Call Out to Jesus

 DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW

CALL OUT TO JESUS

Matt 20:29-34

29 As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. 30 Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!" 31 The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!" 32 Jesus stopped and called them. "What do you want me to do for you?" he asked. 33 "Lord," they answered, "we want our sight." 34 Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.

NIV

There are two truths that stand out to us. One within this passage, the other combined with the idea of blindness. As these blind men called out to Jesus, there were those who told them to be still, to be quiet, not to bother Jesus. We are not sure why the crowd would be the ones who felt the need to rebuke these blind men. Was this the same crowd that had been following Jesus? Was this the same crowd who had been fed by Jesus with a couple of fish and a few loaves of bread? Was this the same crowd that had brought their sick to Jesus and he healed them all? Was this the same crowd that felt they had some special connection to Jesus and were considered his followers? So these two blind men were not part of this crowd, they were outsiders, they did not belong, they were not followers. Was there this mentality of us four and no more within the crowd? They did not want these blind men to bother Jesus, to disturb the status quo. However, the blind men would not be quiet, and they shouted even louder, and Jesus, being who he is, stopped and called them to come to him. Then those great words which ring throughout the ages, “What do you want me to do for you?” Of course, being blind, they wanted to see, and that is exactly what happened when they were touched by Jesus. We can hear those words of Jesus. He is always available, both asking what we want him to do for us and touching us allowing us to see. The idea is that unless we have been touched by Jesus we are blind, we cannot see our way. The Apostle John records that Jesus talked about a man who walks in the day has the light of the world to see and will not stumble, but if a man walks by night having no light, he stumbles. Because Jesus is the light of the world, once we have been touched by Jesus, metaphorically speaking, which is to accept Jesus into our heart, then we have the light within, and we can see the truth. But those who do not have the light are still walking or living in the dark and are stumbling or falling because of sin. Sure, we still sin, because of not being perfect, as Jesus is, but we see that sin and repent and have the assurance that if we confess our sin, he is faithful to forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness, declaring us holy and blameless in his sight. It is far better to call out to Jesus and hear him ask us what we want him to do for us than succumb to the crowd, as it is far better to walk in the light than in the dark.