The Explanation

There was a blind man sitting by the road near Jericho. Every day the same dust, the same sounds, the same darkness. He could not see the sky, or the faces of people walking by. He could only hear them, and hold out his hand to beg.

One day he heard many feet, many voices, a whole crowd coming closer. "What is happening?" he asked. Someone told him, "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by!"

The blind man's heart jumped. He had heard stories about Jesus. He filled his lungs and shouted as loud as he could, "Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me!"

People near him turned around and hissed, "Be quiet!" But he did not stop. He shouted even louder, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"

And then something wonderful happened. Jesus stood still. In the middle of that whole noisy crowd, he stopped for one blind beggar. "Bring him to me," Jesus said.

They led the man closer. Jesus looked at him, even though the man could not look back, and asked gently, "What do you want me to do for you?"

The man did not ask for money. He asked for the biggest thing he could think of. "Lord, that I may see again."

"Receive your sight," Jesus said. "Your faith has healed you."

And right away, light. Colors. Faces. The road. The sky. The man could see everything, and the very first thing he did was follow Jesus, praising God out loud.

What Does This Mean?

Before this, Jesus had told a story about a poor widow who kept asking a judge for help, again and again, until he finally listened. Jesus said God is even more ready to listen than that judge, and to keep praying without giving up. He also told about two men praying, one bragging about himself, and one just saying, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner." Jesus said the humble one went home right with God.

The blind man is like that humble man. He had nothing to brag about. He could not even see Jesus coming. But he called out anyway, loudly, without giving up, even when people told him to stop. He believed Jesus could help him.

The Common Thread

Jesus once said whoever does not receive God's Kingdom like a little child will never enter it. Children do not pretend to be strong. They simply reach out their hands. The blind man reached out with his voice instead of his eyes. He did not deserve healing, he simply asked, trusting Jesus completely.

This connects to something bigger. Jesus told his disciples he was going to Jerusalem to be mocked, spit on, and killed, and on the third day rise again. He was on his way to give his life. The blind man calling for mercy is exactly why Jesus came, to have mercy on people who cannot save themselves.

For You

Sometimes you might feel like nobody hears you, like that blind man in the noisy crowd. Do not stop calling out to Jesus. You do not need perfect words. You do not need to be impressive. Just tell him honestly what you need, even if it feels small or embarrassing. He stops for people like that.

Talk About It

Why do you think the blind man shouted even louder when people told him to be quiet?

Is there something you want to ask Jesus for, even if it feels hard to say out loud?

Praying Together

Dear Jesus, thank you that you stopped for the blind man when he called out to you. We call out to you too. Help us not to be quiet when we need you. Give us hearts like children, who simply trust you. Amen.