Welcome
Twenty-one is a reading plan we created with the hope that it will help you connect with God and prepare your heart for Easter. We’re glad you’ve opted to join us on this journey and look forward to celebrating Easter with you!
Text BEACHSIDE21 to 97000 to receive these readings straight to your mobile device every morning.
Day 18
On more than one occasion, people went out of their way to get the attention of Jesus in the four Gospel accounts of his life. A woman fights through a crowd to get just a small touch of his shirt. A tax collector climbs a tree to get a look. Men travel miles and miles to ask for the healing power of Jesus. And over and over again, when people come to him in desperation, crying out to him for help, he obliges. Others tried to turn the desperate people away, but Jesus seemed attracted by their desperation. In the Gospel of Matthew, we find a story of desperate people doing what they must to get Jesus’ attention.
“As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”
The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. “Lord,” they answered, “we want our sight.” Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.”
— MATTHEW 20:29–34
Why were they willing to shout and fight for the attention of Jesus?
I think they were desperate.
They had no other options. They didn’t have it all together and were past the point of pretending they did. They needed Jesus and they knew it.
Simple questions today:
Do you feel your need for him?
Are you desperate for him?
When our finances are a struggle . . . we need him.
When our marriage is in crisis . . . we need him.
When our kids are straying . . . we need him.
When our health is failing . . . we need him.
When we’re lonely . . . we need him.
At least those are the times when we FEEL our need for him.
The truth is that we ALWAYS need him—for joy, adventure, success, forgiveness, strength, kindness, patience, breathing . . . for life itself. For all that we are, we need Jesus.
Have you been shouting to him because you know you need him?
Or have you forgotten your desperation?
We don’t like feeling desperate. It’s not all that attractive, at least not to those around us.
But to Jesus? Jesus is attracted to our desperation.
He is impressed by our willingness to admit our desperation. Give him a shout.