35 As Jesus drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting beside the road, begging. 36 When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening.

37 “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by,” they told him.

38 So he called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

39 Those who led the way admonished him to be silent, but he cried out all the louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

40 Jesus stopped and directed that the man be brought to Him. When he had been brought near, Jesus asked him, 41 “What do you want Me to do for you?”

“Lord,” he said, “let me see again.”

42 “Receive your sight!” Jesus replied. “Your faith has healed you.” 43 Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, glorifying God. And all the people who saw this gave praise to God.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Michael Legaspi

Hopelessness, desperation, defeat. They are heavy words, but I think almost everyone can relate to them. If you’ve ever experienced that, what happened in your life to make you feel that way?

In this passage we meet a man who can’t see the one who could save him. But he asks as he begs on the street, “what’s happening?” Only then does he hear the name “Jesus of Nazareth.” It seems that he knows his Old Testament, because he shouts out something peculiar: “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Son of David – the Messiah, the promised King! How did he know? Had he heard rumours of the things Jesus had been doing?

“Those who led the way” in front of Jesus rebuked the man and told him to remain quiet, but he cried out even louder (verse 39). When you’re desperate, you would give anything to escape the hopelessness of life. I found the blind man’s words strange – “have mercy”. I would have expected, “help me, heal me.” But his anguish means he doesn’t concern himself with their discouragement.

The people rejected his plea. But Jesus ordered that this poor, desperate nobody be brought to him – what extraordinary compassion! Jesus asks an amazing question: “What do you want me to do for you?”

If you were asked the same question, what would you ask for?

In Jesus’ loving character, he heals the man. But he hints at something more than just physical healing when he says, “Your faith has healed you.” Jesus is the one who can not only help him, but save him from the judgment and condemnation that we all deserve. No wonder the man starts following Jesus and glorifying God!

There is no shortage of suffering in life, and each one of us will have to endure it. But how? Seeing how Jesus calls the blind man even though others reject him helps me greatly. It’s even better to know that Jesus gave up his life for us out of his great love and mercy. There is great comfort in knowing that he knows our failings and inadequacies, yet he approaches us to seek our good.

That not only helps us to endure pain and suffering, it will motivate us to follow Jesus and glorify God, not because he forces us, but out of love and thankfulness.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Michael is a member of our Bossley Park Morning congregation.