October 6, 2020 -- John 11:1 -- The Glorious God of Spiraling Galaxies Knows My Name

Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.

John 11:1 English Standard Version

Though much is recorded about the life of Jesus, there is so much we know virtually nothing about. Which makes sense, even the end of this Gospel, the writer John notes: if everything Jesus did were written down “the world itself could not contain the books that would be written” (John 21:25). He had a wide circle of friends. We know Jesus was a peripatetic preacher—okay, I love that word! Peripatetic means that Jesus was a wandering rabbi. He didn’t have a home or a place to lay His head. He was supported by the various people who opened their homes to Him whenever He’d wander through their area. We get clues and odd references to the people who would supply His and His disciples’ needs.

There are various nameless people in the Gospels as well—for example the blind man of John 9 whom Jesus healed—and it is beautiful to me that they are not all named. What it teaches is that Jesus knows every single person, all hearts, and all the circumstances of our lives. We know only a small, thousandth of a fraction of the total population of the people who live. But for Jesus there are no nameless, forgotten people. Whomever has lived. Whomever was aborted. Whichever child was lost in pregnancy to the most aged person and all in between who ever lived, lives or will live all are known to Jesus! We are, every one, precious to Him.

Whatever we do in His Name and for His glory is known and recognized by Him. How that stirs my soul. Do you feel like you are laboring in obscurity? Does it feel like no one has any idea of the things you do? Do not lose heart! Jesus knows you. He sees you. Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of His Name with the full assurance He sees You, He is honoured and blessed. No one is hidden from His sight. HIs Spirit lives in you who believe and the Spirit will renew your heart in joyful obedience. Pray. Ask for the Spirit’s power to live in faithfulness. Take heart from the simple text of today—He knows your name!

God of spiral galaxies spinning in distant quadrants of the cosmos how great is Your majestic power! How vast and terrible is Your uncontainable glory. How can it be that You should know my name and the circumstances of my life? Thank You for Your loved poured out in Jesus Christ. Thank You for the presence of Your Spirit Who vivifies me. Draw me ever nearer to Yourself so that the clutter and worthless things of my life will be burned away and the fires of devotion will be stoked to ever great passion for You. Amen.