The woman who had an “issue of blood” was, no doubt, weakened by the condition. She also suffered severe social stigma, but she was desperate to see Jesus. “She said to herself, If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” Matthew 9:20-22
Zacchaeus was feeling a void in his soul because he knew he was not living a godly life. He had a driving desire to see Jesus because he sensed that Jesus would be able to rescue him from himself. “So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him” Luke 19:2-10
The Greeks leaned on the disciples to gain an inside track for an audience with Jesus. At this point in time, Jesus was performing miracles and had a compelling message. “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” John 12:21
Jesus entered a house in Capernaum, and people immediately came to see Him! So many were gathered together that there wasn’t any more room. Jesus was preaching to the people. Four men carried a man who was paralyzed; they were so desperate to get their friend close to Jesus, they lowered him down through the roof!
Do you and I spend this kind of energy to get close to Jesus?
The song writer in Psalm 42:1-2 reflects this idea when he writes,
As the deer pants for the water brooks,
So my soul pants for You, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God;
When shall I come and appear before God?
We learn from Matthew that even if we had the whole world, it would not compare in worth to knowing Jesus. “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” Matthew 16:26 Seeking the Lord in great earnest is the best way for us to get a clear assignment from Him and see Him work in us and through us—to be on mission for good.
Matthew 9:20-22
“20 Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. 21 She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” 22 Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment.”
Luke 19:2, 9-10
2 There was a man named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was rich. … 9 Then Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.”
John 12:20-21, 26
“20 Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 26 Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.”
2 thoughts on “Desperate for Jesus”
Many times we don’t know what we don’t know. This compares, I believe, to being desperate for Jesus. When we don’t know Him as personal friend and Savior, then we won’t feel desperate to know Him. For when we begin to know Him better, it’s like being addicted to something, we are desperate to then have more of Him constantly. So when the writer of most of the New Testament said his greatest aim was to “know Him…” (Phil 3:10) we should then also follow suit and make it our aim in life.
Notice that in the passages mentioned those people were facing some sort of difficulty. That seems to be when we are most open, and desperate, to seek supernatural help. It’s a good place to start but growing to the place of seeking him always is what he desires.