by Kala Loptien

Encounters with Jesus

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

They said to him, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.” And Jesus in pity touched their eyes, and immediately they recovered their sight and followed him. Matt 20:33

Throughout his journey and ministry, Jesus performed life-changing, incredible miracles. The lame walked. The blind could see. Dead were raised. Just imagine it…

The early sunrise lit up the small room of your house that morning. You sleepily strap on your sandals and stroll down main toward the market. There appears to be more bustle than usual. Murmurs of a high-profile visitor later turns into a crowd. Out of curiosity, you follow. Weaving through bystanders, you find a decent vantage point. Two men are on their knees before him, pleading. You recognize them from the market. They are blind, and yet they know him? And then suddenly, a collective gasp erupts from the crowd. They can see! Everyone is talking. The Healer is walking…and a large crowd follows close behind. Could this be the son of David? The coming Lord? You have to know. You follow too.

I’ve been trying to place myself in this scene–in any of the transformative scenes with Jesus. He obviously didn’t do any of it for fame. He did it for all of us: for those he healed; for those who watched; for those who walked alongside him in ministry; and for those who still do. We experience these encounters through the waters of baptism, when we come to His table, as we worship together, study His word and kneel before Him in prayer.

God is with us. He’s always on time. He is directing our steps and leading us — drawing us — closer. Maybe we are on the outside looking in, hear the murmurs and wonder, “who is this Jesus”? Maybe we’ve watched as he’s healed, reconciled and restored. Maybe it was us. Or perhaps, like me, it’s all of the above. Here we are: almost to Jerusalem where we’ll wave our palm branches and shout Hosannah. We know what Holy Week brings. He’ll show up. He always does.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado