We are Middlemen

Scripture Reading: Luke 11:1-13

              As far as we are told, the disciples only asked for instruction in one specific area. “Lord, teach us to pray…” (Luke 11:1). If they asked for help with preaching or teaching, we aren’t told. We are told about this request, and we see that Jesus readily responds.

              In Jesus’ school of prayer, we find a brief parable in which three friends take the stage. The lead actor is a person whose primary role is as a middleman. He is faced with a problem. He has a friend in need. He is hungry and he has no bread to give him. But he also has a solution. He has another friend who lives nearby from whom he can borrow bread. So, he goes to that friend and asks, persistently so, and gets bread for that friend to give to his other friend.

              It is a simple story and Jesus intends for the disciples (and us) to see themselves as this man – the middleman (or woman). We are the ones who have nothing to give to our friends in need. But we are also the ones who live close to our Friend who has what our friends need. Therefore, we go to our Friend and ask, seek, and knock, and receive so that we can give.

              Prayer is personal. We pray about our own needs. That is right and good. It is an expression of dependence and faith. Prayer is also inherently intercessory. It is not “give me my daily bread,” but “give US, OUR daily bread.” We receive what we need from God, but we also receive what others need from God. God graciously allows us to participate with him in meeting the needs of our friends. We get from him to give to them. We receive from our Friend for the sake of our friends. We are middlemen.