When Jesus Shows Up Close

Weekday Posts
Written By Dean Collins

By Dean Collins

What if Jesus showed up in your proximity today? What would you do? What would motivate Jesus to show up in a particular place? Would your response be the same as another’s? 

In Matthew 8 we find several different individuals and groups who encountered Jesus. In some cases, it appears that some were curious, some went to Jesus out of a specific need, others had questions, and some didn’t want Jesus around at all. I suspect that in our lives we probably are around people who are looking for God, some who know they need help, and some who don’t want anything to do with God, Jesus, or the church.

Matthew opens the chapter stating that Jesus had just come off the mountain where he had delivered what we refer to as the Sermon on the Mount. The crowds were intrigued and followed him off the mountain. A leper came to Jesus, knelt before him and asked, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” Jesus replied, “I will; be clean.”

Think about that for a moment. The leper had confidence that Jesus was fully capable of healing him. That is interesting since up until this time in Matthew’s narrative he hasn’t written anything about Jesus performing miracles. This is the first in his gospel. Maybe the leper came to this confidence in Jesus based on the authority of his teaching. Maybe rumors had spread of some other miracle. We don’t know. What we do know is that the leper had full confidence in the power of Jesus and just wondered, or was being respectful, by asking if Jesus would heal him. Jesus immediately healed the man with leprosy. What’s your confidence level that Jesus is both present and willing to help you in whatever you are going through today?

Jesus walked on and into Capernaum. There he was approached by a Roman centurion. I am sure that created some tension in the crowd. The primarily Jewish audience didn’t like the way Rome treated them and would have avoided being around Roman soldiers if they could. 

 When the centurion stepped toward Jesus, I imagine many in the crowd stepped back to see what was going to happen. To their surprise, the officer had a need, and he believed Jesus could help. One of his servants was paralyzed at home and in great agony. Jesus said he would go and heal the servant. The centurion recognized the holiness of Jesus and said that he was not worthy to have Jesus come to his house and said, “You can simply say the word and she will be healed!” What faith and confidence in Jesus. Jesus made sure the crowd heard how impressed with and how different was the faith of the centurion even from those of Israel. How does our faith compare to the faith of this soldier? Do we believe that Jesus can just say the word and deal with us and our situations, even when we can’t see him?

A scribe approached Jesus, clearly impressed with what he had heard from Jesus and witnessed. He abruptly declared, “I will follow you wherever you go.” I imagine Jesus let out a gentle sigh and said: “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” This and his follow up response were clear indicators that following Jesus is not easy but comes with sacrifices. Does our discipleship reflect our willingness to suffer even as we serve?

Jesus went on to heal the mother-in-law of Peter with little fanfare. Probably not many saw this though would have quickly heard of this miracle. When Jesus moves in our lives and situations, word will likely get out.

So, do we believe that Jesus can and does show up in our proximity each day? The apostle Paul said it clearly: 

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

You can’t get much closer than Jesus living inside of us. So, knowing that, how might we approach others today? We might be the only way they get a glimpse of Jesus and learn of his love and mercy.

Father, thank you for the gift of life that comes to us in Christ. Today give us compassion and boldness to share your love with someone nearby. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Your Time with God’s Word
Matthew 8:1-22; Galations 2:20 ESV

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Dean Collins

Pastor, campus minister, counselor, corporate employee, Fortune 500 consultant, college president—Dean brings a wide range of experiences and perspectives to his daily walk with God’s Word. 

In 1979 he founded Auburn Christian Fellowship, a nondenominational campus ministry that still thrives today. In 1989 he founded and became executive director for New Directions Counseling Center, a service that grew to include several locations and counselors. In 1996 he became vice president of human resources for the CheckFree Corporation (3,000 employees) till founding DC Consulting in 1999. He continues part-time service with that company, offering executive leadership coaching, organizational effectiveness advice, and help with optimizing business relationships.

His latest pursuit, president of Point University since 2006 (interim president 2006-2009), has seen the college grow in enrollment, curriculum, physical campus, and athletic offerings. He led the school’s 2012 name change and relocation from Atlanta Christian College, East Point, Georgia, to Point University in West Point, Georgia. Meanwhile, he serves as board member or active volunteer with several nonprofits addressing issues ranging from global immunization to local government and education. 

He lives in Lanett, Alabama, with his wife, Penny. He has four children (two married) and five grandchildren. He plays the guitar, likes to cook, and enjoys getting outdoors, often on a nearby golf course. 

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