Connections
When you are in need of help, where do you turn?
After Jesus had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. A centurion there had a slave whom he valued highly, and who was ill and close to death. When he heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to him, asking him to come and heal his slave. When they came to Jesus, they appealed to him earnestly, saying, "He is worthy of having you do this for him, for he loves our people, and it is he who built our synagogue for us." And Jesus went with them, but when he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to say to him, "Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; therefore I did not presume to come to you. But only speak the word, and let my servant be healed. For I also am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes, and to another, 'Come,' and he comes, and to my slave, 'Do this,' and the slave does it." When Jesus heard this he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, he said, "I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith." When those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave in good health. Soon afterwards he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went with him. As he approached the gate of the town, a man who had died was being carried out. He was his mother's only son, and she was a widow; and with her was a large crowd from the town. When the Lord saw her, he had compassion for her and said to her, "Do not weep." Then he came forward and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, "Young man, I say to you, rise!" The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Fear seized all of them; and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has risen among us!" and "God has looked favorably on his people!" This word about him spread throughout Judea and all the surrounding country. - Luke 7:1-17
The centurion was desperate.
He reached out to some Jewish elders to go to Jesus, because he heard that Jesus was able to save those who had fallen ill.
He probably thought Jesus might not want to help him, knowing he was a centurion and not a Jew.
The internet has the potential to bring people together to help one another. Total strangers can connect over social media, brought together because they happen to share acquaintances.
Imagine the good that could come from being able to connect with anyone.
In a way, Jesus was an advocate of networking. He told his followers to love and help their neighbors, to become a servant of all and a friend to the friendless.
It makes sense that he would seek to help those who came to him, or who sent others to him.
When someone says, "I heard you might be able to help me," what do you hear?
Do you hear, "I am desperate and I need to burden you with my problem?"
Or do you hear, "A friend holds you in such high regard that he recommended I seek you out?"
Maybe we should follow Jesus' lead on this one and hear that rather than the first.
More to come...