Sellers Hickman – NorthStar Church Blog

Digging Deeper: I Am the Resurrection

Sellers Hickman on June 27, 2025

20 So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”

John 11:20-26 (ESV)

I AM THE RESURRECTION

Martha believed that Lazarus would rise again on the last day.
Her answer was theologically correct—Lazarus will rise when the Messiah returns.
But that’s not what Jesus was talking about in that moment.

He surprises her with something even more personal and profound:
Jesus doesn’t just bring resurrection—
He is the resurrection.

Not simply that a resurrection will one day happen, or that He has the power to perform one,
but that Jesus Himself is the resurrection and the life.

This changes everything.

Jesus isn’t pointing to an event.
He’s pointing to Himself.

Eternal life isn’t found in a future timeline—it’s found in a present relationship.
And this resurrection life isn’t just available for Lazarus.
Jesus reassures Martha that anyone who believes in Him will never die.

Now, we know that physical death is still a reality.
All around us, we see the evidence—war, sickness, aging.
Death feels inevitable.

But Jesus wasn’t speaking about the physical.
He was speaking about what matters most: the spiritual.

It reminds me of a story my student pastor once told.

At the time, he had a few young sons—probably around 3 to 5 years old.
One day, he offered them a choice:
“Do you want one piece of cake today, or a whole cake next week?”

Without hesitation, they took the slice.
Immediate pleasure won over a better reward later.

Jesus gives us a similar offer.
On this earth, will you settle for a small taste of temporary satisfaction,
or will you trust Him and receive the eternal feast of joy in the Kingdom of Heaven?

Will you choose the fleeting pleasures of now…
or the everlasting promises of forever?

This pattern runs all throughout Scripture.

Think about the Israelites in the wilderness.
God provided them manna from Heaven—daily bread, fresh each morning.
But instead of gratitude, they grumbled.

They longed for Egypt’s food: fish, cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic (Numbers 11:5).
They begged to go back to slavery just to eat what they missed.
But ahead of them was something so much better:
a Promised Land flowing with milk and honey.

They could settle for cucumbers and onions…
or keep walking toward the feast God had prepared.

We face the same decision.

Jesus stands before us, asking the question from John 11:26:
“Do you believe this?”

Not:

“Do you believe in Heaven?”
“Do you believe Jesus was a good teacher?”

But:
Do you believe that He is the resurrection and the life?
That even when everything around you feels like death, brokenness, heartbreak, and loss—
He can still bring life?

Do you believe that trusting Him is better than anything you could gain on your own?

Sellers Hickman serves as College & Teaching Pastor at NorthStar Church and loves cheering on his Ole Miss Rebels. He and his wife, Hannah, live in Dallas, Ga. with their two daughters. He also serves as the chaplain for the KSU Men’s Basketball team.

Digging Deeper: He’s Alive!

Sellers Hickman on June 26, 2025

38 Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” 40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” 41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” 44 The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

John 11:38-44 (ESV)

HE’S ALIVE!

There is power in words.

Some speeches have changed the course of history. Others are only a few words long, yet they change the course of a life:
“I do.”
“You’re fired.”
“It’s a boy.”

And in three short words, Jesus changed everything for a grieving crowd in Bethany:
“Lazarus, come out.”

When Jesus spoke those words, death obeyed.
A man who had been dead for four days walked out of his tomb, still wrapped in grave clothes.
It was a miracle—a moment of divine power breaking through into ordinary life.

But as stunning as it was, this wasn’t the main event.
This miracle wasn’t the finale.
It was a sign—a preview—pointing to something even greater.

Lazarus came back to life that day, but he would eventually die again.
His resurrection was temporary.
But Jesus’ resurrection? It was final. Eternal. Complete victory over death.

When Jesus rose from the grave, He didn’t come out wearing grave clothes.
He folded them and left them behind (John 20:7).
He didn’t just step out of death—He defeated it.

That’s why Jesus could cry out, “It is finished” (John 19:30).
The old way of life, the curse of sin, and death itself—finished.
From that moment on, nothing would ever be the same.

The voice that raised Lazarus—the same voice that spoke creation into existence—will one day call every believer out of the grave.
Lazarus is living proof:
Death doesn’t get the final word.

But this story isn’t just about Lazarus.

It’s about us.

Paul writes in Ephesians 2:1 that we were all “dead in our trespasses and sins.”
Not just “messed up” or “in need of improvement”—dead.

And yet, Jesus didn’t leave us in the tomb.
He called us out by name.

Even today, Jesus speaks life into places of spiritual death.
He still says, “Come out.”

And when we respond, we are raised to spiritual life.
Yes, we may still carry traces of the grave—habits, doubts, fears—but Jesus gently helps us remove those grave clothes.
He teaches us how to walk in freedom.

The resurrection of Lazarus is a stunning miracle.
But it’s also a promise:
Jesus is not finished with dead things.
He brings life—even still.

Digging Deeper: What Would Jesus Pray?

Sellers Hickman on June 25, 2025

Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.”

John 11:38-42 (ESV)

WHAT WOULD JESUS PRAY?

Sometimes we move too quickly.
We rush to solve a problem, give an answer, or offer a solution.
But in John 11, just before one of the seven miracles John records, Jesus does something unexpected:
He pauses. He prays.

Lazarus had been dead for four days. The tomb was sealed. Everyone was grieving.
Jesus had just wept. And now, He stands at the grave of His friend—fully prepared to bring him back to life.

But before He calls Lazarus out of the tomb, He lifts His eyes.

Jesus is about to demonstrate His divine power, but first, He acknowledges His divine relationship.
This isn’t a prayer where Jesus is seeking power He lacks—He already has it.
He prays because He lives in constant, unbroken communion with the Father.

Jesus also makes it clear that His prayer isn’t only for God—it’s also for the people around Him.
He wants them to see His ongoing, moment-by-moment dependence on the Father.
His public prayer becomes a visible invitation for others to believe.

And through that prayer, Jesus shows them (and us) that this isn’t some spiritual performance or magic trick.
Four days is a long time for a body in a sealed tomb.
Jesus doesn’t want people to simply witness a miracle—
He wants them to believe in the power of God.

That day, Jesus did the impossible—again.

But before the miracle came the prayer.

In the face of overwhelming need, do you pause to pray?
Do you lift your eyes before you lift your voice?
Or do you rush ahead, hoping God will meet you somewhere along the way?

We often act first and pray later.
But Jesus models something different: a pace of trust, not panic.
It might feel easier to be patient when a body has already been in the grave (after all, where’s it going?)…
But what about when your kids frustrate you, your boss is unkind, or a deadline looms?

How can you show the same dependence on God in those moments?

If you’re struggling to bring the impossible to God today, try coming to Him the way Jesus did:

Lift your eyes – Acknowledge who truly holds the power.
Thank Him – Even before you see any results.
Pray publicly when needed – Not to perform, but to point others to the Father.
Believe that He hears you – Even when you don’t yet see the grave open.

Sometimes we’re waiting on God to move.
But sometimes… He’s waiting for us to lift our eyes.

Take a moment today—right now—and walk through those prayer prompts.
Pause. Lift your eyes. He is listening.

Digging Deeper: The Shortest Verse in the Bible

Sellers Hickman on June 24, 2025

When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled.

And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept.

John 11:33-35 (ESV)

THE SHORTEST VERSE IN THE BIBLE

During middle and high school, I attended a summer camp where the entire week revolved around teams earning points. There were several ways your team could climb the leaderboard—winning sports tournaments, recreational games, having the loudest cheers, and memorizing and reciting Scripture. (Scripture memory was worth the most points.)

Knowing how much Scripture memory helped our team, I was the guy who told everyone,
“Just memorize John 11:35. It’s only two words.”

That’s right.
“Jesus wept.”
The shortest verse in the Bible.

Eventually, the camp caught on. They realized how easy that verse was to memorize, so they updated the rules: you couldn’t just recite it—you had to explain why Jesus wept.

That question is powerful:
Why did Jesus cry?

Jesus knew exactly what was going to happen. He was about to raise Lazarus from the dead. He had already said that this illness would not have the final word.
Even though He knew the outcome, Jesus still stopped to cry.
Why?

Because Jesus was moved by the sorrow of the people He loved.
Mary, Martha, the surrounding community—grief was everywhere. And it touched Him deeply.
He didn’t just witness their pain—He shared in it.

This tells us something incredible about our Savior:
Jesus doesn’t just care about fixing our problems—He is present in our pain.
He doesn’t always rush to solve what’s broken. Sometimes, He simply pauses… and sits in the hurt with us.

When you reflect even deeper on this moment, it becomes even more stunning.
The God of the universe—the One who created galaxies, who knows how far the east is from the west, who counts every hair on your head—cried.

That is not what we expect from someone who is all-powerful and all-knowing.
But that is the heart of Christ. He doesn’t stand at a distance.
He steps into our mess.
He is not emotionally detached.
He is deeply moved by what we go through.

If Jesus cried, we can too.

Our culture often rushes us to move on from moments of grief. But Jesus gives us permission to stay in them for a while.
His tears validate our own.
More than that, they remind us that we are never alone in our sorrow.

When you face loss, heartbreak, or hardship, remember this:
Jesus weeps with those who weep.
He stays near to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18).

And the best part?
This moment isn’t the end of the story.

Jesus’ tears were real—but they weren’t final.
He raised Lazarus.
And one day, He’ll do the same for us.

Because of His resurrection, we look forward to the day when every tear will be wiped away for good. That is the promise of Revelation 21:4—
a promise that will become reality for each of us.

Until that day…
know that you are seen.
You are loved.
And in your sorrow,
you are not alone.

“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more,
neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore,
for the former things have passed away.”
—Revelation 21:4

Digging Deeper: Hearing Before Seeing

Sellers Hickman on June 23, 2025

So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house.Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died…

When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying in private, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to him. Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met him. When the Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary rise quickly and go out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there. Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

John 11:20-21; 28-32 (ESV)

PROCESSING GRIEF

Grief does strange things to people. It stirs up questions, old hurts, doubts, and anxiety. But perhaps the strangest thing about grief is that it touches everyone differently. In John 11, we see grief through the eyes of two sisters—Mary and Martha—and how Jesus met them in their pain.

When Jesus finally arrives in Bethany—four days after Lazarus’ death—each sister responds in her own unique way. Interestingly, their words to Jesus are nearly identical, but their posture and approach are not. In this, we discover a deeply encouraging truth: Jesus meets them both in their own way.

Martha hears that Jesus is near, and she cannot wait. She runs to Him. I can’t say for sure what her motives were. Is this the same Martha we met in Luke 10:38–42—the one frustrated that her sister wasn’t helping prepare the home for Jesus, focused more on service than presence? Or is she now running to Jesus full of faith, grounded in what she knows to be true of Him?

Whatever her motivation, she comes to Jesus with solid theological understanding. She says, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” (John 11:24) She believes in the future hope, but not necessarily in the possibility of a present miracle. Even with right belief, she still carries the weight of grief. Yet, she brings her pain and thoughts to Jesus and holds nothing back.

Mary, on the other hand, doesn’t run that day. She waits. Maybe she sat in the same spot she had occupied the last time she was with Jesus—at His feet, listening. Is her waiting a quiet act of faith, trusting the One who once met her in that very place? Or is her grief so heavy that she cannot move until Jesus calls for her?

When she finally comes, she falls at His feet and weeps. She doesn’t speak with theological insight; she simply brings her vulnerability and tears. And Jesus doesn’t respond with a sermon—He responds with His own tears.

The beauty of this story isn’t in determining which sister was “right” or “wrong.” Both loved Jesus deeply. Both believed in His power. Both grieved honestly. And both were deeply loved by Jesus.

But Jesus responds to each of them differently. To Martha, He gives truth to cling to: “I am the resurrection and the life.” To Mary, He offers His presence and emotion. He meets each according to her need.

When we grieve, some of us run to God with our questions. Others sit in silence, waiting for His presence. Jesus understands both. And He draws near to both.

When life hurts and God feels late, are you more like Martha or Mary?
Do you need to talk it out—or sit quietly in the pain?

Neither is right or wrong. What matters most is that you bring your grief to Jesus. He is ready to meet you—in whatever way you come.

He is for you. He sees you. He weeps with you.

Digging Deeper: Hearing Before Seeing

Sellers Hickman on March 14, 2025

⁴⁶And they came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside. ⁴⁷And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” ⁴⁸And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” ⁴⁹And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.” ⁵⁰And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. ⁵¹And Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man said to him, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.” ⁵²And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way.

Mark 10:46-52 (ESV)

HEARING BEFORE SEEING

When I think of the quote, “You have to see it to believe it,” I immediately think of the movie Now You See Me. The premise of the movie is about illusionists who perform mind-blowing magic tricks—while secretly stealing money from their audience members. The first time I watched this movie was with my wife’s family, and they had all seen it before. They had a great time watching me react to each and every illusion on screen.

In the second movie, there is a crazy scene where the main characters pass a card around while being searched (using the real magic of CGI). It was one of those moments where I had to rewind just to process how they pulled it off.

This movie was a wild story that you had to see to believe, but ultimately, it was just a fictional story meant to entertain. However, the story of Bartimaeus in Scripture is also one that might seem hard to believe at first, yet I assure you—it is completely true.

It’s easy to put our faith in things we can see and trust. But put yourself in Bartimaeus’ shoes for a moment. He had never seen Jesus perform a miracle. He had never watched as Jesus taught the crowds. He probably didn’t participate in any of the other stories written in Scripture because of how difficult it would have been for him to get there. Yet, he had full faith in Jesus as the Son of David, the promised Messiah.

I wonder how Bartimaeus even heard about Jesus. Maybe it was as others walked past him on the side of the road, sharing stories of healings and miracles. Maybe it was from people he used to spend time with before his blindness isolated him from society. Imagine how much faith it must have taken to fully believe in something he had only heard about but never seen for himself. His faith was not based on sight but on trust in what he had heard about Jesus’ power and goodness.

This is the same place where many of your friends might find themselves today. Maybe they are familiar with who Jesus is or have heard the stories of the Bible, but those truths haven’t yet taken root in their hearts. We must fully depend on the Holy Spirit to open our eyes so we can truly understand and receive the Word of God. This is why two people can read the same verse—like John 3:16—and have completely different reactions. One person may be unmoved, while another may be so deeply convicted that they put their trust in Christ on the spot. It’s not just about hearing the Word but having the spiritual eyes to see and believe it.

Now let me ask you: What are you believing in God to do before you ever see the fruit of it? What do you trust Him to do because of His faithfulness to His promises so far? So often, we wait for visible proof before trusting in God’s plan, but faith calls us to trust before we see.

Can I assure you today that if Jesus accomplished the work of bringing us new life spiritually through the cross, then truly anything is possible? He is still faithful, still working, and still calling us to trust Him… even when we haven’t yet seen the full picture.

Digging Deeper: The True Response to Healing

Sellers Hickman on March 13, 2025

And Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man said to him, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.” ⁵²And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way.

Mark 10:51 (ESV)

THE TRUE RESPONSE TO HEALING

In 2021, I went to the Braves’ World Series parade to celebrate with my wife and friends the fact that they had finally pulled it off! It was an interesting day, filled with huge crowds of people all trying to squeeze to the front of the barricades for the best view of the players. We waited for hours, and it finally started. The first bus turned the corner, and the moment had arrived… but we didn’t see any players. This bus was filled with front-office workers. Then came the owner. Then the manager. Then Blooper. Now, I have a deep respect for each of these men and all they did to bring a title to the A, but I was here for the players.

I wanted to see Freddie, Dansby, and Soler. These were the guys who played in the game. These were the men who blasted a 446-foot home run to put us up in Game 6 against the Astros. I wanted to see them! And finally, it happened. The first players’ bus came. Everyone was cheering, excited to see the team!

Excitement in a city is not a new concept. I would argue that, in the Bible, there was an even greater sense of excitement in a city—with its tightly knit communities, festivals, and celebrations. But there was something different in the air on the day we read about in Jericho. The people around Bartimaeus were probably running to get as close as possible to whatever barricades had been set up. He probably lay there, wondering what was happening. Then he heard it… Jesus of Nazareth was passing by.

The moment finally arrived. Bartimaeus was healed and could see. I wonder what that moment was like. Scripture doesn’t tell us how Bartimaeus ended up in this condition. Was he born blind? Was there an accident? Had he ever seen before? In this moment, he stood eye to eye with Jesus.

This story has an unexpected conclusion. Bartimaeus was healed by Jesus, and he was given the opportunity to go his way. Jesus gave him full permission to return to life however he chose. Would he return to his family, who had likely abandoned him? Would he go help the people he had once begged alongside? Would he check off all the items on his bucket list?

Bartimaeus chose to do none of these. Scripture says he immediately recovered his sight and followed Jesus on His way. He knew what he had found was special, and he wanted to do everything he could to be with Jesus.

If you turn to the next chapter in the book of Mark, you’ll see that after a 15-mile journey from Jericho to Jerusalem, the next event recorded in Jesus’ life is the triumphal entry. This marked the beginning of the last week of His life—a week that would end with His arrest and crucifixion.

Imagine the shock Bartimaeus must have felt. The Healer he had just met, the man who had given him sight, was now being led to His death. Jesus had been clear in His conversations with His followers in the final weeks of His life—He was going to die. They just didn’t want to believe it. The disciples struggled to grasp it, and I can’t help but wonder if Bartimaeus did too. He had followed Jesus, expecting more life, more healing, and more miracles… only to witness his new leader being crucified.

Unfortunately, we don’t know the rest of Bartimaeus’ story. Some of the disciples hid after Jesus was arrested, but Jesus made sure to restore them by appearing to them. Bartimaeus is never mentioned by name again, but I truly believe he must have been among the 500 followers who saw Jesus ascend, as mentioned in 1 Corinthians 15.

Seeing Jesus changes everything. For Bartimaeus, it meant leaving behind the life he knew and stepping into a journey of faith. For us, it means that when we truly encounter Christ, we can’t just go back to who we were before.

Have you seen Jesus for who He really is? And if so, how has it changed the direction of your life?

Digging Deeper: What Do You Want Jesus to do for You?

Sellers Hickman on March 12, 2025

⁵¹And Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man said to him, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.”

Mark 10:51 (ESV)

WHAT DO YOU WANT JESUS TO DO FOR YOU?

Growing up watching movies and shows like Aladdin and The Fairly OddParents, I believed that by this point in my life, there would be at least one opportunity to have a wish granted. I’m sure many of you played the same game I did growing up—if you were given three wishes right now, what would you wish for?

In our story from Sunday, a blind beggar is faced with that very opportunity, but he doesn’t have a genie in front of him. He has the God of the universe.

Bartimaeus had been crying out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” because he knew of Jesus’ power. Jesus acknowledged him and asked him to come over. Bartimaeus threw off his cloak and ran to Jesus. Then, the moment finally arrived—he was face to face with Jesus (though still unable to see Him due to his blindness). And Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?”

Imagine that—the God of the universe, who is far more powerful than any genie or fairy, asks Bartimaeus what he would like to happen. This decision was an easy one for him because he had probably thought every day about what it would be like to see again. He didn’t hesitate. He didn’t bargain. He simply asked.

This verse is intentionally placed here to contrast Bartimaeus’ request with that of James and John in verses 35–37:

“35 And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, ‘Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.’ 36 And he said to them, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ 37 And they said to him, ‘Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.’”

These two disciples of Jesus were concerned with the glory and honor they could receive because they believed Jesus would establish an earthly, political kingdom. They wanted immediate attention and status. Bartimaeus, on the other hand, simply wanted to see again—so that he could give glory to God.

Even the way these men asked shows a major distinction. James and John told Jesus to do whatever they asked. Bartimaeus, however, humbled himself multiple times by crying out to Jesus. James and John approached Jesus out of pride, but Bartimaeus sought Jesus out of humility.

Let me ask you—if you had the opportunity to ask for one thing, what would it be? I pray that it wouldn’t be something as trivial as a little more money, comfort, or security. I want to encourage you to truly think about this: What is the one thing in my life that would be a miracle? What is something I physically cannot do in my own strength? What is something that only the God of the universe could accomplish?

When you determine what that is for you, I challenge you to pray for it daily. Believe God for it. But as we learned from James and John, seek God for it out of humility, not self-interest. And above all, may your greatest desire not just be for what Jesus can do for you—but for Jesus Himself.

Digging Deeper: Throw Off Your Cloak

Sellers Hickman on March 11, 2025

And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus.

Mark 10:50 (ESV)

THROW OFF YOUR CLOAK

I made a big deal a few months ago in one of my Sunday morning sermons about my love for the Michelin Star restaurant known as LongHorn Steakhouse. If you remember, I have a deep love for the best item on the menu—the chicken tenders. I cannot describe to you in enough detail the perfectly seasoned and breaded pieces of chicken, along with the perfectly paired complement of just the right concoction of honey mustard.

There is just one problem when I get to LongHorn. The waiter or waitress will come to my table, ask for my drink order, and then they’ll ask the dreaded question: “Would you like a loaf of bread?” Now, I have the willpower of a goldfish when it comes to anything bread-related, and it truly takes everything within me not to respond, “I’ll take a dozen loaves.”

Then that fateful moment happens—my perfectly prepared Michelin Star entrée arrives at the table… and I’m full. I’ve filled up on something good but not the best thing.

It can be hard to wait sometimes, even when you know something better is coming. Bartimaeus did not have that problem because he knew something much better had come. That something was Jesus.

When you read this story, the detail of Bartimaeus throwing off his cloak is a huge deal! For a blind beggar, his cloak was everything. It kept him warm. It allowed him to cover up and hide from the crowd. His cloak was probably beaten and battered from years in the elements. But one thing is certain—it was most likely the most important item Bartimaeus owned and the most loyal thing in his life.

Leaving his cloak behind was costly, but Bartimaeus knew that something better had come. And notice—he didn’t do this after Jesus healed him. He did it simply for the chance to meet with Jesus.

You may be thinking, “Well, duh, Sellers. Jesus is greater than blindness.” Friends, I would love to put before you that Jesus is greater than anything we could have in this life. Jesus is greater than running a Fortune 500 company. Jesus is greater than climbing Mt. Everest. Jesus is greater than becoming famous.

Yet, how often do we fill up on things that aren’t bad, but aren’t the best? We chase success, approval, comfort, and security, thinking they will satisfy—only to find ourselves full yet unfulfilled. Meanwhile, Jesus is offering us something so much better: Himself.

For you today, what would you be willing to throw off to get to Jesus? What are you holding onto so tightly, thinking it’s essential, when in reality, Jesus is offering you something far greater? Now, I’m not saying you should abandon all your earthly responsibilities—we are called to care for the things around us. But maybe, just maybe, there’s something in your life keeping you from fully embracing Jesus. And if that’s the case, it might just be time to let it go.

Digging Deeper: An Interruptible Mission

Sellers Hickman on March 10, 2025

Mark 10:46-49 (ESV)

AN INTERRUPTIBLE MISSION

Having two kids now, I have learned one thing as a parent: my plans and schedule do not matter one bit to my kids! Proverbs 16:9 was instrumental in my life as I made college decisions. It says, “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.”

If that verse were rewritten today for parents, it would probably say, “The heart of parents plans their ways, but their children determine their steps.” It can be frustrating at times to be interrupted so much while trying to get out the door, put them to bed, or clean the house. But I have learned that in those moments of interruption come some of the sweetest interactions—when I have the right perspective.

Being interruptible can be incredibly difficult, but it is something that Jesus models consistently throughout the Gospels. Jesus was interrupted by a leper in Mark 1. In Mark 2, the roof was torn off while He was teaching, and a paralytic man was lowered down. In Mark 6, His sleep was interrupted by His disciples. None of these moments were seen as a nuisance by Jesus but as opportunities to care for people who were hurting. The Savior of the world took time to stop for people, even when it could have been seen as “inconvenient.”

Our story today is another example of Jesus being interrupted. He was entering Jericho on His way to Jerusalem. Jesus had a mission to accomplish—He was headed to the cross. But even with His eyes set on the cross, He took time to stop for a man whom society had forgotten.

Imagine the weight of that moment. Jesus, fully aware of the suffering He was about to endure, could have easily justified keeping His focus on what was ahead. He could have ignored the cries of a blind beggar, reasoning that His mission was too great to be delayed. But instead, He stopped. He saw the person in front of Him. He acknowledged the need. That single act of stopping not only changed the life of the blind man, but it demonstrated the very heart of Christ—a heart that values people over projects, presence over efficiency, and compassion over convenience.

For you today, what will your response be to being interrupted? Maybe it’s at work, with your children, or simply at the grocery store. Will you see interruptions as obstacles or as opportunities? How often do we rush through our days, missing the moments God places in front of us because we are too focused on our own plans?

What if, instead of growing frustrated, we saw interruptions as divine appointments—moments where God is inviting us to love, serve, and be present for those around us? Jesus didn’t just tolerate interruptions; He embraced them as part of His ministry. As His followers, we are called to do the same.

This week, ask God to help you slow down, be present, and see the people He puts in your path. You may just find that in the midst of the interruptions, He is doing something greater than you ever expected.