Thread by @BethMooreLPM

All the beggar had was his hearing. Crouched in the dirt at road’s edge near Jericho’s gates, he hears the clamor. Lots of voices. 20 maybe? 30? A crowd can be good. New people and all. Or bad. They might not notice. Asks what the fuss is about. “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”

Sits up. Inhales a cloud of kicked-up dust & hollers, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Those in front of him ogling the scene tell him to shut up so they can hear. But he turns it up. Strains his voice. Top of his lungs “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

And Jesus stops.

Commands the man be brought to Him. He’s led by the hand through the crowd. They can smell him before they see him. Gets closer and Jesus says, “What do you want me to do for you?” Isn’t it obvious?? Weak-eyed beggar on the side of the road??
“What do you want me to do for you?”

“Lord, I want to see!” Nearly brings me to tears. “I wanna see!”

“Receive your sight,” He says. “Your faith’s saved you.” Instantly he could, you know. He joined those followers. Stayed a loudmouth, glorifying God. And those who’d earlier tried to shut him up gave praise to God.

We live in the clamor of such a crowd. Lost in the billions. Always someone worthier for Jesus to pay attention to. “Jesus is passing by,” they say. Why wouldn’t He pass us by, we think. Who are we that He would stop? But something inside of us says He’s different from the rest.

And we yell, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” And He does. Every time He does. Never unknown. Never unheard. Never unnoticed. But here’s an important part: Jesus wants us to tell Him what we long for from Him. 1st words to the disciples in John’s Gospel: “What are you seeking?”

He already knows. It’s never information Jesus is looking for. He knows it all. It’s connection He’s after. Always.

“What do you want me to do for you?”

Tell Him. Risk your tears again & tell Him. Your longings. Your hopes. Ask Him for what no one else on earth can do for you.