Jesus responds to our Needs

In psychology class we learn about Maslow's hierarchy of needs. According to him we human have 5 level of needs. It starts at level 1 with the physiological needs that are vital to survival, such as the need of water, air, food and rest. Level 2 is the security needs which are important for survival. This include a desire for steady employment, health insurance, safe neighborhood and shelter from the environment. Then it goes on to social needs, Esteem needs and self-actualizing needs. While this is only a secular interpretation of human needs and even then, there are many other authors who advocates different needs. It is true that we all have needs, tons of needs. But it does not matter how you categorize these needs, Philippians 4:19 says it all: “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”. Plain and simple, the source that meet our needs is the Lord Jesus Christ.


Indeed Jesus understand and care about us. He will respond to our needs because in 1 Peter 3:7 we read : Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

We can study the four gospels and look at how Jesus responds to all who have came in contact with him,. From these encounters, you will notice that many times, it is Jesus that probed them before they even realize and asked for their needs.

There are no less than 125 incidents of Jesus meeting and talking or teaching to people. From total strangers to his disciples. From Pharisees to the rulers. Each time, he always give them new insights. On top of this, he performed 35 miracles of healing, 9 miracles such as turning water to wine, feeding of multitude with simple food, walking on water and catching of fish. You will see that He cares for the physical as well as spiritual needs of the people.

Jesus has no hesitation to call the religious authorities a “brood of vipers,” “blind fools,”, or “hypocrites”. He insulted the nation king by calling him a “fox”. He said to the face of his good friend and disciple, Peter, “Get behind me Satan”. But at the same time, he showed his compassions to the people in many occasions and tenderly calling the people, “my child”, “daughter”, and said things like “I feel sorry for these people”. Throughout the gospel we read that Jesus has compassion for children (Mk 10:13-16), for women (Lk 7:36-50; 8:42-48, John 4:1-40) and for the marginalized members of the society (John 8:1-11; Lk 19:1-10) and most significantly, Jesus has compassion for the spiritual needy. We will not have time to go through all the encounters of Jesus , but we will look at a few examples and look into the response of Jesus when he encountered the various people’s needs.

1. Jesus responds to our needs when we place our faith in Him

a. Jesus Calms the Storm (Mark 4:35-41; John 8:22-25)

35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” 39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. 40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” (Mark 4:35-41)

22 One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set out. 23 As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger 24 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. 25 “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.” (John 8:22-25)

b. Jesus Raises a Dead Girl and Heals a Sick Woman (Mark 5:21-43; John 8:40-55)

21 When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake. 22 Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. 23 He pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” 24 So Jesus went with him. A large crowd followed and pressed around him. 25 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26 She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” 29 Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. 30 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” 31 “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ”

32 But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.” 35 While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?” 36 Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” 37 He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. 38 When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. 39 He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” 40 But they laughed at him. After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. 41 He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). 42 Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. 43 He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat. (Mark 5:21-43)

John 8:40 Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him. 41 Then a man named Jairus, a synagogue leader, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come to his house 42 because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying. As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. 43 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. 44 She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped. 45 “Who touched me?” Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.” 46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.” 47 Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. 48 Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.” 49 While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” he said. “Don’t bother the teacher anymore.” 50 Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.” 51 When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John and James, and the child’s father and mother. 52 Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. “Stop wailing,” Jesus said. “She is not dead but asleep.” 53 They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. 54 But he took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!” 55 Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. 56 Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened. (John 8:40-55)

In the first incident, in their fear, the disciples cried out to Jesus. Of course, they blamed it on Jesus that he does not care. But instead Jesus asked that “Why are you afraid? Where is your faith?” In the second story, why did Jesus insist on pointing out that someone had touched Him. Jesus is showing all the people that ‘Your faith has healed you. Go in peace’. He said the same thing to Jairus. “Don’t be afraid, just believe”. Of course he meant what he said, the girl was healed.

Jesus did not ask for more. As long as we put our faith in Him, he responds.

2. Jesus responds to our needs so that we can see our real needs

a. A Blind Beggar Receives His Sight (Luke 18:35-41)

35 As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 36 When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. 37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” 38 He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 39 Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 40 Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, 41 What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord, I want to see,” he replied. 42 Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.” 43 Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God. (Luke 18:35-41)

b. The Healing at the Pool

1 Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesd and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. 3 Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed 4 5 One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?” 7 “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.” 8 Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” 9 At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.(John 5:1-9)

c. Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralyzed Man

1 Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. 2 Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” 3 At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!” 4 Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? 5 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 6 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” 7 Then the man got up and went home. 8 When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man. (Matt 9: 1-8)

In the first 2 cases, why did Jesus ask a question that has such an obvious answer? Jesus did not ask the question because he did not know the answer. He asked the question in order to let the man know what their real need is. He asked them so that they realize their need and what He can do for them. What is obvious is that we think we know our need is but what is not obvious is what Jesus thinks our need is.
In the third case, Jesus did not ask the man “what do you want me to do?” Jesus first told him that his sins are forgiven thereby telling the teachers that they too are paralyzed like the man and need to have their sin forgiven (v6), In the end, the first 2 men received from Jesus what they think was their greatest need: physical healing. The paralytic, however, received what Jesus perceived as the greatest need: forgiveness of sins. He gives more than their needs.

3. Jesus responds to our needs by showing us it is the wrong need

a. The Request of James and John

35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” 36 “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. 37 They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.” 38 “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?” 39 “We can,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, 40 but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.”

41 When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. 42 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Jesus will not necessarily respond positively to all our request. Yes He will respond but He still may respond negatively. The request of James and John is selfish and lack understand on the whole purpose of God. Yet we see that Jesus did not rebuke them but merely corrected them of their misunderstanding. In addition, Jesus taught them a great lesson in humility, not only to James and John but also to the other disciples who were indignant.

We need to know the priority in our life so that we will see the real needs. Jesus does not necessarily have to respond positive to you if it does not fall into his will.

Application

Now that we have seen how Jesus responded to the needs of the people around him, our next question is how do we apply it to our lives. Do we have the attitude and mind of Christ to handle our own needs.

1. Realize our needs and that Jesus can fulfill these needs for us

2. Know the "right" needs

3. Put our faith in Jesus

What about the needs of those around us? We too can share the same insight to them.

But while we are pointing Jesus to others, let us remind each other that while it is nice and biblical to say that Jesus meets all our needs, we have to be careful that we do not intentionally make him our slave. Very often, we make the mistake of treating Jesus like the genie in the bottle. It is as if he is at our commands anytime, anywhere and he will respond to any of our request. When our needs become ambiguous, and its range cover our selfish desires, and that the gospel promise a fulfilled life, we may present salvation as a mean of receiving what Christ offer without obeying what he commands, we shifted our focus from God’s glory to human’s benefit. Don’t make the mistake of what William Willimon says that in the church today, we have an almost exclusive focus upon Jesus as the one who feeds, loves, and heals and as almost complete neglect of Jesus as the one who saves.