A LONE VOICE

Scripture:

Read Luke 18:35-43.
TEXT: And he cried out, "Jesus, Son of David,
have mercy on me!" And those who were in front
rebuked him, telling him to be silent
(see Luke 18:38-39).


Jesus is approaching Jericho. It's one of His last
stops before Jerusalem. Along the road sits a
blind man begging. Hearing a loud commotion
passing by, he asks what's going on. Someone
from the crowd answers, "Jesus of Nazareth is
passing by."

Immediately, the beggar begins shouting at the
top of his lungs. He knows Jesus is somewhere
in that crowd, which is shuffling past him. But
unlike the stranger from the crowd he doesn't
call Him "Jesus the Nazarene." Instead, he calls
him, "Jesus, Son of David." He is convinced that
Jesus is the promised Messiah, David's Son.

Jesus indeed is the King marching on to save His
people from their enemies. Some in the crowd try
to silence the blind man, but he shouts all the
louder to get Jesus' attention. That is the character
of faith: the more people and circumstances rise
up to silence us, the louder we cry for our Lord to
be merciful to us.

We might expect Jesus to be so preoccupied with
His approaching death that He wouldn't notice a
lone voice, crying out to Him in the midst of the
clamor of the crowd. But His ears are attuned to
cries for mercy from His faithful ones. Now that He
has accomplished His mission and won complete
forgiveness, we can be confident He hears our cries
for mercy and pity too.

The man is blind no longer. He rises and follows
Jesus on His way.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus Christ, even as You were journeying
toward Your bitter death, Your ears were wide open
to the pleas of the blind man. Give me confidence that
You hear my prayers for mercy too. In Jesus' Name.
Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Minstries)