When Jesus Shows Up: Rescuer
Jesus is coming. He is coming as Rescuer!
Jesus was early on in his ministry. He had been teaching about the kingdom of God and performing miracles of healing. One evening after teaching all day, he asks the disciples to take him across the river. They set out. Jesus falls asleep, and they find themselves in a storm. They wake Jesus and he calms the storm. The disciples are stunned and even frightened. It was a magnificent display of Jesus’ power and authority. But… wait… it seems that wasn’t the point. Rather, the real reason they crossed the lake and faced a deadly storm was because Jesus was on a rescue mission.
Mark 5 tells the story, “So they arrived at the other side of the lake, in the region of the Gerasenes (mostly Gentile).2 When Jesus climbed out of the boat, a man possessed by an evil spirit came out from the tombs to meet him.” Mark 5:1-2 NLT
Immediately upon arrival on shore, a man runs to Jesus. It’s almost as if the man had been watching, even waiting, for help. You see, this man was being tormented. He was isolated, desperate and nothing and no one was able to rescue him.
But, Jesus showed up. Could it be that Jesus saw the man, even while on the other side of the lake? Did Jesus hear his cries? Did Jesus sense, from a distance, the torture being inflicted by demons? Did Jesus, despite his own exhaustion, cross a lake at night and face a deadly storm to rescue?!
Of course he did! Because, that’s what Jesus does. Jesus shows up as Rescuer. He comes to redeem, refine and RESCUE! Like we saw in Isaiah 59 a few weeks ago, the Lord himself comes to rescue us- when we don’t deserve it… when we didn’t ask for it… and even with the risk of rejection (the people of the Garasenes demanded that Jesus leave immediately). Jesus leaves the 99 for the 1. He is the Rescuer!
And, that’s revival! That is what happens when Jesus shows up in revival. He begins to rescue the lost in dramatic, powerful ways. This is how we’ll know that revival is here- when we see those that are the most far from God… those that are the most trapped in sin… those that are the most tormented by the enemy… being rescued by Jesus!
He is coming!
He loves with a fierce love.
He hears the cries of the desperate.
He sees the pain of the tormented.
He is coming himself to rescue.
No power in hell can withstand his coming.
It is not hopeless anymore.
He leaves the 99 for the 1 and he is coming!
There are times in human history when God himself shows up. He comes because the need and desperate condition of His people is greater than their ability to solve it. We call that revival and it’s coming! He’s coming! Jesus is coming.
He’s coming as Redeemer.
He’s coming as Refiner.
He’s coming as Rescuer.
And, whenever Jesus comes, we must respond. His Presence demands a response. Will you bow at the feet of the Redeemer? Will you put yourself in the fire of the Refiner? Will you join the Rescuer in the deliverance of a generation?