Sacred Holidays: A Devotional Leading Up To Summer预览

DAY TWO: 

Today we are going to look at some of the things Jesus, the Son of God, our Redeemer, did while He walked along the road. Let’s just pause there for a moment because it is worth pausing for—Jesus actually walked this earth. Sometimes when we read Scripture, this fact can seem so distant or lost in the pages, but He actually came to this earth and showed us the way to go. This is why we study Scripture—so we can know Him and know how to follow Him. 

Let’s start in Matthew 20:29-34 and note what happened along the side of the road. 

Jesus was walking down a road with a huge crowd following Him. I would imagine that there were so many noises and an abundance of distractions. Yet, over the crowd, Jesus heard two voices begging for his mercy. Jesus hears our cries and isn’t swayed or distracted by popular opinion—He will do what He knows is best to do. 

Read Luke 19:1-10 and note Jesus’ actions in this story. 

Again, Jesus is passing through town and there was a large crowd around him, making it very hard to even see Jesus. Yet there was this man who desperately wanted to catch just a glimpse of Jesus; the man was a tax-collector who was wealthy, but despised because tax collectors were known for stealing money from the poor. While trying to see Jesus, the tax collector didn’t expect Jesus to see him. This is so important. Jesus sees us—whether we are hiding, or trying to notice him, or trying to be noticed by Him, He see us. As Jesus was passing under the tree that Zacchaeus was in, He looked up, called him by name, and told him to come down. The people were not happy with this because they did not think Jesus should be associating with a man who stole money from them. After an encounter with the presence of Jesus, this man’s heart was changed, changed and he committed to give back four times what he stole 

This is what being in the presence of Jesus does for us. We don’t need to hide away from Him, trying to steal a glimpse of Him while remain unnoticed for shame of how we’ve been living. Jesus said at the end of this story, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” 

Jesus was intent to use His road trips to see people, really see them for who they are and who they could be. 

Our final stop on this road with Jesus and the crowds leads us to a woman who has known suffering and patience. 

Read Luke 8:42-48 and note how long the woman had been sick and what happened to her.

This woman had been sick for twelve years. Think of twelve years ago and how much life has passed between now and then. Twelve years, and this woman was still bleeding! We can assume she had tried every thing imaginable. What I love most about this woman is that even after twelve years, she had not given up hope yet! She was a fighter and was also filled with great faith. She didn’t even want to bother Jesus to ask for something; in her mind, she knew her place and his, and she didn’t want to intrude. 

So she came up from behind and just touched the very fringe of his garment and she was healed immediately. Jesus turned to her. Do you notice what He said healed her? It wasn’t His fringe—it was her faith in His presence. 

What might faith in Christ’s presence heal today if you just reach out to Jesus along your road?