Down the hot, dusty Jericho Road, leaving with his disciples and a host of followers thronging around him, Jesus was trying to move on from Jericho. Farther down the road two blind men (probably beggars) were sitting by the wayside. Wondering what all the commotion was about, they inquired about what was happening.

“I think it’s the man they call Jesus—that unorthodox religious fellow,” they heard someone say. “They say he goes against many of our religious traditions and the leaders hate him because of it. But he also heals people of all sorts of ills. It will be great to hear him. He’s coming this way.”

The blind beggars knew all about Jesus but they’d never “seen” him this close before. “Now’s our chance,” they said to each other. Somehow they knew that this might be their only chance to ever come anywhere near this man they call Jesus. He would be passing right by them.

As the crowd neared them and they sensed that Jesus was somewhere near, they yelled at the top of their voice, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”

The crowd rebuked them and tried to shut them up, but with dignity thrown to the wind, they shouted all the louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”

And Jesus stood still! Amazing words. Amazing action. The Son of God stood still.

Imagine it! The winds and the waves couldn’t stop Jesus. The crowds couldn’t block him. The Roman soldiers had no power over him without his permission. King Herod failed to have him killed when he was just a baby. And the religious leaders couldn’t silence him. But the cry of two blind, lonely beggars caused the Son of God to stop dead in his tracks. And listen!

And Jesus called to them, saying, “What do you want me to do for you?”

“Lord,” they answered, “we want our sight.”

And Jesus, being moved with compassion, touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.

“Lord, have mercy on me,” is one cry that God always hears and for which Jesus always stands still and listens, and says to you and me through his Word, “What do you want me to do for you?”

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you that two blind beggars had the power to stop you and you had the power to heal them. Help me to see my deepest need and confess this to you. Have mercy on me and forgive all my sins, and grant to me the healing of my wounded soul and the gift of eternal life. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer just as you heard and answered the cry of the two blind me. Gratefully in Jesus’ name, amen.”

NOTE: For further help read “How to Be Sure You’re a Real Christian” at: How to Be Sure: http://tinyurl.com/8glq9

1. Matthew 20:29-30 (NIV).