitude of gratitude. However, Christians should be the most grateful of all people! Jesus has healed us of our spiritual poverty and darkness. He has empowered us with the precious Holy Spirit, enabling us to live a life worthy of the gospel and allowing us to withstand every attack of the evil one. Jesus has bestowed upon us the gifts of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self-control. We experience these in ever-increasing measures as we submit to His working in our lives. He holds out to us abundant life not only in the here and now, but in eternal life as well. Peter tells us:

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may proclaim the virtues of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. You once were not a people, but now you are God’s people. You were shown no mercy, but now you have received mercy.” —1 Peter 2:9–10

Jesus said:

“You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill cannot be hidden. People do not light a lamp and put it under a basket but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before people, so that they can see your good deeds and give honor to your Father in heaven.” —Matthew 5:14–16

Become More

Wales Goebel observed: “It is too bad that many believers minimize the place of good works in the Christian life. We do not perform good works to get any glory for ourselves, but we do them to glorify His blood given on our behalf.”

“Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, acknowledging his name. And do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for God is pleased with such sacrifices.” —Hebrews 13:15–16

Further Reflections

“Cultivating a grateful heart is not just an add-on nicety, a civil tip of the hat to God as we steamroll through our day. A posture of purposeful, perpetual thanks to God is absolutely central to Christian character. It gives glory to Him. It is the key defense against Satan’s temptations to despair, distrust, dysfunction. It protects us from sin and self. It is the hallmark of heaven. It does not exist in hell.” —Ellen Vaughn

“Holy joy is the life of thankful praise, as thankful praise is the language of holy joy.” —Matthew Henry

“And those who were in front scolded him to get him to be quiet, but he shouted even more, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’ So Jesus stopped and ordered the beggar to be brought to him. When the man came near, Jesus asked him, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ He replied, ‘Lord, let me see again.’” —Luke 18:39–41

Those that led the way, the ones out front, the ones that the crowds looked up to, began to chide, berate, and censure the beggar for pleading for mercy from Jesus. When we cry out to Jesus in our emptiness, begging for His compassion, we should not be surprised to encounter opposition.

“Those who earnestly seek Christ’s favours and blessings will not be deterred from the pursuit of them, though they meet with oppositions and rebuke. They who went along rebuked him as troublesome to the Master, noisy and impertinent, and told him to be quiet. The check given him was but as a dam to a full stream, which makes it swell so much the more.” —Matthew Henry

And yet, how often do we scurry away from the needy for various reasons, not the least of which boils down to pure selfishness? We are called to walk as Jesus did through the power of the Holy Spirit. Often we miss many opportunities presented to us for kingdom work because we are too preoccupied with this world and all that it has to offer.

However, Jesus responds to seekers quite differently. He tells us:

“Everyone whom the Father gives me will come to me, and the one who comes to me I will never send away.” — John 6:37

God’s Word through Jeremiah has this same message for us:

“‘When you seek me in prayer and worship, you will find me available to you. If you seek me with all your heart and soul, I will make myself available to you,’ says the LORD. ‘Then I will reverse your plight and will regather you from all the nations and all the places where I have exiled you,’ says the LORD. ‘I will bring you back to the place from which I exiled you.’” —Jeremiah 29:13–14

Jesus never turns away those who seek after Him! Indeed, those who earnestly seek Jesus are never troublesome to Him. In fact, He says:

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” —Matthew 7:7–8

Do you want more of Jesus manifested in your life; more of the precious Holy Spirit made conspicuous rather than quenched? The verb tense in the above verses actually implies “Keep on asking,” “Keep on seeking,” “Keep on knocking.” Why? Because the Father loves to give good gifts to those who ask. And what is the good gift? Luke clearly tells us:

“So I tell you: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What father among you, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, although you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” —Luke 11:9–13

Matthew Henry says:

“Christ has more tenderness and compassion for distressed supplicants than any of His followers have. Those who had checked him must now lend him their hands to lead him to Christ.”

Jesus is graciously willing to come to our aid!

Become More

“Yes, He does ‘exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think;’ granting not only according to the notion of our narrow hearts but according to the riches of His glory, as becomes His majesty. Christ delights in great petitions; for He is a great Lord, and is ‘rich unto all that call upon Him.’” —K.H. Von Bogatzky

Further Reflections

“What then shall we say about these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Indeed, he who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, freely give us all things?” —Romans 8:31–32

“The LORD deserves praise, for he has heard my plea for mercy! The LORD strengthens and protects me; I trust in him with all my heart. I am rescued and my heart is full of joy; I will sing to him in gratitude. The LORD strengthens his people; he protects and delivers his chosen king.” —Psalm 28:6–8

“As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road begging. When he heard a crowd going by, he asked what was going on. They told him, ‘Jesus the Nazarene is passing by.’ So he called out, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’” —Luke 18:35–38

Poor and blind, sitting by the roadside, this beggar is indeed an example of the world for which Jesus came to seek and to save. Helpless to change his condition, this man sits by the road begging. You can almost hear his cup shaking with the few coins he has received. And all the while he is pleading, “Can you spare anything for my empty cup? I am so needy, is there nothing you can give me? Can someone please help me in this terrible state I am in?” This poor man needs more than anyone has the ability or wherewithal to give. Any coin that may have been thrown his way would still leave his cup clanging, a constant reminder of his needs never being fully met and the emptiness of his soul.

Enter on the scene the Living Water. When that precious water enters our cups, they overflow leaving no room for want.

The world’s “water” satisfies only for a season and then we are left shaking our cups once again. The living water which Jesus offers provides us with continual satisfaction of needs and desires we all thirst for. Jesus gives life that is not constricted but overflowing.

“Great symbolic value is here in Luke’s account. The man was a beggar sitting by the side of the road, waiting for something to happen. He was blind and could do nothing to improve his condition. The Messiah came through his town (as He had walked through many towns). Immediately the blind man recognized Him as the Messiah, the One who could save him from his blindness. Spiritual outcasts, unable to help themselves, far more readily recognized the Messiah and asked for His help than did the Jewish religious leaders. The man had faith in the Messiah, and it was the Messiah’s power that had healed him. In the same way, if the nation had faith in the Messiah, their faith would have healed them of their spiritual blindness. As a result of the man’s healing, he and all the people who saw the miracle praised God.” —Bible Knowledge Commentary

The beggar cries out with faith and fervency to Jesus for mercy and favor. He believes Jesus is able to help him. Do we believe as he? Jesus is able to come to our aid! Jesus is able to come to our rescue! Jesus is able to meet our needs! Jesus is able to fill our empty cups! Jesus is able!

I love Psalm 91. Two passages speak clearly and beautifully of God’s willing protection, refuge, faithfulness, love, mercy, and satisfaction. We are blessed by His wonderful provision.

“He will shelter you with his wings; you will find safety under his wings. His faithfulness is like a shield or a protective wall.” — Psalm 91:4

“The LORDsays, ‘Because he is devoted to me, I will deliver him; I will protect him because he is loyal to me. When he calls out to me, I will answer him. I will be with him when he is in trouble; I will rescue him and bring him honor. I will satisfy him with long life, and will let him see my salvation.” —Psalm 91:14–16

The guilt and power of sin will weary our soul and leave us crying for mercy. Conversely, Jesus offers rest for the weary and lightness for the burden that we are groaning under.

Become More

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke on you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and my load is not hard to carry.” —Matthew 11:28–30

Further Reflections

“Jesus replied, ‘Everyone who drinks some of this water will be thirsty again. But whoever drinks some of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again, but the water that I will give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up to eternal life.’” —John 4:13–14

“Jesus Christ will give assured rest to those weary souls, that by a living faith come to Him for it; a rest in God, in His love.” —Matthew Henry

“Then one of them, when he saw he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He fell with his face to the ground at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. (Now he was a Samaritan.) Then Jesus said, ‘Were not ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to turn back and give praise to God except this foreigner?’ Then he said to the man, ‘Get up and go your way. Your faith has made you well.’” —Luke 17:15–19

All ten lepers were healed yet only the foreigner returns to Jesus with thanksgiving on his lips. God loves it when we take time to thank Him for His blessings. Being appreciative of all His hand has bestowed should come as naturally to us as breathing yet, unfortunately, we often woefully fall short in the arena of gratitude. The cleansed Samaritan in our verses for today humbly throws himself at the feet of Jesus, thanking Him for the cleansing. I am reminded of King David’s prayer of humble thankfulness to God over all God’s blessings upon his life. 

“King David went in, sat before the Lord, and said, ‘Who am I, O Sovereign LORD, and what is my family, that you should have brought me to this point? And you didn’t stop there, O LORD God! You have also spoken about the future of your servant’s family. Is this your usual way of dealing with men, O Sovereign LORD? What more can David say to you? You have given your servant special recognition, O Sovereign LORD! For the sake of your promise and according to your purpose you have done this great thing in order to reveal it to your servant. Therefore you are great, O Sovereign LORD, for there is none like you! There is no God besides you! What we have heard is true!’” —2 Samuel 7:18–22

Paul tells us:

“Always rejoice, constantly pray, in everything give thanks. For this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” —1 Thessalonians 5:16–18

“And whatever you do in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” —Colossians 3:17

All ten lepers were healed, yet only the foreigner distinguished himself with his humble gratitude over the mercy of Jesus. In our verses for today, the nine Jews, though healed physically, missed being healed spiritually. Apart from Jesus, we have nothing within us to remedy our spiritual condition.

Become More

“When we can do nothing Jesus can do all things; let us enlist His powerful aid upon our side, and all will be well.” —Charles Spurgeon

Further Reflections

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” —Melody Beattie

“Ungrateful people live under the deception that they are always entitled to more.” —Wayne Cordeiro