Jesus Seeks Us One-By-One

JESUS SEEKS US ONE-BY-ONE

John 15:4
What man of you,
having a hundred sheep,
if he has lost one of them,
does not leave the ninety-nine
in the open country, and go after the one that is lost,
until he finds it?

Jesus, as God Incarnate (God Dwelling As Man Among Men), the Son of God, and the Savior of the world; did indeed live on earth among the people of Israel during what we now call the first century A.D., (in the year of our Lord). Jesus did indeed step out of eternity to live among us. The Gospel writers who bear witness to His Presence among us, give us example after example of how Jesus seeks us out one-by-one to invite us into a trusting faith relationship with Him which gives us a miraculous new birth as children of God. Let’s imagine together the brief testimonies of some of those who answered this call and found in Jesus amazing new life.

Matthew 9:9
As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew
sitting at the tax collector’s booth.
“Follow me,” he told him,
and Matthew got up and followed him.

Jesus Called Me Matthew

Jesus called me Matthew.
His disciples were shocked that He would call me.
I had abandoned my family and my people.
I had sold my soul to the enemy.
I lived a lavish and sinful life
as I cheated my own people.
Yes, I was despised.
Yes, I was reviled.
Yes, I was alone.
Then Jesus called my name.
He commanded me to follow Him.
Amazed, I obeyed.
And nothing was ever the same.

John 4:25-26
The woman said to him,
“I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ).
When he comes, he will tell us all things.”
Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.”

Jesus Made Time For Me

Though He was a Jew
while I was a Samaritan,
though He was known to be Holy
and  I was said to be fallen
Jesus made time for me.
I went to the well in the middle of the day
to avoid those who despised me
but Jesus was there waiting for me—
and though I argued in the way of our people
He lovingly offered me living water eternal
which cleansed my heart
that unforgettable day
because Jesus made time for me.

Matthew 8:2-3
And behold, a leper came to him
and knelt before him, saying,
“Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.”  
And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him,
saying, “I will; be clean.”
And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

Then Jesus Touched Me

Not even my father,
not even my mother,
nor my brothers
nor my sisters—
not even those
who loved me
could touch me
for I was a leper—
I was unclean;
but Jesus was different,
He loved me, too:
He reached out to touch me . . .
and now I am clean.

John 5:7–9
“Sir,” the invalid replied,
“I have no one to help me into the pool
when the water is stirred.
While I am trying to get in,
someone else goes down ahead of me.” 
Then Jesus said to him,
“Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.”
At once the man was cured;
he picked up his mat and walked.

When Jesus Found Me

I was lost in the crowd
in the midst of the suffering
desperate for healing
waiting by the pool
for the water’s stirring
for one lucky person
until  Jesus found me
and demanded
I rise to my feet
and take up my mat
and walk
and, “Praise God!
I did.”

Matthew 9:20-22
And behold, a woman
who had suffered
from a discharge
of blood for twelve years
came up behind him
and touched the fringe of his garment,
Jesus turned, and seeing her he said,
“Take heart, daughter;
Your faith has made you well.”
And instantly the woman was made well.

I Was Invisible

I was invisible
until Jesus found me,
my bleeding had hidden
me from peoples’ hearts,
and in the middle of this crowd
all clamoring around Jesus
I slipped unseen
to touch the hem of His garment,
and immediately
I was healed
as He felt the gift
of His power surround me
and He gave me peace.

Luke 23:42-43
And he said,
“Jesus, remember me
when you come into your kingdom.”
And he said to him,
“Truly, I say to you,
today you will be with me in paradise.”

“Today . . . in . . . Paradise”

I had never sought Him,
I had never found Him,
I had never seen
Him nor heard Him—
but now I was dying
and right there beside me
was Jesus—
I heard Him praying
for those
crucifying Him—
I asked for His Mercy
and He promised me
”Today, . . . in . . . Paradise.”

John 21:15-17
 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter,
“Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”
He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 
He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.”
He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 
He said to him the third time,
“Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time,
“Do you love me?” and he said to him,
“Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.”

“Do You Love Me?”

Three times my Lord Jesus asked me,
“Do you love me?”
and three times
I thought my heart was breaking
until His Love broke through
and I realized
He was tenderly
forgiving
each time I had denied Him
with my three affirmations
as He opened His loving arms
and embraced and equipped me
for serving Him again.

Ezekiel 34:11-15

“For thus says the Lord God:
Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out.
As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep
that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep,
and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered
 on a day of clouds and thick darkness.
And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them
from the countries, and will bring them into their own land.
And I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the ravines,
 and in all the inhabited places of the country.
I will feed them with good pasture,
and on the mountain heights of Israel shall be their grazing land.
There they shall lie down in good grazing land, and on rich pasture
they shall feed on the mountains of Israel.
I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep,
and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord God.”