Digging Deeper: An Interruptible Mission
46 And 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. 47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.”
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.
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.