50 Days of Prayer – Day 46
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“He called out, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’” Luke 18:38 (NIV)
Matthew, Mark and Luke record one of the most tender and thrilling miracles of Jesus healing two blind beggars, but Luke introduces us to just one of the two, Bartimaeus, who cried out as Jesus came into Jericho. He was sitting at the entrance to the city when he heard a commotion among the crowds. When he asked what was going on, they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. That was all he needed to know! This was his opportunity, and he was determined not to miss it! He must have heard about the miracles Jesus had performed. The fact that he cried out, “… Jesus, Son of David ...” indicates that he recognized Jesus as the Messiah who was to come. He knew Isaiah’s prophecy about the coming Messiah in Isaiah 35:5 (NLT) that predicted, “And when He comes, He will open the eyes of the blind and unplug the ears of the deaf.” He may have even heard about what Jesus said in His hometown synagogue in Nazareth when He proclaimed, “The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free.” Luke 4:18 (NIV)
Whatever the case, Bartimaeus believed that Jesus could give sight to the blind, so he cried out in a loud voice, “… Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” The crowds around him told him to be quiet. He was an embarrassment. But that wouldn’t stop this man. You can’t read this narrative without feeling the tenderness of Jesus toward him. Luke records it in verses 39 through 43:
“Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to Him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ ‘Lord, I want to see,’ he replied. Jesus said to him, ‘Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.’ Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.”
In his day, blindness was a common affliction for which there was no cure. The only means he had to sustain himself was to beg for a living. In spite his obstacles and the opposition of the crowds, Bartimaeus persisted in crying out for one thing – MERCY! He wasn’t ashamed to plead for mercy.
I wonder how many were there who could see Jesus but didn’t have the spiritual insight of this blind man? Many of us are blind to our own need for mercy. Yet, the truth is, we all need mercy. When was the last time you came before Jesus like this blind man and cried out, “Lord, have mercy on me”? This is the sinner’s prayer. It’s a prayer that Jesus always responds to.
Earlier in this same chapter Jesus told the story of a tax collector who cried out, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’” (Verse 13). Jesus said this tax collector felt too ashamed to even enter the Temple when he came to pray but stood at a distance. He wouldn’t even look up to heaven but beat his breast in anguish when he pled for mercy. His prayer was heard. He went home justified, just as this blind beggar left seeing!
God always hears our cries for mercy. He’s just waiting for us to ask.