Blind Beggars Crying for Mercy
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging: And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant. And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by. And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.”
Luke 18:35–38
If you’ve ever visited a third world country, you know how persistent needy beggars can be. They don’t take the first “no” for an answer. They follow you down the street, asking for help. And while a few of them may be professional beggars, using the kindness of others as a way to avoid work, many of them are truly in desperate need. That sense of desperation gives an urgency to their requests. They do not merely want help—they need it.
The blind beggar outside Jericho was not shy about making his needs known. He was calling out at the top of his lungs, begging Jesus to stop and help him. He knew full well that he was blind and that he had no hope apart from this miracle-working teacher he had heard so many people talk about as they passed his place by the side of the road. He received mercy because he knew his need and cried out for it.
Too often we fail to realize our utter dependence on God. We wrongly think we don’t need God’s help. The stern warning to the church at Laodicea includes this description of their self-deception: “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked” (Revelation 3:17). As Christians, we need God’s grace, mercy, and strength to live for Him just as much as we did when we were lost and in need of salvation.
Luke 18:35–38
If you’ve ever visited a third world country, you know how persistent needy beggars can be. They don’t take the first “no” for an answer. They follow you down the street, asking for help. And while a few of them may be professional beggars, using the kindness of others as a way to avoid work, many of them are truly in desperate need. That sense of desperation gives an urgency to their requests. They do not merely want help—they need it.
The blind beggar outside Jericho was not shy about making his needs known. He was calling out at the top of his lungs, begging Jesus to stop and help him. He knew full well that he was blind and that he had no hope apart from this miracle-working teacher he had heard so many people talk about as they passed his place by the side of the road. He received mercy because he knew his need and cried out for it.
Too often we fail to realize our utter dependence on God. We wrongly think we don’t need God’s help. The stern warning to the church at Laodicea includes this description of their self-deception: “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked” (Revelation 3:17). As Christians, we need God’s grace, mercy, and strength to live for Him just as much as we did when we were lost and in need of salvation.
Today’s Growth Principle:
When we see ourselves in desperate need of God’s grace and mercy, we will seek His face with intensity.
No comments:
Post a Comment