Read Luke 18:35-43. Better yet, read all of Luke 18.
What do you want me to do for you?
This is the question Jesus asks the blind man that is begging on the road outside of Jericho.
Imagine being asked such a question from Jesus. What would your answer be?
This is not the first time Jesus asks this question. In Matthew 20:20, the mother of James and John comes to Jesus and kneels before him. “What do you want?” he asks. (** I’m in debt to a sermon by Zack Eswine for the connection between James, John, and the blind man in Jericho)
She answers, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.”
James and John were fishermen. Their father, Zebedee, was a fisherman. Their mother was a fisherman’s wife. There is, of course, nothing wrong with being a fisherman. It is an honest trade. And a fun pastime. But, the brothers’ new found status in the inner circle of Jesus’ disciples (Peter, James and John) is a different position. It is hard to blame their mom for swinging for the fences. They are already confidants of the Messiah who is healing sick people, raising dead people, stopping storms in their tracks and walking on water. Why not ask for positions of power in his kingdom?
It is glory she is asking for on behalf of her sons. Power. Status. A kingdom after all needs good leadership. Why not James and John?
Jesus responds by saying, “You do not know what you are asking.” (Mt. 20:22). He goes on to tell her, and the rest of the disciples, that the greatest in his kingdom are not who you think.
This brings us back to Luke 18. The conversation between Jesus and the blind man outside of Jericho comes at the end of chapter 18. Let me give you a quick survey of what has come before this moment.
Luke 18:1-8
Jesus tells a parable of a widow coming before a judge known for his cruelty and corruption. The widow pleads her case: not once, not twice, but over and over again. Finally, the judge rules in her favor just to be rid of her. Jesus says that if an unjust judge is willing to give justice how much more will God give justice to those who are persistent with him.
Luke 18:9-14
Jesus tells a parable of two men entering the temple to pray. The Pharisee enters and prays, “God, thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get” (Luke 18:11). But, the tax collector refuses to look up and he beats his breast and he can only call out for one thing - mercy.
Luke 18:15-17
While Jesus and his disciples are walking towards Jerusalem, people begin bringing children, even infants, to be touched by Jesus. The disciples rebuke them. Jesus says “let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.”
Luke 18:18-30
A rich, young ruler comes to Jesus and asks about eternal life. Jesus rattles off several of the commandments to which the young man claims to have been faithful. Jesus then asks him to sell everything that he owns and give the proceeds to the poor. The man walks away sad because he was “extremely rich.”
Luke 18:31-34
Jesus tells his disciples about his coming death and resurrection. Once again they do not understand. Luke tells us, “But the understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said.”
Give us eyes to see
The heroes of chapter 18 are an annoyingly persistent widow, a sin ridden tax collector, infants and toddlers, and a blind beggar.
The fools of chapter 18 are a member of the religious elite, a rich, young ruler (Is there anything our world values more? He has all three - wealth, power, and youth.), and at least to a degree, the disciples, who still can’t see even though their eyes are wide open.
A widow, a tax collector, infants, and a blind beggar. The list speaks for itself. Even 2000 years later this collection of people is laughable. They have no power or status. The tax collector presumably has money but he’s despised and rejected and has no one to share life with.
As Jesus and his disciples enter Jericho a crowd begins to gather. The blind man hears the commotion and asks what is happening because he can’t see for himself. When he is told that Jesus has arrived he calls out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
Mercy. We’ve already heard that word earlier in the chapter. It is the same thing the tax collector asks for in the temple in Jesus’ parable.
For those of you from more liturgical backgrounds this is the Kyrie Eleison. Lord (Kyrie) have mercy (eleison). It is the posture of the Christian life. It is all mercy. Sure, there is plenty of joy, hope, love, courage (don’t be afraid), bold action and sacrificial obedience that comes from faith. But, it begins and ends here, with mercy. There is gratitude, but it is not the gratitude of the Pharisee (“Thank you for not making me like those folks over there”), it is the gratitude that says I too was blind but somehow, now, I see. Mercy.
Those in the front of the crowd with Jesus (the disciples?) rebuke the blind man as they did the parents who brought the babies. They tell him to “shut up.” This is likely not the first time the beggar has heard that. He is undeterred and cries out even louder. “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
Jesus stops the crowd and has the blind man brought before him as he did the infants and children.
We are witnessing right now on the news how kingdoms come in the world in which we live. They come with 110,000 troops. They come to the capital city with a 40-mile long convoy of troops and tanks and bombs.
Jesus is passing through Jericho in chapter 18 because he is on his way to Jerusalem. He is a king making his way to the capital city. And he is bringing with him a convoy of widows and children and sinners and tax collectors and blind beggars. And he’ll ride into town on a donkey. And he’ll be crowned with thorns and strung up on a cross. And he’ll ask God to forgive those doing it to him. And then he’ll die to make that forgiveness possible.
“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asks.
“Mercy. I want to recover my sight,” the blind man responds. But, he already sees. And so Jesus heals him for his faith has made him well.
Lord, this Lent, as the world grasps for power, give to us, and to them, eyes to see. Mercy.
Comments