Have you ever been picked out of a crowd? In surprise, to say “Who – me?”
It’s the whole idea of being singled out of a crowd – as it was for the paralyzed man in this encounter with Jesus.
“Then Jesus said to him, ‘Get up! Pick up your mat and walk” John 5:8.
Have you ever been picked out of a crowd? In surprise, to say “Who – me?” A couple of weeks ago we had a pastor friend from Quebec in our service. I was preaching and as we sang to close, I thought it would be fitting to have him close our time in prayer – so as we sang, I went to the floor level and pointed at him in the crowd. He caught my eye – “who – me?” and came up front for a great closing prayer. It’s the whole idea of being singled out of a crowd – as it was for the paralyzed man in this encounter with Jesus.
Jesus was in Jerusalem for a feast – not for a healing time at the pool. But as He entered through the gate near the pool of Bethesda he went over to it where the faceless invalid crowd huddled together in misery. Here lay a man who had been this way for 38 years and would die in this condition. But for some reason Jesus went to him and spoke. An Encounter! With Jesus! And in that short time, Jesus changed his life. He was no longer faceless and unknown – he was changed by the master! Later in the story he was called out again by the religious elite because he had been healed on the Sabbath. But no matter – this and a subsequent Encounter with Jesus made all the difference for him – he would never be the same again.
The Lord knows your name – and everything else about you. “O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue, you know it completely O Lord…Search me O God and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” Psalm 139:1-4, 23,24.
Are you open for a fresh Encounter with Jesus? Will you respond when He calls your name? His call makes all the difference!
Have a listen to this song and let the truth of it sink in – He knows your name!
This Sunday I am speaking at Oasis service on the coming of the Spirit – what He came to do that day in Jerusalem. Pretty radical – the roots of our church go back to that day. Plan to join us at 3pm at the church…
Pastor Leon Throness
