Getting Between Jesus & Others
September 2, 2023
Luke 18:31-43 | Romans 12:18-19
Has God ever asked us to defend him? Can you think of a situation in the Bible in which God said, “Get between me and that thing/person/situation.”? Did Jesus ask us to stand in the gap for him?
We’re hard-pressed to find such a call to be defenders of God.
We are called to righteousness. We are called to holiness. We are called to justice. We are called to love, mercy, grace, and compassion; to be participants & witnesses of these things.
But God does not need our defense.
How often do we find ourselves getting between God and people? Shushing people in worship. Telling people the “proper” way to behave in case God is watching or would be offended.
Time and again, the gospels portray the disciples getting between Jesus and some person or group of people. Time and again, Jesus tells us to get out of the way.
Luke 18:31-43
Jesus took the Twelve aside and said, “Look, we’re going up to Jerusalem, and everything written about the Human One by the prophets will be accomplished. He will be handed over to the Gentiles. He will be ridiculed, mistreated, and spit on. After torturing him, they will kill him. On the third day, he will rise up.” But the Twelve understood none of these words. The meaning of this message was hidden from them and they didn’t grasp what he was saying.
As Jesus came to Jericho, a certain blind man was sitting beside the road begging. When the man heard the crowd passing by, he asked what was happening. They told him, “Jesus the Nazarene is passing by.”
The blind man shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, show me mercy.” Those leading the procession scolded him, telling him to be quiet, but he shouted even louder, “Son of David, show me mercy.”
Jesus stopped and called for the man to be brought to him. When he was present Jesus asked, “What do you want me to do for you?”
He said, “Lord, I want to see.”
Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight! Your faith has healed you.” At once he was able to see, and he began to follow Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they praised God too.
Romans 12:18-19
If possible, to the best of your ability, live at peace with all people. Don’t try to get revenge for yourselves, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath. It is written, Revenge belongs to me; I will pay it back, says the Lord.
Prayer
God,
Does the thought count? When I seek to defend your honor and tell people what’s up, you do see that I have good intentions, right? For you? Your honor and glory?
Help me to shift my perspective to see your care of all people. Help me to leave vengeance to you. Give me a heart that includes hope for the capacity to change, not just for change in me, but in others, too.
All people. Even the mean ones.
Stretch my vision to be wide enough to include an audacious salvation for the whole world - all people and all of creation. I don’t just want to be an optimist. I want to be a capacitor of love and potential.
So help me, God.
By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.