You gotta ask!

 

Wake the Faith up Slayer… This is Garth Heckman with the David Alliance and you can reach me at

TDAgiantslayer@gmail.com 

 

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You gotta ask. He may simply be waiting for you to just ask.  The needs not the problem. we all have them… it is simply going against the crowd, going against the loudest voices in the room and asking… even begging!

 

Luke 18:35 Then it happened, as He was coming near Jericho, that a certain blind man sat by the road begging. 36 And hearing a multitude passing by, he asked what it meant. 37 So they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. 38 And he cried out, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

39 Then those who went before warned him that he should be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

40 So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be brought to Him. And when he had come near, He asked him, 41 saying, “What do you want Me to do for you?”

He said, “Lord, that I may receive my sight.”

42 Then Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.” 43 And immediately he received his sight, and followed Him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.

 

This seems like such an odd scripture… almost like Jesus shares some insight into a personal test he is wanting us to see. 

What do we know about this blind man.

He was blind, had a need, thought Jesus could heal him… and now is his chance. Jesus is walking by…

 

but from his perspective and from the story Jesus is not walking to him or near him in order to heal him - Jesus is just on his way into town. 

DO YOU THINK.. Jesus knew he was there? Yes, do you think he knew he was blind? Yes, Do you think he knew he wanted to be healed? Yes. So why is he just walking by?

Let’s switch perspectives… Did the people know the blind man was there… most likely - and if not this man they did live in a culture where they were used to the blind and needy on the street begging. Did they think he wanted to be healed.. obviously. But did THEY want the blind man healed? NO. 

In everyones eyes at this point Jesus is just simply this endless source of power to meet their needs. Feed me, teach me, wow me with miracles, heal me and free me from the Roman government… 

No one cares about anybody else in the crowd except for themselves… sounds much like today. Its a huge crowd, but with no other purpose than each one wanting what they want… they are not there concerned about the crowd, this is no movement, its just needy people (with all different types of needs) wanting to connect, and be on the inside… get their fix if you will. Jesus was the rock star and everyone was trying to connect- get his autograph and hope to get front row tickets and maybe a photo op so others can be jealous. 

 

And Jesus is ok with it… he knows these same people are going to cry crucify him in a little while. But what does he respond to…? Does he respond to those who are out to take from him, those who will kill him, those who misunderstand him… does he point this out to them and set them straight? NOPE. 

He responds not to the need of the blind man, he responds to the blind mans crying out, You may have needs and you are waiting for God to meet your need… but he does not respond to the need, he responds to your calling out to him. 

The crowd does not care about your need. They are out for themselves… The disciples do not care about the blind man. and it seems as if Jesus does not care about the blind man… but what he is actually doing is setting up a lesson for us to learn from. Jesus listens to those that are desperate and crying out. 

The blind man doesn’t listen to the crowd.. which would be an actual form of peer pressure… it actually spurs him on to yell louder and beg more. 

There is one more thing to catch in this story… The blind man has a need, he cries out to Jesus to meet his need… but once it is met he glorifies Jesus. He makes his need being met about Jesus and who he is and not about him getting what he wanted.

How many times we come to God and have a need that we want met simply because it is a need… but wouldn’t it be amazing if we came to God and said I have a need I would love for you to meet so that i can glorify you and give you the credit and in fact make you famous!