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LORD, HAVE MERCY ON ME!

  • Writer: Olufunmilayo Adekusibe
    Olufunmilayo Adekusibe
  • 1 hour ago
  • 5 min read

Today’s Reading:

Lam. 3:19-26

Lamentations 1:7-17

Matthew 20:29-34

“Now, as they went out of Jericho, a great multitude followed Him. And behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, ‘Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!’ Then the multitude warned them that they should be quiet; but they cried out all the more, saying, ‘Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!’ So Jesus stood still and called them, and said, ‘What do you want Me to do for you?’ They said to Him, ‘Lord, that our eyes may be opened.’ So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him.” (Matthew 20:29–34 NKJV)

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Blindness is an ailment that could easily shut a person up in their own world of shadows and sounds, where they are dependent on other people for physical guidance. In the ancient Near East, they were not regarded as important enough for the Messiah to be concerned about them, and they had no choice but to beg for their living. Blindness robs one of dignity and the possibility of independence. But in many parts of the world today, blind people are still ridiculed and disrespected. And spiritual blindness is worse; it makes a fool of one. Without much expectation, they are marginalised and denied real prospects. This was why the people silenced them, telling them not to disturb Jesus. Matthew records two blind men who encountered Jesus. While it is suggested that this is the same story, Mark and Luke may have mentioned only the most vocal of the two. The men called Jesus “Son of David” because the Jews were aware that the Messiah would come from the line of David (Isaiah 9:6–7; 11:1; Jeremiah 23:5–6). It is a pity that two blind men could recognise Jesus as the awaited Messiah, while the religious leaders—who witnessed His miracles—were spiritually blind to His identity. They refused to open their hearts to the truth. Seeing with physical eyes does not guarantee understanding and discernment. The blind men had faith; they believed in Jesus and were certain that if they sought His help, favour, and mercy, He would heal them. “…Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” (v. 28).


Earlier in the chapter, Jesus taught His followers about serving others (vv. 20–28). When He healed the blind men, He was on His way to Jerusalem to attend an event, but He stopped to heal them to demonstrate His teaching to the people. The blind men must have shouted loud enough to be heard over the din of the excited pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem. Those near them tried to stop them because, to them, they were making a nuisance of themselves and disturbing the Messiah, whom they thought had better things to do than attend to the disabled. Jesus was indeed going to face a momentous week in Jerusalem. His mind was on higher things—such as the salvation of humanity and the sacrifice He was going to make. In such a situation, what did the needs of a blind beggar matter? But the blind men were not deterred; they continued to shout louder, crying out for Jesus to have mercy on them (v. 31). In spite of the weighty issues on His mind, Jesus stopped to attend to their need. At that moment, He placed their need at the core of His programme. He asked them what they wanted Him to do for them (v. 32). Without hesitation, they shouted that they wanted their sight restored. Jesus had compassion on them, touched their eyes, and they received their sight (v. 34). Immediately, they followed Him, becoming witnesses of this miracle among the people and disciples of His ministry.


In the world today, the core of the marginalised people are at the centre of God’s heart. In the time of Jesus, many of those who received His miracles were marginalised people with no real stake in society. The core of Jesus’ heart is that He cares for the poor and the downtrodden. We should follow Jesus’ example, and our leaders should provide care and advocacy for them because they are not able to help themselves. Our believing governing leaders should learn from Jesus, who put aside His business to attend to the needs of the blind.

OLUFUNMILAYO TITILOLA ADEKUSIBE



To surrender your life to Christ, say this prayer aloud. “Father, I acknowledge my sin against You. I repent and ask for forgiveness, in the name of Jesus. I surrender to the Lordship of Jesus. By the power of Your Holy Spirit, take control of my heart and lead me in Your path of righteousness. Thank you, Lord.”

 If you said the prayer, Congratulations! You are welcome to the body of Christ. Prayerfully look for a living church and meet the resident reverend, pastor or priest.



Prayer:

  1. From the depths of despair, O Lord, I call for Your help. Hear my cry, O Lord, and pay attention to my prayer.

  2. Lord, if You were to keep a record of sin, no one could stand in Your presence, for our righteousness is like filthy rags before You.

  3. Lord, You offer us forgiveness so that we might reverently fear You.

  4. I am counting on You; yes, I am counting on You. I have put my hope in Your Word.

  5. Lord, we are Your possession, and we belong to You. Forgive us where we have behaved as if we belong to ourselves and are free to do whatever we like, which is destroying us.

  6. Holy Spirit, empower us; teach us to appreciate God as we ought to. Bring us to the realisation that we cannot behave as we like. Teach us to acquaint ourselves with the Almighty so that we may have peace and goodwill continually flowing in every area of our lives. Help us to lay up God’s Word in our hearts to observe and humbly obey.

  7. Empower and encourage us to return to the Almighty and to put away iniquity from our tabernacles; prosper our ways and enable us to succeed in whatever we lay our hands to do.

  8. Clothe us with Your mercy, favour, and love—for ourselves, for You, and for others we meet. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

  9. Lord, rescue the perishing, and care for the dying, in Jesus’ name.

  10. You are the only one who can deliver us from the hands of the mighty and the terrible. According to your word in Isaiah 49;24-26, Lord, take away the captives of the mighty, break bondages and chains binding your people, and deliver the prey of the terrible, and save our children, in Jesus’ name.

 
 
 

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