I’ll Meet You There

While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. Luke 24:15 (ESV)

“I’ll meet you there!" I said to my husband as I gleefully whisked my empty shopping cart off to all the aisles awaiting my perusal, fully intent on doing as I promised him.  

My "me time" was suddenly interrupted

by the buzzing of my phone, my husband on the other end asking where I was. 

Ruh-roh! 

It seems that in my shopping-induced stupor I had forgotten about him and the promise I made to meet him where he was. 

Confession time: I couldn’t even remember where we agreed to meet.

My humanness was fully on display – I was incapable of knowing where my husband was even when he was in close proximity to me, and I was incapable of remembering him in my preoccupation to find the perfect patio furniture.

(Side Note: He was having a fit while I was looking for a place to sit! But I digress.)

There is only One who never forgets about us and always knows right where we are. He comes to meet us there without us even having to travel half way.       

The New Testament records so many instances of Jesus meeting someone right where they were, but today we are going to look at only three of them because I believe they will speak to wherever you may be right now. 

Jesus didn't send out a calendar invite to those with whom He wanted to meet. He didn't have to because He knew where they were, where they would be, and what they needed. 

Here's how He stepped into the lives of a murderer, an adulteress, and the hopeless:

Jesus came to the Apostle Paul (formerly Saul -the chief persecutor of Jews) on the road to Damascus and changed him from a ruthless murderer to a relentless messenger. You can read about this in Acts 9:1-31. 

Saul's conversion to Paul tells us that no matter what we've done in the past or who we were, when Jesus makes His presence known to us, our life; our behavior; and our thoughts change. 

We are His and He is ours and He has a purpose for us.

Jesus waited for the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:6-7). He was alone, as His disciples had gone in to town to buy food (John 4:8). 

It should be noted here that Jews did not associate with Samaritans and this woman in particular was not only Samaritan, but she had been married five times. Additionally, the man she was currently living with was not even her husband (John 4:17-18). 

I believe that Jesus, in His love and care for this woman, met with her alone so as to not humiliate her. He comes to save and redeem, not condemn and ridicule. 

He knew who this woman was and now He wanted her to know Him (John 4:25-26).

He knows who you are, what you've done, and what's been done to you. 

Still, like the Samaritan woman, He wants to give you the kind of water that will never you leave you thirsty but becomes a spring of water welling up to eternal life (John 4:14) with Him. 

Jesus drew near to the two men walking on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:15) 

These men were returning from Jerusalem, having just three days earlier witnessed the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Not only was Jesus Christ dead, but their hope for a savior died with Him (Luke 24:21). 

The news of His resurrection added to the chaos of their thoughts (Luke 24:22-24). 

As they walked talking about these things, Jesus physically drew near to them, speaking to them to make His presence known. Even though they had been a follower of His, they did not recognize Him (Luke 24:16) as the Messiah for whom they had been waiting. 

In drawing near and speaking to them, He interrupted their confusion and reminded them of what the scriptures said about His coming (Luke 24:25-27). 

Later, as He stayed with them and broke bread, their eyes were opened to who He was (Luke 24:30-31). 

He will draw near to you in your confusion and hopelessness –revealing who He is– and He will go with

you as He did with the men on the road to Emmaus.  

He interrupts our thoughts with His truths that give us hope because, like the bread, His body was broken for us.

Friend, wherever you are, wherever you're going, Jesus will meet you there.

He comes to us. 

He waits for us.

He draws near to us.