"Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth … He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. And He said to him, ‘Go wash in the pool of Siloam.’ … The neighbors and those who previously had seen that he was blind said, ‘Is not this he who sat and begged? … How were your eyes opened?’ He answered and said, "A Man called Jesus … " (John 9:1, 6-8, 10-11)
The night air was cold in the city. Well-dressed people were passing on the sidewalk, laughing and talking as they celebrated the boisterous spirit of the season. They ignored the solitary figure as they passed. His misery was not their problem. The man wore dirty, ragged clothes. His hands were dirty as was his hair and face. He spoke not a word but remained hunched looking at his hands, his elbows on his knees. He spoke not a word; he asked no one for a handout, nor did anyone give him one. Perhaps he was remembering Christmases past with family and friends. Perhaps he was wondering how to get money to buy alcohol to ward against the cold of the night. Perhaps, however, he was silently praying for help. No matter his inward struggles and thoughts, he remained on the bench, silent and still. Traffic sped noisily on the street behind him. In front of him was an expensive restaurant where a steady stream of people came and went. Still, no one noticed him. No one, that is, but a single young man. The young man was standing outside of the restaurant smoking, his company’s Christmas party in full flow in the restaurant behind him. He watched the homeless man, thinking how ironic it was to be surrounded by people blessed with wealth, but unable to share even a bit of bread. His heart was moved by the Spirit of Christ. He didn’t know what the man would do with his gift, but the insistent voice said, "Give it to him." In obedience, he approached the homeless man, who did not bother looking up at the approaching footsteps. "Sir?" The homeless man looked up with a haunted look in his eyes; a look of hopelessness. "The Lord laid this on my heart to give to you. God loves you." The young man pressed a $20 bill in the homeless man’s dirty hand. The homeless man merely said, "Alright. Thank you." The young man turned back to the restaurant, praying for the unknown homeless man. The homeless man rose quietly from the bench wondering if a Man called Jesus had passed by.
It is not merely during Christmas that we should be generous and caring, but every day of the year. The world needs to know about a Man called Jesus. And in doing good for others, we do good for Christ. We need to show His love, and let others know that ‘A Man called Jesus’ passed by.
"I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was in prison and you came to Me. Then the righteous will answer Him, saying ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the last of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ (Matt 25:35-40).
