Send Them Away!

Did anybody ever get under your skin, so much so that you would have loved to have told him to bug off?

Jesus’ disciples sometimes felt the same way. They wanted those people to leave Jesus alone—ahem, to leave them alone. Others also told Jesus not to bother with someone.

Let’s explore some of those scenes:

The centurion—Matthew 8:5-13 (also Luke 7:2-10)—The centurion loved his servant very much, and his servant was extremely ill. The centurion sent Jewish people to Jesus, to ask him to go to his home and heal his servant. Jesus went with them, but before He arrived at the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof: Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed. . . . Jesus’ reaction: When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick (Luke 7:6-7, 9-10).

Jairus—Matthew 9:18-26 (also Mark 5:21-43; Luke 8:40-42, 49-56)—Jairus was an important man in the synagogue, and his 12-year-old little girl was dying. He went to Jesus, grabbed his feet, and pleaded with Jesus to go to his house. Later, a messenger came running to Jairus, and said, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master (Luke 8:49b). Jesus’ reaction: But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole. And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden. And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead. And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise. And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat (Luke 8:50-55). You can hardly blame the messenger for asking Jairus not to bother Jesus further, since the little girl had died. But, look at how much more Jesus did for this father, who believed Jesus could heal her and even raise his daughter from the dead!

The children—Matthew 19:13-15 (also in Mark 10:13-16; Luke 18:15-17)—Jesus’ disciples didn’t like the people bringing their children to Jesus for His blessing. (I find this one especially hard to imagine. How could you prohibit children from going to Jesus? There are even factions today that say a child has to wait until a certain age to accept Christ. Where did they find that in the Bible? They didn’t!) Jesus’ response: But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God (Mark 10:14).

The hungry people—Matthew 14:13-21 (also Mark 6:30-44; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:1-14)—It was nighttime, and the 5,000 people were hungry. The disciples asked Jesus to send the multitude away to buy food in the villages—how realistic was this, at night? Jesus’ response: But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes. He said, Bring them hither to me. And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full (Matthew 14:16-20).

The Canaanite woman—Matthew 15:21-28 (also in Mark 7:24-30)—This foreign lady had a daughter who was tormented by a demon. The mother screamed to Jesus, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. Jesus’ response: But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs. And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour (Matthew 15:22-28). Can you imagine this scene? The disciples wanted to send her away. The lady insisted, worshipped Jesus, and Jesus healed her daughter.

Four thousand hungry people—Matthew 15:32-38 (also in Mark 8:1-10)—This is the second time that Jesus fed such a great multitude of people. This time, they had been with him three days. We don’t know for sure if the disciples asked Jesus to send the people away in this instance, but it might be implied from Jesus’ words, And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far (Mark 8:3). Jesus’ response: Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way (Matthew 15:32). Just like the other time, Jesus gave out bread and fish to the disciples, so that they could give it to the people. This time, seven baskets were left over.

Blind Bartimaeus—Matthew 20:29-34 (also in Mark 10:46-52; Luke 18:35-43)—At the exit of Jericho, a blind man was begging along the road. When he heard that Jesus was near, he started shouting, And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me. And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me (Mark 10:47-48). Jesus’ response: 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. . . . And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way (Mark 10:49, 51-52). Here was a needy person, calling out to the Right Person, and others wanted him to be quiet!

How Christ-like are we?

• How do we react when bothered by needy people?
• How about that personality that rubs you wrong?
• How about the beggars?
• How about the complainer?
• How about the sinful person who flaunts his sin?
• How about the stinky, non deodorant-using member of your church?
• How about _____________________ ? (you know whose name goes in the blank)

Let’s face it. The world is full of needy people.

We can all take lessons from how Jesus treated people. May we have godly compassion and never send them away from the Lord!

Let’s be like Jesus—even with those who bug us.