Jesus Stands Still for Those Who Cry Out There are three Gospel accounts that mention blind men near Jericho being healed by Jesus. For a long time, it is easy to assume they are all describing the exact same moment and the same man—Blind Bartimaeus—as though “Blind” were his first name and “Bartimaeus” his last. But when we compare Matthew, Mark, and Luke carefully, we begin to see something richer. The Gospels are like stereo sound. One speaker gives one part of the music, another speaker adds something different, and together they create a fuller picture. In the same way, each Gospel writer gives a perspective shaped by what he saw, what he heard, and what the Holy Spirit led him to record. That is one reason our own testimony matters: people need to hear what God has done from more than one voice. The Gospel Accounts Near Jericho In Matthew 20, Jesus says, “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Immediately after that, Matthew records Jesus leaving Jericho with a great multitude following Him. Two blind men are sitting by the road, and they cry out, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David.” Mark 10 gives a similar setting. Again, Jesus teaches that He came not to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many. Then Mark tells us that as Jesus went out of Jericho, Blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging. Luke 18 adds another detail. Luke says that as Jesus was coming near Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the road begging. Matthew and Mark describe Jesus going out of Jericho; Luke describes Him coming near Jericho. Rather than treating these details as a contradiction, we should pay attention to them. God placed every word in Scripture for a reason, and these differences invite us to look more closely. A Pattern in the Accounts When we compare the passages, several common elements appear: · The blind men were by the road, where the traffic and activity were. · They heard the multitude passing by. · They asked what was happening. · They were told that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. · They cried out to Jesus as the Son of David. · The crowd tried to silence them. · They cried out even more. · Jesus stood still. · Jesus commanded that they be brought to Him. · Jesus healed them. · They received their sight and followed Him, glorifying God. That pattern matters. These men were blind, but they were not passive. At least some of them were actively begging. They used what they had. They could not see Jesus, and they could not easily get through the crowd, but they could cry out—and they did. Jesus Was on His Way to Serve At this point in His ministry, Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem to die. His face was set with determination. He had one purpose: to give His life as a ransom for many. He did not come demanding to be served; He came to serve. That is also the attitude He calls us to have. Our first question should not be, “What can others do for me?” but “Lord, what would You have me do?” God blesses us, but He blesses us so that we can become a blessing to others. The Disturbance of Jesus Passing By When the blind man heard the crowd, he knew something unusual was happening. Jesus often creates a disturbance when He comes near. The closer we get to Him, the more He begins to shake things, expose things, and change things. Sometimes the disturbances in our lives are not signs that God is far away; they may be signs that He is drawing near. When trouble comes, we should ask what it means. The blind man heard the multitude and asked what was happening. When he learned that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by, he recognized more than the crowd did. They identified Jesus by His hometown, but the blind man cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.” The Cry for Mercy The blind man did not ask for what he deserved. He asked for mercy. Mercy is God holding back what we deserve; grace is God giving what we do not deserve. By crying for mercy, the man acknowledged his need and his dependence on Jesus. Then the crowd tried to stop him. Even some who were walking with Jesus may have thought He was too busy, too focused, or too important to be interrupted. But the man would not be denied. He cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus Stood Still One of the most powerful lines in the passage is this: Jesus stood still. The Lord of the universe, who was on His way to Jerusalem to die for the sins of the world, stopped for one needy man who cried out to Him. The One who governs the winds, the rain, the sun, and every living thing still hears the cry of those who call upon Him. If your need is big enough for you to cry out to the Lord, then cry out. Others may think it is small. Others may tell you to be quiet. But the only thing that mattered that day was the man’s cry and Jesus’ response. Use What You Have The blind man could not see. He could not make his own way through the crowd. He did not have a sign, a banner, or influence. But he had a voice, and he used it. That is an important lesson: do not spend your life worrying about what you do not have. Use what God has placed in your hands. If you are faithful with little, God can make you ruler over much. The requirement is not based on what you do not have, but on what you do have. When the man used what he had, Jesus provided what he needed. Jesus commanded that he be brought near. “What Do You Want Me to Do for You?” When the man came near, Jesus asked, “What do you want Me to do for you?” That question is striking because Jesus had asked something similar earlier when two ambitious disciples wanted places of honor. In their case, the question exposed ambition. In this man’s case, it invited honest need. The blind man answered, “Lord, that I may receive my sight.” He did not merely say, “I want to see.” He called Jesus “Lord.” That word matters. To call Him Lord is to say, “Have it Your way.” It means surrendering control and trusting Him with the outcome. Receiving sight would change this man’s entire life. He would no longer be able to live as he had lived before. He would have to leave behind the identity, security, and history of begging. He would move from being a burden to becoming a blessing. Receiving What Jesus Gives Jesus told him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.” The man did not merely experience healing; he received it. There is a difference between something being offered and something being received. Salvation is like that. It is not earned by being better than someone else, nor by being perfect every day. It must be received. But receiving Christ also means receiving a new life. We trade our old life for His life. We give up our old identity, our old security, and even our old history so that He can make us new. The Result: Praise and Following Jesus Immediately, the man received his sight and followed Jesus, glorifying God. When the people saw it, they also gave praise to God. The man got what he needed, and God got what He deserved: praise. That is the outcome of a life changed by Jesus. The person who receives mercy follows Him, and others are moved to glorify God. A Choice: Cast Off or Highly Valued Bartimaeus means “son of Timaeus,” and the meaning of Timaeus can suggest either something highly valued or something unclean and cast off. That contrast gives us a picture of choice. A person can remain cast off, defined by old wounds and old patterns, or come to Jesus and be made useful, valuable, and new. The choice is not between having problems and having no problems. The choice is whether we will stay where we are or cry out to Jesus while He is near. Invitation If you hear the Lord calling you, do not ignore Him. If there is something in your life you do not understand, bring it to Him. If your need seems small to others but heavy to you, cry out to Jesus. He is still able to stop, hear, heal, save, and change a life. Give Him the opportunity to work in your heart today. You can write us at Remember the Prisoner Podcast C/O Calvary Church Many 105 Peterson St Many, LA 71449 Sincere apologies to those who might have written to our old address. 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