Mar 25, 2020
By Carl Greene
Executive Director
When I was about 10 years old, I asked my parents for a bee hive. It was not really an altruistic request—this was an early get-rich-quick scheme in which I hoped to market honey to family and friends for profit. It was like a fundraiser where I had taken out the middle man. Despite the business strategy of a ten-year-old, I had not fully thought through the process of harvesting the honey.
During my first foray into beekeeping, I was all suited up with my mask on. I had the little smoker fired up to puff into the hive so the bees would be less interested in me. Everything went great until the fire in my smoker went out and the bees turned against me. What made matters worse was that my shirt was untucked, so a host of bees scrambled up underneath my shirt and made their way to the inside of my mask. By the time the stinging commenced it is safe to say that I noticed that something was wrong. Picture a dancing Carl frantically throwing off bee equipment at this point.
The interesting thing about this story is that all of my noticing was focused on me. I noticed an opportunity for me to market honey, I noticed how the bees affected me, I noticed that I wanted to get away from the stinging bees. I did not happen to notice the people around me much throughout the experience. I sadly have to wonder if I have outgrown my self-interested noticing. I find it interesting how this contrasts so much with the example of Jesus. I am repeatedly struck by how Jesus noticed people: “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them…” (Matthew 9:36a) Listen to two stories of Jesus noticing people—examples that I want to live by all the more.
Jesus Notices the Potential of People
“As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he rose and followed him.” —Matthew 9:9
Jesus notices Matthew, which is really not novel in and of itself. Lots of people noticed Matthew—as someone to avoid. As a customs official, Matthew is looking to be noticed—so he can draw you in and make you pay. I am confident that nearly everyone noticed Matthew and chose a path around him if at all possible. Not only was it financially costly to connect with this guy, but it was also socially expensive. This sell-out to Herod Antipas and ultimately the Romans was not the sort of person you would want to fraternize with publicly. Essentially, noticing this guy signs you up for paying exorbitant taxes and awkward social exchanges.
And Jesus notices Matthew. And asks Matthew to walk with him. Publicly.
Rather than dismissing Matthew, Jesus saw His potential. Jesus saw who Matthew was created to be rather than simply observing the tax booth that he was sitting in at the moment. Jesus noticed, had compassion, and called him to leave sin behind to follow.
Jesus Notices the Need to Belong
“When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, behold, your son!’ Then he said to the disciple, ‘Behold your mother!’ And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.” —John 19:26-27
Jesus notices the people around Him even in the midst of the final moments on the cross. Jesus notices his family and his friends. Jesus notices those who have deep hurts around Him. Jesus is concerned for the welfare of his mother. Jesus notices his hurting friend. And then Jesus creates an opportunity for them to belong, to not be left alone.
As we reflect on the love of Christ, it is imperative that we actively remember how God demonstrates His love for us in so many ways, including noticing a need for people to belong. Just as Jesus noticed the needs of Mary and the disciple whom Jesus loved, we too are noticed thanks to God’s love and compassion. Not only are we noticed and given a place to belong, we are also called to notice others as Jesus did.
Our Call to Compassionate Biblical Living
Our daily living should be defined by noticing. We notice God’s deep love for us and His call on our lives away from sin in order to walk with Him. We also notice our own call to notice the potential of the people around us and encourage them. We notice our call to invite others to a place of belonging amidst our churches. I hope that I spend a lot more time noticing the people around me, with the compassionate insights of potential and belonging. I hope that our road ahead holds less self-interested noticing and more notice given to God’s actively advancing Kingdom.
