First Impressions
Who gets to come to Jesus?
Picture this: Jesus steps off a boat and word spreads like wildfire. People start bringing their sick friends and family members from all over the region. They're not asking for much—just to touch the edge of his robe. And everyone who does? Healed.
What strikes me first about this scene is how accessible Jesus is. There's no VIP line. No religious résumé required. No background check. Just desperate people who've heard there's a healer in town, and they're willing to try anything.
Think about the people doing the bringing. These are good friends. Good neighbors. The kind of people who see someone struggling and think, 'I know who can help.' They're not waiting for their friend to get their life together first. They're not saying, 'Clean yourself up and then we'll take you to Jesus.' They're saying, 'You need help? Let's go.'
And Jesus? He doesn't turn anyone away. He doesn't check their theology or their church attendance record. He just heals them. All of them.
This is the Jesus we're going to spend the week with—the one who shows up for people who need him, regardless of where they're from or what they've done. The one who makes room at the table for everyone willing to come.
Sit with this
- 1When you think about approaching Jesus, do you feel like you have to clean yourself up first, or do you believe he wants you to come as you are?
Journal prompt
Write about a time when someone brought you to Jesus (literally to church, or figuratively by pointing you toward faith). What did that mean to you?