Don't Judge Why Someone is Coming To Christ

Sometimes it's very easy to think that people are trying to benefit themselves and aren't coming to Church or to Christ for the right reasons. Elder Uchtdorf mentioned that some members were unkind to people who joined the church in Germany after World War II when the church was giving food to the people. He said that some members did leave after a while, but many stayed in the church showing that they didn't come just for food.

I was reminded of this story when reading Mark 10. In this story, a blind man becomes very outspoken in calling to Jesus and asking for a healing. Many people wanted the man to be quiet, but Jesus called him forward and healed him. Particularly interesting is the last verse, in which Jesus tells him to go where he'd like, and the man chooses to follow Jesus.

52 And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath ^amadethee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.

It seems that people expected the man to not follow Jesus or that he was being loud annoying people. However, once healed, he was a true disciple. It is wise for us to never judge someone's intentions when coming closer to the Lord.

Here's the entire story as recorded in Mark:

46 ¶And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind ^aBartimæus, the son of Timæus, sat by the highway side begging.

47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.

48 And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.

49 And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the ^ablind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee.

50 And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.

51 And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight.

52 And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath ^amadethee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.

Help thou mine unbelief

One of the great stories in the scriptures is of the man whose son has had a devil his whole life. His son is severely handicapped as a result and does crazy things such as jumping into fires. Through tears, the man begs Jesus to help his son. Here's the story from Mark 9:

20 And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit ^atare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.

21 And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.

22 And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have ^acompassionon us, and help us.

23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are^apossible to him that ^bbelieveth.

24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine ^aunbelief.

25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he^arebuked the ^bfoul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.

26 And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead.

27 But Jesus took him by the hand, and ^alifted him up; and he arose.

At times, all of us are like this man. We have great need for help. We believe God can help us, but considering how difficult the problem is, we have a bit of doubt as well. We think, "how could anything solve this issue? It is so hard." So, we beg for help, and perhaps even acknowledge our lack of faith in asking for it. Luckily for us, God is compassionate. This man did not have to have perfect faith, but instead, desire to have enough faith for his son to be healed, and that was enough.

I appreciate the honesty of this man and the compassion of the Savior. I have had so many experiences showing he cares about us, but occasionally I have my own doubts and questions. As I turn to him to ask for help in overcoming this doubts that come, he does not rebuke me but strengthens me. I love him for this.

Have a great week.

Confessing Jesus is the Savior

It appears that several of the people that Matthew records being healed called Jesus "Son of David". This refers to Jesus fulfilling a prophecy that the Savior would descend from David's line. When Jesus was called this title by people, they were in essence stating his divinity. Jesus would then heal them of their sickness or infirmity. I believe Matthew is trying to teach us that when we confess Jesus' divinity and show faith in him, it is then that He is able and willing to heal us.

Here are 3 examples from Matthew:

Matthew 20:

30 ¶And, behold, two ^ablind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David.

31 And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David.

32 And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you?

33 They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened.

34 So Jesus had ^acompassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received ^bsight, and they followed him.

Matthew 9:

27 ¶And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us.

28 And when he was come into the house, the ^ablind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, ^bBelieve ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.

29 Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your ^afaith be it unto you.

30 And their ^aeyes were ^bopened; and Jesus ^cstraitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.

Matthew 15:

22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.

23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.

24 But he answered and said, I am not ^asent but unto the lost sheep of the house of ^bIsrael.

25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.

26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to ^adogs.

27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.

28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy^afaith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.