Why Jesus Doesn't Do Things for You

Do you look at other Christians and wonder why Jesus doesn't show up for you like he does for them?

Oh, is that just me?

I look at others and think (more like whine), "Jesus, why don't you do that for me? You did it for them!"

There's an answer to that question. More on that later.

But something has caught my eye about Jesus in the Bible.

Have you noticed how he interacted with people? It was always different.

Take for instance how he healed blind people.

One blind man annoyed the crowd by shouting out, so Jesus quieten him with words of healing.

Another man had a personal tour outside of the village where Jesus spat in his eyes. (That's one way you can check to see if someone is really blind, go to spit in their face.) When that didn't completely restore his sight, he prayed for him, and laid hands on his eyes. 

Another blind man he healed by touching. 

Another one he made mud from spit and rubbed it on his eyes. 

What about other times he healed people?

He laid hands on many or even just took their hand. 

To some he spoke to them to heal. 

Others were healed from long distance.

Sometimes he commanded the person with a deformity to do something like "stretched out your hand." Simple enough?

Sometimes it was the sick person with the faith like the lady who touched his cloak to get her bleeding to stop. Other times the sick person's friends or family had the sufficient faith for their need. 

What about something even more miraculous like raising people from the dead? 

When one little girl died he rushed over and announced to the crowd that she was sleeping. The crowd had a good chuckle thinking that he told them an inappropriate joke.

However, when a close friend died, he waited around until he had been dead and decaying for four days. He raised him in his stink.

What about how he taught the crowds?

Sometimes he taught in parables. Sometimes he explained them, sometimes he didn't. Sometimes he just taught straight forward with authority.

He fed thousands with two kiddy meals. But, also, knew at other times they were hungry.  

To some people he said, "Follow me." 

To others he said, "Go home."

To a few he said, "Go show yourself to the priest and make sacrifices."

He taught all who would listen. He had a little over a hundred followers who traveled with him. From that hundred, he had twelve. From the twelve, he had three that were close. And then there was John.

He loved John so much that John said he was the "disciple whom Jesus loved." He also told John that he would live to see old age. But just because Jesus loved John didn't mean that he was the chosen leader for his bride. No, that was Peter, who seemed jealous of John's relationship with Jesus.

Why doesn't Jesus show up in your life like he does in others'?

Because Jesus rarely does the same thing the same way twice. He is unpredictable. Needless to say, this Jesus isn't one who would seem happy sitting quietly in church pews on Sunday morning.

His healings came in different ways. And still do.

His provisions came in different ways. And still do.

His friendships were experienced in different ways. And still are. We hate this (well, we hate this if we aren't one of the twelve, but the twelve hated it if they aren't one of the three, and the three hated it if they aren't John.)

Jesus isn't making humans like a production line at a factory. He loves you personally. You will experience him in a different and personal way than how others will.

He knows what you need and what you don't need.

Just as in all relationships there are different levels of intimacy and expectations.

Quit trying to figure Jesus out, so that you can get what you want.

That's what I want. A tamed Jesus who grants my wishes.You can't tame him.

But what we really need is an unpredictable Jesus who loves us individually.