by Zach Dodd, WEGO Director
“…Jesus saw him lying there…”
-John 5:6a
Jesus clearly cares about the masses. “For God so loved the world” and all that. He feeds the 5,000 and preaches to crowded hillsides. But it is Jesus’ interactions with the ‘one’ that seem particularly eye-opening. Throughout the Gospels we see Jesus noticing and conversing and healing individuals. Each person is unique, just like how Jesus brings about their restoration. You have the woman at the well and the one caught in adultery. We read about the official’s son, the invalid by the pool, and the man born blind – just to name a few. In all the fervor of the multitudes and all the hoopla surrounding His coming, Jesus locks eyes with one person at a time. Just look at John 5.
“Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, ‘Do you want to get well?’”
Within the multitude, Jesus saw the one.
We all need this reminder. First, know you are the one. You are not missed by Jesus. He saw your unformed body (Ps 139), keeps a record of each of your tears (Ps 56), and numbers the very hair on your head (Luke 12). You are not lost or alone. On a big ball covered in people, your Creator sees you today. Take a deep breath and rest in that right now. I’m serious. Take a big breath and receive that reality. Done? OK, keep on reading. (Sorry for being bossy – I just don’t want you to skim and miss that part.)
Second, we should allow our eyes to look upon people as Jesus does – one person at a time. In a world where social clout is based on numbers (likes, followers, comments, shares), we are in grave danger of missing actual real-life people in the process. I bet the Kardashian’s don’t keep up with any of their combined two billion followers. I’m tempted here to ask your help in getting #KimDontCare trending but Jesus sees her, too. So, I won’t.
Simply keep your heart open to the “one”. Be the Hands and Presence of Jesus to them.
What if we did that right now in our prayer guide? Does 1 really matter among 8,171,472,009? I bet Deglis sure hopes so. Let’s see the one like Jesus right now. Get to know Deglis and pray for him.
FROM DEGLIS:
“My name is Deglis David Soto Molina. I’m in 7th grade at New Hope School in Nicaragua. I live in Jinotepe in an area called Tomas Carreras. My family has our own house. I live with my mom, dad, and sister. My mom is 39 and has a clothing business. My dad is 42 and helps at home. My sister is 10 and she is in the 5th grade. I am saved and attend a church called Piedra Viva. My mom, my sister, and I go there.
I love helping my mom at home. My favorite thing to do is watch videos on my phone. I love eating Hawaiian pizza. I love my school because I have learned that Jesus is our only God and Savior.”
HOW YOU CAN PRAY:
1) Please pray that I get good grades
2) Ask God to give good health to my family
3) Pray for a job for my dad