The cry of the blind
And as they went out of Jericho, a great crowd followed him. And behold, there were two blind men sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, "Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!" The crowd rebuked them, telling them to be silent, but they cried out all the more, "Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!" And stopping, Jesus called them and said, "What do you want me to do for you?" They said to him, "Lord, let our eyes be opened." And Jesus in pity touched their eyes, and immediately they recovered their sight and followed him.
Matthew 20:29-34
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The blind beggars were probably used to receiving ridicule from others, shame, and rejection for much of their lives. Perhaps they hoped that someone or something would heal them, but lost all hope as they grew in years and no such miracle ever came.
But they heard of this Jesus who claimed to be the Savior and was able to heal people. In their wretched state, they cried out for mercy.
Forsaking the shame of crying out amongst the crowd, they cried out for the mercy of Jesus.
"Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!"
Shame, desperation, guilt, embarrassment, hopelessness could be felt in their words.
The crowd rebuked them. A typical response towards those that were seen as being afflicted because they had sinned in some way.
But that didn't stop them.
"Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!"
The crowd was ready to ignore them. But not Jesus. Not the one who came and said just a few moments ago, "the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a random for many."
Looking upon them and knowing full well what they wanted and needed, Jesus still asked them what they need. Maybe as a way for the men to acknowledge their desperate need for someone or something greater than this world to save them.
And so "in pity", Jesus touches their eyes and they recover their sight.
Jesus heals them physically, but the men acknowledge that something more has happened. This isn't just a physical healing but they have been healed by the Son of David. The true king. The Son of David.
They cannot do anything else, but start to follow Him.
---
How often do we find this desperation in our prayers and requests before God? How often do I find myself in desperate need of a Savior, acknowledging that nothing else has worked for me? Or rather, how desperate are the prayers for my soul? Oh, how my soul and body long for the redemption of God through Jesus Christ, and a renewal from Him everyday!
I can't live without Him being present in my mind, body, soul, and mind. How often I find myself though, being complacent and okay with the sins of my life. How often I find myself to desperately want Jesus so bad but for fear of crowds or out of a jaded heart, I sit as blind as a beggar and Jesus passes me by and all I do is sit on the ground and wallow.
Lord...may it not be so. Open my blind eyes to see and taste and savor the truth that I need you everyday. Moment by moment. There will never be a day when I am not blinded by my spiritual blindness, and my heart isn't tainted by the ways of this world.
Set me apart and make me desperate for you that I would cry out for my soul to you but also cry out and intercede on behalf of those that do not have a voice nor do they know who to cry out to.
Make me a desperate man, desperately seeking after You.
Thank you, that you are the lifter of my head and that even when I do not seek you, you sought me and knew me and pursued after my heart.
Thank you, that you make me new by your choice and delight.
Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.
Matthew 20:29-34
---
The blind beggars were probably used to receiving ridicule from others, shame, and rejection for much of their lives. Perhaps they hoped that someone or something would heal them, but lost all hope as they grew in years and no such miracle ever came.
But they heard of this Jesus who claimed to be the Savior and was able to heal people. In their wretched state, they cried out for mercy.
Forsaking the shame of crying out amongst the crowd, they cried out for the mercy of Jesus.
"Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!"
Shame, desperation, guilt, embarrassment, hopelessness could be felt in their words.
The crowd rebuked them. A typical response towards those that were seen as being afflicted because they had sinned in some way.
But that didn't stop them.
"Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!"
The crowd was ready to ignore them. But not Jesus. Not the one who came and said just a few moments ago, "the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a random for many."
Looking upon them and knowing full well what they wanted and needed, Jesus still asked them what they need. Maybe as a way for the men to acknowledge their desperate need for someone or something greater than this world to save them.
And so "in pity", Jesus touches their eyes and they recover their sight.
Jesus heals them physically, but the men acknowledge that something more has happened. This isn't just a physical healing but they have been healed by the Son of David. The true king. The Son of David.
They cannot do anything else, but start to follow Him.
---
How often do we find this desperation in our prayers and requests before God? How often do I find myself in desperate need of a Savior, acknowledging that nothing else has worked for me? Or rather, how desperate are the prayers for my soul? Oh, how my soul and body long for the redemption of God through Jesus Christ, and a renewal from Him everyday!
I can't live without Him being present in my mind, body, soul, and mind. How often I find myself though, being complacent and okay with the sins of my life. How often I find myself to desperately want Jesus so bad but for fear of crowds or out of a jaded heart, I sit as blind as a beggar and Jesus passes me by and all I do is sit on the ground and wallow.
Lord...may it not be so. Open my blind eyes to see and taste and savor the truth that I need you everyday. Moment by moment. There will never be a day when I am not blinded by my spiritual blindness, and my heart isn't tainted by the ways of this world.
Set me apart and make me desperate for you that I would cry out for my soul to you but also cry out and intercede on behalf of those that do not have a voice nor do they know who to cry out to.
Make me a desperate man, desperately seeking after You.
Thank you, that you are the lifter of my head and that even when I do not seek you, you sought me and knew me and pursued after my heart.
Thank you, that you make me new by your choice and delight.
Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.
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