1.  John 4:27 – “And at this point His disciples came, and they marveled that He talked with a woman…“

This was not how the disciples would have interacted with this woman.  Jewish men did not typically speak with women in public.  “The Rabbis had ruled, ‘Let no one talk with a woman on the street, no not his own wife'” (Guy N. Woods, A Commentary on the Gospel According to John, p. 84).  Furthermore, this woman is a Samaritan. She understood, “Jews have no dealing with Samaritans” (John 4:9).   Yet Jesus had time to speak with this woman of Samaria.

2.  Luke 18:15-16 – “Then they also brought infants to Him that He might touch them [put hands on them and pray (Matthew 19:13)]: but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.  But Jesus called them to Him and said, ‘Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.'”

Jesus and His disciples were headed to Jerusalem (Luke 17:11; 18:31; 19:11; 19:28).  They were going to establish a kingdom (cf. Luke 19:11).  The disciples reasoned that they had no time for children; they had more important things to do.  However, Jesus had time.  Children were important to Him.

3.  Luke 18:35-43 – “Then it happened, as He was coming near Jericho, that a certain blind man sat by the road begging… And he cried out saying, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’ So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be brought to Him.  And when he had come near He asked him, saying, ‘What do you want Me to do for you?’  He said ‘Lord, that I may receive my sight.’  Then Jesus said to him, ‘Receive your sight; your faith has made you well’…” 

They were going to Jerusalem (Luke 18:31).  They were going to establish a kingdom (cf. Luke 19:11).  There was important work to be done.  Therefore, the disciples reasoned that there was no time for this blind beggar.  But, Jesus had time.

Have you ever noticed that Jesus had time for those, for whom no one else seemed to have time?  He accomplished more in 3 1 /2 years than anyone.  Yet, He had time for people.

We need to care about people.  Jesus wanted us to find time for others, especially for the weak and down-trodden (Luke 14:12-14).  Consider the lyrics of the Eagles song, Take it to the Limit: “You can spend all your time making money.  You can spend all your love making time.” How are we, as individuals, spending our time?  Do we care about people?  Do we care about even the weak and down-trodden? Do we, as a congregation, have time for those who do not live in nice houses, drive nice cars, and wear nice clean clothes? Do we have time for people who are hurting? Do we have compassion? We must, if we are to be like Him.

“Each do I’ll do a golden deed, By helping those who are in need; My life on earth is but a span, and so I’ll do the best I can.  Life’s evening sun is sinking low, A few more days and I must go, to meet the deeds that I have done, Where there will be no setting sun” (Song: A Beautiful Life by William M. Golden).