Red Letter Bible Study--Matthew 20:29-34 (Jesus heals two blind beggars)

 Matthew 20:29-34; Mark 10:46-52; Luke 18:35-43

Jesus is either entering or leaving Jericho.  He either healed two blind men or one.  I had to do something I rarely do for this study--consult commentary! 😖 Apparently in Jesus' day there were two Jerichos, one ancient hill called Jericho and the actual inhabited city.  So that is not a contradiction.  Also, the Mark and Luke account only mention one blind beggar by name, but they do not say there was only one.  The chances are high that Mark and Luke's audience would have at least heard of Bartimaeus or his father Timaeus.                                  When they heard a crowd passing, they asked who it was.  Someone said it was Jesus and they knew exactly who that was!  They cried out for mercy, calling Jesus both master and son of David, acknowledging His royal line.  The crowd warns them to be quiet, which only made them yell louder.  Jesus stopped and asked what they wanted; they wanted to be able to see.  Jesus was moved with compassion, touched them, and healed them.  They responded by following Him.  

Have you ever heard the song "Kyrie" by Mr. Mister from 1985?

    "Kyrie Eleison, down the road that I must travel.  Kyrie Eleison, through the darkness of the night.          Kyrie Eleison, where I'm going, will you follow? Kyrie Eleison on a highway in the light"

Kyrie Eleison is exactly what the blind beggars cried out.  "Lord have mercy".  (The original words are spelled kurie eleeson)  The crowd tried to quiet these two men, but they cried out even louder, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!"  Jesus came to a halt and met their needs out of compassion.  

These verses make me think of the crowds that would quiet our cries for mercy.  As we cry out to the only One who can completely change our circumstances, there are inevitably those who would shush us.  Maybe it's family, friends, acquaintances, coworkers, self-help books, the media, celebrities, politicians.  We are surrounded by people who would encourage us to either accept our circumstances, or pick ourselves up and change our own stars.   The root meaning of mercy in this passage is "to show mercy as God defines it."  Only Christ Jesus, can offer real, life-changing mercy.  Cry out to Him!!