Person-2-Person - December, 2023

“Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person.” – Mother Teresa

Waiting—especially waiting in line—is a fixture of modern life. Just before Halloween, my wife,Charlotte, and I waited in line for four hours(!) to get the autograph of a minor celebrity. As the wait entered what seemed like its second day, I began to wonder if it was worth it. By the end, it seemed as if only stubbornness and masochism were keeping me going. Along the way, I also thought of the song, “Where’s the Line to See Jesus?” If you don’t remember it, the song describes a woman’s experience while observing the line to see adepartment store Santa. A child asks, “Where’s the line to see Jesus?” prompting the woman to wonder the same thing.

One day, long ago, there was a real “line to see Jesus.” He had returned to Capernaum and the news had spread (Mark2:1). Soon, a crowd gathered (vs. 2). As he taught the crowd, some men arrived carrying another man who was paralyzed (vs. 3). They couldn’t get near Jesus because of the crowd, so they made a hole in the roof and lowered the man through it (vs. 4). The men were desperate to seeJesus. Their friend was beyond human help and seriously needed a miracle. They knew only Jesus could make him well, and they weren’t willing to let anything or anyone stand in the way.

Jesus responded to their faith and said to the man, “‘My child, your sins are forgiven.’” (Mark 2:5b New Living Translation).

There were some teachers of the Law in the crowd, who didn’t know who Jesus truly was. They thought to themselves, “‘What is he saying? This is blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!’” (vs. 7 NLT).

Jesus knew what they were thinking and responded, “‘Why do you question this in your hearts? Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man “Your sins are forgiven,” or “Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk”?’” (vs. 8b-9 NLT). And with that, he said to the man, “‘Standup, pick up your mat, and go on home!’” (vs. 11 NLT).

The man “. . . jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers.” (vs. 12a NLT). We don’t know what happened to him or his friends, or what they did after that, but I’d like to think they told anyone who didn’t already know about Jesus and how he had healed the man, that their wait for Jesus was worth it. I’d like to think at least one of them went on to be a disciple or evangelist.

Years before that, “wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem,” looking for “the newborn King of the Jews”(Matt. 2:1b, 2a NLT). It’s implied that they had traveled a considerable distance, possibly from Persia. They apparently found the journey and the time they had spent worth taking. At least the traditional Christmas story tells us so, for when they found Jesus“. . . they bowed down and worshiped him.” (vs. 11b NLT).

The Old Testament has numerous references to “wait[ing] upon the Lord” (i.e., Psa. 27:14, Isa. 40:31, Lam. 3:25,Mic. 7:7, etc.) In the New Testament, Paul wrote to the Christians in Rome that creation itself was yearning for the fulfillment of God’s plan (Rom. 8:19-22). Jude encouraged his readers to “. . . await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life.” (1:21a NLT). Time spent waiting for God is always well spent.

For myself, I confess that spending time in prayer is not something that comes easily for me, and I know this is an area where I need growth. What about you? How much time are we willing to devote to God? How willing are we to “wait upon the Lord”? I pray that, this holiday season, as we wait in numerous, interminable lines, we’ll remember to spend at least as much time “waiting in line for Jesus.”

“But you, my dear friends, must remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ predicted. . . .
“. . . build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love.
“And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering.” (Jude 1:17, 20b-22 NLT.)