OUR LORD WHO HEARS OUR SHOUTS

The Lord Jesus and the disciples were journeying up from Jericho to Jerusalem.

This was a tense journey because it was known that the leaders in Jerusalem were seeking to kill the Lord and instead of travelling away from Jerusalem, He was heading towards the city.

The disciples were likely hoping to adopt a low profile and quietly enter Jerusalem without stirring up too much ferment and try to avoid gaining the interest of  the authorities and their informants.

However, as they travelled,  a blind man, hearing that Jesus was passing by, realized that  this was the one chance in his life to have his sight restored so he began shouting to gain Jesus' attention. 

The people around Jesus, edgy because of the tense situation of travelling towards Jerusalem, warned the man to shut up but He made even more of a commotion likely raising tempers among the crowd. Here is how the story goes from Mark 10 verse 46 - 48.

Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means “son of Timaeus”), was sitting by the roadside begging. 

When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

The testy group was upset because their anonymity was blown and others on the road to Jerusalem now knew who was on the road with them.

The Lord Jesus, the epicenter of the vortex of the taut situation, stopped the convoy and an encounter between He and the blind man occured in verse 49 and onward;

Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”

So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.

“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”

“Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

Inspite of everyone trying to get Bartimaeus to pipe down, Jesus heard his shouts for mercy and responded to his persistence.

He stopped and called the blind man to Himself and asked him a surprisingly warm-natured question; "What do you want me to do for you?"

Bartimaeus, so desperately wanting to see, summarily responded that he wanted to see.

Jesus immediately restored his sight and the man followed Jesus up the road.

The persistence of the man paid off. He pressed his luck to try to contact Jesus and Jesus heard him over the commotion. The generous and compassionate  Jesus responded and gave Him the desire of his heart.

When we call out to Jesus with persistence and urgency, He will hear us too and respond to us as the scriptures say in Psalm 145 verse 18 - 19:

The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth.

He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He will also hear their cry and will save them.

Bless our gracious Lord.

Amen.