Matthew 20: 29-34, Matthew 25: 37-40, Luke 18: 35-43, Mark 10: 46-52

Rachel Nixon

In reading Matthew 20: 29-34, a couple of parallels took my attention and got me thinking. Jesus and His disciples were leaving the city, with a large crowd in tow. Nothing unusual there, you can picture the scene. Two men however were sitting by the roadside, they shouted to Jesus to have mercy on them, but the crowd rebuked them. You can picture it, but it's not the nicer of the two images. Jesus is being followed by people no doubt fussing and asking Him all sorts of questions, each one asking for His attention. Yet when these two blind men shout to Jesus, I can imagine all the crowd turning in unison saying: Be quiet!! Maybe not so comical, but we are told the crowd rebuke them. They shout louder, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!" (v.31) Jesus stopped and asked them what they wanted Him to do. They asked for their sight and Jesus had compassion for them and they received their sight.

One might say this is an ordinary type of healing for Jesus, He healed two men. why the comparison. It's interesting that Mark and Luke's gospel only narrate one man, where Matthew points out two. Whichever it is, the impact is no less outstanding.

Are we like the crowd? Desperate to ask Jesus questions, always seeking His answers for our questions ignoring the possibility of those in need so close by?

Or are we like the blind men? Afflicted in some way or another. Perhaps being ignored and downtrodden by people for years. Shouting to Jesus, and His followers simply: Have mercy on us! Have mercy on us!

Maybe you're neither, maybe you and I are the ones following Jesus at a distance, not wanting to pester Him, but totally awestruck buy His presence and miraculous signs?

Whichever category we fit into, or whichever mix of categories, it's not a question of faith. The crowd, have probably been following Him for a while, believing His miraculous signs and parables, believing He could be no less than the son of God. The two blind men, we are told in Mark and Luke's account that their faith made them see. They'd heard of Jesus and believed He could heal them. All have faith.

However if we're in the crowd, are we, either consciously or subconsciously ignoring those who are crying out to Jesus? Are they shouting and we're ignoring them? Not allowing them to some how learn more about Jesus, and receive salvation? It's not very often you hear people shouting: "Jesus son of David have mercy on us is it?" Surely we wouldn't ignore them anyway if they did?

However it's the cries for Jesus that aren't so loud we need to listen for. Maybe it's an unruly 17 year old with an anti social behaviour order, ignored by people who don't want to spend time understanding why he/she behaves the way they do? Maybe its someone with an eating disorder or self harm? A teenage mother, a lonely person? I'm not trying to emphasise stereotypes. Just make examples. Are we listening to these people's cries? Or are our ears closed.

Remember: "The righteous will answer him, 'Lord when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you>' "The king will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'" Matthew 25:37-40

Always keep your eyes on Jesus but your ears open to those people whose eyes are not focused on Him.