Interruptible
Jesus kept getting stopped, and kept stopping.
On being available to the person in front of you.
The big idea
Most of Jesus' recorded ministry happened on the way to something else.
Opening scripture
“At once Jesus realised power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked: who touched my clothes?”
What does “Interruptible” walk through?
Who Touched Me?
Mark 5:30 · KJV
And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?
In plain English
At once Jesus realised power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked: who touched my clothes?
He Was Already On An Errand
He was on his way to a dying child, in a crowd, under time pressure — and he stopped for one woman who had touched his coat. The interruption became the story.
Call Him
Mark 10:49 · KJV
And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee.
In plain English
Jesus stopped and said: call him. So they called the blind man: take heart, get up, he is calling you.
“The crowd told Bartimaeus to be quiet. Jesus stopped the whole procession for him.”
Come Down, Zacchaeus
Luke 19:5 · KJV
And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zaccheus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.
In plain English
When Jesus reached the spot he looked up and said: Zacchaeus, come down at once. I must stay at your house today.
He Noticed One
In every crowd scene Jesus finds an individual. The pattern is so consistent it must be deliberate — attention given to one person, not managed across many.
Value Others Above
Philippians 2:3 · KJV
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
In plain English
Do nothing out of rivalry or ego. In humility, value others above yourselves.
Pray
Jesus, make me interruptible the way you were. Amen.
Write it down
Who has been trying to get your attention lately?
Let yourself be stopped
The interruption is often the thing itself.
Which passages does this journey use?
4 passages, drawn from Mark 5:30, Mark 10:49, Luke 19:5, Philippians 2:3. Every verse appears here in the King James text with a plain-English line beside it, so you can read it without a commentary open. Allow about 7 minutes for the whole thing, or 8 short sittings.
- Mark 5:30
- Mark 10:49
- Luke 19:5
- Philippians 2:3
Read any of these in full on the complete KJV, or look the wording up independently at Blue Letter Bible.
More in The Habits of Jesus
All The Habits of Jesus →He Withdrew To Lonely Places
The habit underneath everything Jesus did.
Before Dawn
What Jesus did before the day could ask anything of him.
He Slept In The Storm
Rest that does not wait for calm.
He Asked Questions
Jesus asked far more than he answered.
He Was Never In A Hurry
Urgency was not one of his tools.
He Touched People
Presence you could feel.