“Jesus! Jesus!” A woman shrieked as she ran through the crowd, carrying the limp body of her son.

The drama wasn’t real. It was an Easter presentation, portraying a fictional scene from the life of Jesus. And it took my breath.

I could see myself there and feel the pain and desperation of this distraught mother. She’d heard of Jesus as his reputation had spread far and wide. This man was healing the sick, feeding the hungry, freeing those in demonic bondage, restoring the broken, raising the dead. She brought her lifeless son to the only place she saw hope—Jesus.

If I had lived during Jesus’ ministry on earth and I had a need, surely my first thought would have been, “Just get to Jesus! If I can just get to Jesus, he can fix this!”

If I had lived during Jesus' ministry on earth and I had a need, surely my first thought would have been, “Just get to Jesus! If I can just get to Jesus, he can fix this! Click To Tweet

The production inspired me to search the Gospels, watching for every instance that Jesus healed someone. What were the circumstances? Did they come to Jesus? Did he go to them? Did someone bring them? I found all those situations.

How did they approach the Lord about their need? They fell at his feet. They worshipped. They cried out. They begged.

What action did he take to bring about healing? Sometimes he touched them. Sometimes he spoke to them. Sometimes he healed from afar.

We have many accounts of Jesus as he interacted with people, doing what he does best—miracles. The blind received sight. The deaf heard. The mute spoke. The lame walked. Withered hands were restored. Lepers found cleansing. The dead came to life.

One of my favorite accounts features a woman whose daughter suffered from demon-possession. She heard about Jesus. She came and fell at his feet and begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. The disciples urged him to send her away. But she persisted—pleading…begging.

Finally, Jesus said, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done to you as you desire. And her daughter was healed instantly” (see Matthew 15:21-28).

We can see her there. We’ve been there, too—at the feet of Jesus…begging. We know he honors persistent faith. And in our need we keep begging, determined to make our voice heard.

Mark 2:1-12 records another favorite story. Jesus was in Capernaum and word spread about him. So many came to the house where he was preaching, there was no more room. No one else could even get in the door.

Four men carried their paralyzed friend to see Jesus, and they didn’t allow the crowd to wreck their mission. In fact, the obstacles just sparked their ingenuity. They climbed on the roof, removed some tiles, and lowered their friend into Jesus’ presence. Jesus did exactly what the friends had hoped. He healed the man, having seen the faith of his friends.

Four men carried their paralyzed friend to see Jesus, and they didn't allow the crowd to wreck their mission. In fact, the obstacles just sparked their ingenuity. They climbed on the roof, removed some tiles, and lowered their… Click To Tweet

Those men took a risk and Jesus responded to their faith. Sometimes compassion places us in situations involving risk. Compassion moves us out of our comfort zone. Compassion may cause us a little inconvenience.

These words of Jesus come to mind. “I was hungry and you gave me food. I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me. I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me…Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you? And the King will answer them, Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me” (see Matthew 25:35-40).

When you have a need, just get to Jesus! Who knows how he will choose to meet it?

Please tell me about a time that Jesus responded to a need in your life or that you showed his compassion and made a difference in someone’s life. I’d be grateful if you’d share this article with your friends.

© Dianne Barker 2021

*  Scriptures from ESV