Things That Could Not Stop Jesus (1/28)
We can all be thankful that sin and sinners could not stop Jesus. Peter first said, “Lord, depart from me for I am a sinful man.” (Luke 5:8) But that didn’t stop Jesus from calling him and transforming him. An uncertain leper was not sure Jesus was willing to heal him. Jesus said, “I am willing, be clean.”
A lack of righteousness and feelings of unworthiness could not stop Jesus. He said, “It is not the healthy, but the sick who need a doctor…I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Legalism could not stop Jesus. Many didn’t believe he should heal on the Sabbath (because that would be work!). That didn’t stop Jesus. He healed anyway because that was the true work of God. Then he said, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
Storms could not stop Jesus. While others were panicking, he simply calmed the sea! Then he walked on water to save the disciples. Fifteen foot waves couldn’t stop him. Demons couldn’t stop him. It didn’t matter what kind or how many there were, Jesus cast them out and delivered people from evil!
Living a life of sin could not stop Jesus. He forgave and cleansed those from immoral lifestyles. Lack of full belief didn’t stop Jesus either. A desperate father said, “Lord, I believe, help my unbelief.” Jesus delivered and healed his son!
Religious traditions can’t stop Jesus either. In the Middle Ages people were taught that God (or Jesus) was too busy to hear their prayers. They were told to pray to saints. This was a profound misunderstanding of God. ?The Creator of the universe, infinite presence, all hearing, all seeing, all knowing, could not hear their prayers? Whaaaaaaaat! One teacher said, “When you seek him, he is wholly there, in his full majesty and power.” But more than that, Jesus told us to pray in his name and that he is interceding at the right hand of God! Paul later said, “For there is one God and one mediator between God and man, the man Jesus Christ.” He is all we need!
Compare God’s power with television. Once the signal is sent out, the number of sets receiving it does not matter and does not lessen the individual experience. (Of course, we can’t pray to the television!) Or let’s compare God to a wave. Does it matter how many people are on the beach? No, it doesn’t lessen the power of the waves! It doesn’t stop the tide from lifting all boats and people!
Let’s personalize it: God is not too busy for you! He will hear your prayers. Jesus is at the Father’s right hand interceding for you! Don’t forget to include your praise and thanksgiving when you make your requests known to him. Do you like to hear your children pray? How much more does the Father love to hear his children pray! In fact, Jesus promised that if we keep on asking, seeking and knocking, the Father wants to give us good gifts and his Holy Spirit. (Matt. 7 and Luke 11)
Let’s take a moment of silence to listen for God’s power.
We love you Lord and we lift our voices to you, knowing that you hear each one of us. We don’t always know your plans or your ways, so we ask that your will be done as we bring our needs to you. Thank you that you know the number of hairs on our heads. Lord, like the mighty waves, your purposes cannot be stopped. If we face trouble, it’s because you allow it. But thank you that you are with us. You can also change our hearts, as well as our circumstances. Thank you for hearing our prayers, in Jesus’ name. Amen.