Yeshua of Nazareth passed many people as He climbed the road to Jerusalem in the final days of His earthly life. But one voice in the crowd froze Him. A blind man near Jericho, hearing a multitude pass by and learning that the party included Yeshua, cried out, "Son of David, have mercy on Me!"
He was using code, as it were, to let Yeshua know he recognized and received Him as Messiah. Luke 18:40 describes the response: Yeshua stood still and commanded the man to be brought to Him. As far as we know, no other person was called out. Yeshua was stopped by a simple, sincere appeal for mercy. Within days He would fulfill God's ultimate expression of mercy, offering Himself as a Passover sacrifice for the sin atonement of mankind.
The blind man had 20/20 vision spiritually. Moved by his faith, Yeshua granted his request to have his physical sight restored. The man expressed his gratitude by following Yeshua and glorifying God, the same heart response we find in Psalm 86:12-13, "I will glorify Your name forevermore. For great is Your mercy toward me."
Yeshua today sits at the right hand of the Father. We can assume He is quite busy interceding for believers, receiving worship in heaven and preparing for His return to earth as Davidic King. But when someone on earth cries to Him for mercy, I believe His response is the same as it was in Jericho. Moved with compassion, Yeshua stands still and fixes His gaze on the person with spiritual eyes.
Posted by Jeff King at April 30, 2008 03:02 PM