#115 Luke 18:35-43 Jesus Responds to a Blind Beggar
On March 19, 2023 by Amy BurginJoy:
Episode #115 Luke 18:35-43
Welcome
Amy:
Welcome to The Christgazing Podcast. We are so glad you are here! I’m Amy Burgin.
Joy:
I’m Joy Burgin.
Amy:
Christgazing, kind of like stargazing, is the act of looking steadily and intently at Jesus. This podcast makes room for just that. Amid a world of many words, we slow down here and make space for the God-breathed Words, the best words, the ones that rightly comfort, correct, and lead us. Each week we read a portion of scripture several times and create stillness after each reading so we might also be still and know God more.
We are in a series that takes us through the book of Luke
Pour Out Your Heart to God
Amy:
Before we read today, take time to share your heart with God. We do this each week; we pour out our hearts to God. As we do, we may expose a lie we believe and thus make room for God to exchange it with the truth. We may expose a division in a relationship and thus make room for God to exchange that with unity. We may expose distractions and diversions in our lives and thus make room for God to refocus and direct us. We may expose an area where we lack courage, so we make room for God to encourage us. Therefore, take time to give God your thoughts, hurts, fears, questions, and concerns in this next minute.
What Does This Passage Say About God?
Joy:
I’m going to read today’s passage two times. As I read, consider the question, What does this say about God?
Luke 18:35-43 As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 36 When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. 37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”
38 He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
39 Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
40 Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, 41 “What do you want me to do for you?”
“Lord, I want to see,” he replied.
42 Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.” 43 Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.
Again?
Luke 18:35-43 As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 36 When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. 37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”
38 He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
39 Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
40 Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, 41 “What do you want me to do for you?”
“Lord, I want to see,” he replied.
42 Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.” 43 Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.
Take the next few moments to consider what this says about God.
[Pause and know]What Does This Passage Say About People?
Joy: As I reread the passage, consider a different question, What does this say about people?
Luke 18:35-43 As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 36 When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. 37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”
38 He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
39 Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
40 Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, 41 “What do you want me to do for you?”
“Lord, I want to see,” he replied.
42 Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.” 43 Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.
Take a minute to consider what this says about people.
[Pause and know]Lord, What Would You Have Me Know Or Do Today?
Joy: As I read for the last time, ask God, “Lord, what would you have me know or do today in response to this passage?” If it helps, put yourself in the narrative.
Luke 18:35-43 As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 36 When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. 37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”
38 He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
39 Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
40 Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, 41 “What do you want me to do for you?”
“Lord, I want to see,” he replied.
42 Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.” 43 Immediately, he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.
Take a minute to ask God, “Lord, what would you have me know or do in response to this passage?”
[Pause and listen]Blessing
Joy:
Christgazer, the Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. And may you turn your face toward Jesus today and know him more.
One Response
Amy:
Oh, what a beautiful passage! When I read it from the perspective of the blind man, it brought me to tears.
A blind man sitting on the side of the road. His world is black, but he hears the commotion of a crowd passing by and asks, “What’s going on?”
I close my eyes to become blind like him – to enter the blind beggar’s black world – it’s not hard to pretend.
I call out into the darkness, “Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me!” Immediately, tears roll down my cheeks. I am needy, and all I have is this cry so colossal that it climbs above the commotion of this crowd.
Strangers rebuke me with an authoritative voice, “Be quiet! Quit shouting!” They think I am rude – that I am messing something up. But my need to see, my need to be free, towers over any need to please these – these leaders who think they’re in charge of me.
I respond to their attempt to shut me up and shout louder into the familiar enveloping dark with which I am so done with, “Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me!” I don’t know exactly which way to direct my face. My only hope is to lift my voice so high that my cry lands on the ears of the Messiah.
I stop to listen, to perceive, to see with my ears. If I hear nothing, I will cry out again, but surely, surely, the Messiah heard me, and if he heard me, he will respond to me.
He did. He draws me close and asks me more, “What do you want me to do for you?”
Oh my God, his question is genuine, the Messiah offers to free me, to serve me! “Lord, I want to see.”
“Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.”
Immediately, I see. I see my savior, face to face.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit – as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever!
This is the way of the Lord.
Closing
Amy:
You can find a transcript of this episode and all our episodes at amyburgin.com. We will be back again next week to go Christgazing together. Until then, don’t forget, when you put your trust in Christ, you are one in whom he dwells and delights, a dearly loved child of God. You are royalty in his strong and unshakeable kingdom. Though trouble abounds, Christ prevails, and so do you.
It blesses me to hear from you! Please leave a reply here.