As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind beggar was sitting beside the road. When he heard the noise of a crowd going past, he asked what was happening. They told him that Jesus the Nazarene was going by. So he began shouting, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Luke 18:35-38)
It’s one of the highlights of my week meeting with this group of people.
They are brilliant. So humble, so down to earth, so committed, so good to be around to help me to know more about Jesus.
We opened the scripture and looked at this episode of Jesus healing the blind man. It’s not unusual for Jesus to be healing the blind. So why is Luke putting this particular episode here? What’s it all about?
There were a number of remarkable things the group shared about their understanding of the scripture. Brilliant personal application points at every juncture of the story. What are we like when it comes to giving people access to Jesus? How does our attitude sometimes look to rebuke other people from making their way to Jesus? What impact could be made if we were all looking for those on the margins to get access to Jesus?
Great questions from this one episode.
Among the great points that came up, however, was recognition.
When the blind man asks what’s going on, he is told that Jesus of Nazareth is passing through. But he does not cry out for the man from Nazareth. He cries out for the ruler. For he recognises that the man who fulfils everything that’s been said about him, is not just a regular healer, this guy is not a good man or a kindly teacher. This blind man is the only one who sees and recognises that this man is the true son of David – the one with the right to the throne – the ruler.
So when others try to hush him up, he is insistent on his audience with the King. For in the presence of the King, he recognises he can get anything.
Calling Him for who He is gets the attention of the King who is even willing to serve. It’s that faith in seeing Him for who He is that makes him whole. It is not faith in being healed, it’s faith in the ruler of everything that makes everything whole.
It’s the blind beggar who is the outcast of society who gets the real insight on who this man on a mission is.
God help us to get the same insight so that this faith can make us well.
(Photo by Allef Vinicius on Unsplash)
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
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