"Divine Interruptions & Big Moments" (Luke 18:35-43)

Introduction

1. Previously I have looked at this incident from the blind man’s perspective. Today we’ll look at it from Jesus’ perspective, and also from a Jesus-following perspective. My basic question is … what can we learn, and emulate, from Jesus’ approach here? How do we best respond to the broken-hearted and disoriented people around us?

2. From Our Daily Bread (4 Oct 2017) by David McCasland: Experts agree that a staggering amount of time is consumed each day by interruptions. Whether at work or at home, a phone call or an unexpected visit can easily deflect us from what we feel is our main purpose. Not many of us like disruptions in our daily lives, especially when they cause inconvenience or a change of plans!!!!!!!!!

Biblical Text

Jesus enters the picture at verse 40. Jesus must have heard the commotion around the ‘blind beggar’ yelling out to him, and the attempts to shut the man up. One would imagine that the callousness of those trying to silence this man, was NOT lost on Jesus. Given the oppression of the blindness and resultant poverty, and the ambivalence and uncaring nature of the crowd – you would expect that Jesus would do something about this man’s situation. Yes – Jesus made a very public point about wanting to speak with this ‘blind beggar’!

And Jesus wanted to get up close to this man!! Anyone who thinks that this blindness would have been caused by sin, and therefore thought that Jesus should steer away from this situation – should think again! Anyone who wants to judge Jesus for this – for wanting to spend time with a perceived ‘sinner’ – really needed a reality check!!

Jesus was NOT here to try to save the self-satisfied, but rather any ones who knew their need – anyone who would be prepared to call out (like this man), “Jesus, have mercy on me” (verses 38, 39). Jesus would have noted the emerging faith, hearing himself from afar being referred to as “Son of David”. Jesus could have gone over to him … as we might, but on this occasion Jesus made the stronger point of getting some of the detractors to bring the ‘blind man’ over to Jesus.

We firstly notice the remark that “Jesus stood still” (v 40). This was certainly an interruption, but Jesus stopped short of where he was heading … to engage with this ‘poor blind beggar’. Jesus was actually on his way to Jerusalem for the last time – a pretty important and solemn appointment. This likely then happened in the last two weeks of Jesus’ life on earth. There were many things to attend to. For one thing, Jesus had to go and sort out all the corrupt activity happening around the temple. Not to mention all the thoughts going on in Jesus’ head … about the suffering he no doubt faced. Yet Jesus stopped!

This was an interruption to Jesus … even people in the crowd saw it that way – but Jesus stopped! And, to prove that this wasn’t just an isolated response, Jesus would again stop on this last journey to Jerusalem, to meet with the tax-collecting sinner named Zacchaeus … as well as spending some quality time at Zacchaeus’ house (with his family) … before moving on. And we well remember how previously Jesus invited the children to him, when the disciples had judged this to be an inconvenience. Jesus responded well to casual interruptions, and created out of these … what we might call ‘big moments’.

We should note that Jesus never thought that anyone was beyond the reach of the good news. Not the blind, not those with leprosy, not even the demon-possessed! Jesus even spent time with Pharisees in the vain hope that they might change their minds. Jesus never classified any person as being expendable nor beyond reach. There was NO situation that was beyond transformation and hope! In fact, it seems that Jesus made a b-line for anyone who, though broken, was open to a ministry from him.

Next we notice what Jesus said to the ‘blind man’. I have been really struck by this! “What do you want me to do for you” (verse 41). I’ve spent a fair bit of time reflecting on this approach. This was a real conversation starter. We don’t get the detail of the whole conversation here, just the result; but one can imagine that there could have been quite the conversation between the two of them. Jesus could have simply responded to the man’s cry for mercy, but Jesus wanted to get behind this a little … and find more about what was happening for this man.

It seems this man was able to tell Jesus that it was his blindness that was causing all his troubles – his powerlessness, his inability to get around, the difficulty in looking after himself, and the need to beg by a busy roadside. This had all been deeply humiliating and had badly affected his self-esteem. Yet he had heard about Jesus … someone who could change things entirely … what he heard had led him to develop faith in such an ideal and such a person. It might seem a long shot, but it could actually be possible – if he could just see again, he could re-enter community life, and find his way forward.

We can’t know all the thought processes and conversation that day, but we read how the personal relational style of Jesus … led to this man’s healing and salvation. I’m wanting to draw the conclusion, that a good and creative response to interruptions, can lead to people receiving good things from God … receiving what they really need.

In this man’s case, the outcome was particularly fantastic – regaining his sight, obtaining salvation, the opportunity to start following Jesus, being able to leave his begging post behind and glorify God all the way; not to mention … what … all the people praising God! They might have been obstructive and scoffing before, but they are cheering and worshipping now! Why can’t that happen more?!?

Making Big Moments

We can find many reasons to cross the road, lower our eyes, look too busy, stay at home, close the curtains, eat at our desk, or just ignore entirely the possibilities of that impending interruption! We can easily justify other priorities or pursuits, or shy away from the pressure of feeling constantly on call!! However, the Jesus-following way is different to this!!! We notice here (in our reading), not just what Jesus would do, but actually what Jesus did!

So, we would work on our compassion levels and our wisdom receptors, or basically just ask God to bring more of the fruit of His Spirit to us. What if I said, that many people are exploring faith, or questioning their lives, and just want someone to engage with them about this!?! Challenging?!? What would we say?! We should note that Jesus, following his baptism, walked his whole life in, under, and with the Holy Spirit. We can too!

Jesus, in his human form, demonstrated that we both needed to … and COULD … walk in the Spirit. In this way, we will increasingly know what to say!! Ed Stetzer {in his book: Subversive Kingdom: Living as Agents of Gospel Transformation} suggests that, as we follow Jesus and seek out the hurting, our talents for everyday ministry will … “grow more natural and reflexive the more we invest ourselves in them”. Is that true???

We should realise too, that the greatest work of the Kingdom is often done … in what might seem small ways – just that offer of companionship and that word of encouragement. These are often much more effective than the words from on high. The principle here, is, to have the mindset of being available, and creating space … for the question to be put, “What would you like me to do for you”?

I’m thinking this is a question we should have in the back of our minds as we meet all sorts of people along the way. We mightn’t use those exact words, and really the point is more about what God can do for a person; however we have here the mindset of being open to another person expressing their deepest need, and creating the time and space where this can happen. Do we approach or engage with people with a view to what God wants to do for them?

This is NOT about being super-spiritual and somewhat annoying. This should actually come naturally within our particular personality traits; that is, once we attune ourselves to this idea that God wants to do good stuff for people, and actually use us to be connecting points between them and God. What we may first see … as a time-consuming interruption, may actually be a ‘Divine appointment’ that God had scheduled for that day! Interruptions are often opportunities to serve others in Jesus’ name.

Divine Appointments

This all involves slowing down … so that we might notice people, and they might notice us. This is … slowing down with, and for, others! Or as I heard it put: “corralling that most unruly and unpredictable of spirits – our own”. If we always appear rushed, or often come across as too busy, we are unlikely to be people that will be approached for help. We are NOT good candidates for deep conversation or relationship. Jesus, on the other hand, knew the importance of offering his time and full attention. This can be sacrificial – but most things of great worth are.

And, it is sacrificial (or, inconvenient) service that proves love. We need to be awake and alert to the needs of others. For are they not also made in the image of God, and didn’t Jesus die for their freedom!?! They should NOT have to compete for our time! Might we not see them as our future spiritual brother or sister?!This is a matter of human solidarity – feeling for the situations others find themselves in, imagining the impact if this had happened to us, doing unto others as we would have done for us – something Jesus spoke about and lived out!

When we talk about community engagement, the basis of this … is making opportunities for various relationships to emerge and develop. “God has made relationships his chosen delivery system for the gospel of hope” {Ed Stetzer again}. And, as we talked about last week in terms of the church, being prepared to listen clearly (and deeply) will always be the key to relationships. Jesus didn’t assume what the ‘blind beggar’ in our story wanted or needed, but rather he asked him, and no doubt listened carefully for the answer! In this whole process, we gradually become better listeners, and therefore better helpers.

Many people know they need help, but it is only when we are available, and when we open up a safe space for conversation, that we can find what sort of help a person needs, and some of the story that lies behind this. It is NOT about what we want to give from our particular narrow agenda – sometimes we just HAVE TO check ourselves here! We can’t afford to be pushy, or intrude where we haven’t been invited. We might think we know what another needs, but without listening deeply, and without asking the right questions, we may well be wrong – and tragically wrong!

Jesus was clear in asking for the person’s own perspective, their own feelings – “What would you want me to do for you”? Kyle David Bennett wrote {in: Practices of Love: Spiritual Disciplines for Life in the World} that, “[Jesus] didn’t force his help on others, or force them to accept the kind of help he thought they needed; in a consistently incarnational posture, he [Jesus] met them where they were, and helped them where they were, and with what they needed”.

Such conversations might be a one-off, or there may be a follow-up, or a referral, or an invitation, or the beginnings of a long-term relationship (for mutual good effect). In any case, we need to be, and stay, in the moment with people, rather than mentally or physically moving on to something else (that we may judge to be more important). [If we create this confidence in our genuine interest, then the occasions when we are truly unavailable can be more readily understood, and alternative arrangements easily made.]

We also have to avoid trying for the quick fix. This often only involves putting on band-aids. We have to help people get to the root of their problems, rather than enable them to stay as they are … with a comforting band-aid applied to their sore spot! Ultimately, through the leading of God’s Spirit, we can change the whole course of one of our neighbour’s lives. We can even gain a good reputation, individually and collectively, for being truly interested in people’s well-being.

Conclusion

Actually, slowing down, with, and for, others, may require … first … slowing down with God, i.e. spending more time focussed on, or getting to know, God. As we love God more, we will love people more. If we can give higher priority to prayer, bible study and worship – both personal and corporate, we may find that we just naturally slow down with others (and care for them more). We may call this being less hurried, or more unhurried!

To be the best we can be for others, we need to form a deep-rooted friendship with God ourselves. This is the journey I remain on … and I recommend it to you! It is good to remind ourselves, that our time, energy, resources and talents … all belong to God. And, as we read last week from Hebrews 10, “let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds” (10:24). Which is sort of what I’m doing here!!!!

Each day we should ask … what Divine appointments might God have scheduled for us?! In this way, we are ready for anything! If we ever feel unprepared, or preferring this wouldn’t happen, then we need to talk to God about this, and perhaps explore this with a trusted other. We might need a breakthrough here, because this is holding us back from growing and becoming more of the person God sees us as being.

We can also reflect on what we consider might have been a missed opportunity, and rehearse how it may go better the next time. On other occasions, we may ask ourselves how we went on the encouragement scale, and whether our words and actions were kind and life-giving.

John Wesley wrote the following: Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, and as long as you can. Amen!