Take Note Podcast

They Cried the More

Matthew 20:29-34

- We're going to discuss a rather obscure passage today
- It's an account you may have read, but it's short
- It reminds us about the power and mercy of Christ
- But it also gives us an interesting insight on needs and calls for help

- Two men are healed in this text
- They cried out to Jesus for sitting by the way side
- And despite the rebuke of a crowd nearby
- "They Cried the More" and received their healing
- And that is our theme today
- From Matthew 20:29-34

- There are only six verses to address today
- This is not among the most well-known healing stories from the New Testament
- But it's one that I took a few key insights from as I read the greater context
- It can tell us something about the nature of a crowd
- And the determination of people that are desperate for help

- Let's read the whole of our passage first, then take a closer look…

Matthew 20:29-34

29  And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him. 
30  And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David. 
31  And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David. 
32  And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you? 
33  They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened. 
34  So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.

- This account of Jesus begins like many in the gospels
- It records His travels and tells of the crowds that followed Him
- Something slightly different happens in this one…

Matthew 20:29

29  And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him. 

- The group following Him as He departed Jericho would have been similar to others
- Some would have come along to hear what He had to say
- To see what He might do
- To record His words that they might use them against Him
- Perhaps there were some that heard about His miracles and needed one of their own
- Others might have just been curious

- Whatever the reasons they followed, most would have been paying attention to Him
- This is perhaps why they objected when two blind men cried out…

Matthew 20:30

30  And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David. 

- These were not following
- They were by the way side as Jesus and the crowd passed by
- But when they saw Jesus, they took action
- They were like us
- They took action because of what they believed
- And it becomes apparent reading what they said, that they believed Jesus could have mercy upon them
- That He was likely to have mercy upon them

- If you know the record of Jesus’ journey in ministry, you’ll know what their cries of “have mercy on us” were likely to mean
- He was a regular healer of those He encountered
- And these men were blind

- The words have mercy used here mean help the afflicted
- They were afflicted with blindness
- They were standing near someone who could help
- And they requested His mercy

- They called Him Son of David
- Which was the name by which (at that time) the Messiah was most commonly known
- This means they had the right perspective
- And were asking the right person

- You wonder if the crowd noticed any of this
- Or whether they were concerned in the slightest for these men and their blindness…

Matthew 20:31

31  And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David.

- This multitude told the men to be silent
- To hold their peace
- Perhaps they wanted to hear what Jesus said
- They didn’t want to be distracted

- Whatever the case, these men didn’t stop
- They cried the more
- Having the same request
- Calling Jesus the same name again - Messiah

- I made a few notes as I read this account
- First about the multitude
- Seemingly lacking all compassion for the people they passed
- United in their call for those in need of mercy to be quiet
- Concerned, presumably, about their own concerns regarding Jesus
- Maybe, what He may yet do for them

- Whatever their motivations or faults in this case
- Crowds are not known (generally) for their collective wisdom
- We often, as individuals, get caught up in the passions of a crowd
- We shout things we would never shout on our own
- We go along with things we would reject alone

- I also thought about the blind men
- Their commitment, their faith
- In need of help, they asked for it
- And continued asking even after being rebuked
- And they asked the right person, taking the only opportunity they may have had with Him
- We could learn something from this

- They got Jesus’ attention…

Matthew 20:32

32  And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you? 

- We found it easy to determine, just based upon what they said, their request
- But Jesus asks, what do you want me to do?
- He didn’t want them to be quiet
- He didn’t find them a distraction
- He heard what they said
- And He responded

- Well, so did they…

Matthew 20:33

33  They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened. 

- You don’t make a request like this without faith
- They had to believe He could do it
- They seemed to know who He was
- No doubt they heard something about Him
- Testimony must had been given to His power somewhere

- And everything they believed was right
- He was the Son of David, the Messiah
- And He did have all the power they heard about
- They were about to have first hand knowledge…

Matthew20:34

34  So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him. 

- Jesus was not like the crowd
- He had compassion
- He saw their need
- He did not choose to pass by
- And He changed them
- He did as they asked in faith

- And they followed Him
- Having experienced His mercy
- Having felt His healing touch
- Having knowledge of what He could do

- They rightly called out more than once for mercy
- It was on its way, sent by God